Sara Leib is the jazz singer you wish you'd heard of first and told your friends about. One of the most inventive young vocalists and improvisers around, Leib is proving herself an integral key to the modern jazz scene. Her harmonic approach to scatting, charismatic personality, and endearingly thoughtful stage presence have echoed through the jazz communities of her native Los Angeles and the New England jazz scene. While always maintaining respect for the original melodies, Sara's organic approach adds her own modern arrangements, bringing old songs new life.
Born and raised in Los Angeles, California, Sara Leib has been honing her vocal and performance skills from a young age. In 1999 she participated in the GRAMMY High School Jazz Ensembles, where she performed at various GRAMMY functions, and won a scholarship to the Berklee College of Music. In 2001, she continued her studies in jazz at the New England Conservatory. In 2002, Leib performed with renowned saxophonist Dave Liebman, and won the Downbeat Student Music Award for Outstanding Performance by a College Jazz Vocalist, her second honor in the acclaimed publication. In 2003 Sara had the honor of participating in the Jazz Aspen Snowmass Academy in Aspen, CO where she worked with artists like Christian McBride, Allan Harris, and Cyrus Chestnut. She has performed at the International Association of Jazz Educators Conference, at the famed Jazz Bakery and Catalina Bar and Grill in Los Angeles, CA and toured Japan in 2003 with Jim Stinnett an Bob Kaufman. In 2004 and 2005 Leib was a featured panelist for the NARAS Foundation's GRAMMY In The Schools Program, and in 2005 she toured South Africa, singing and giving a masterclass at the Standard Bank Youth Jazz Festival. In 2007, Sara received a full scholarship and teaching assistantship at USC's Thornton School of Music.
As an independent 24-year-old musician, Sara has toured Japan, South Africa, Boston, New York City, Chicago, Memphis, Denver, San Fran, and Berkeley and she plays regularly around her homebase, Los Angeles. Look for her to appear in the forthcoming book by Scott Yanow entitled, "The Jazz Singers". Leib has also established herself as an in demand session singer. Visit website for more info or contact for rates.
"She's got a beautiful, natural voice, and she improvises with aplomb, scatting with ease." - Steve Greenlee, Boston Globe
Northeast Performer Magazine says Leib "reinterprets the template of the standard into something that seasoned jazz enthusiasts and crossover fans from the Norah Jones camp will both be blown away by.one of those touch of genious phenomenons."
- Jamie Rattner, Northeast Performer Magazine.
"Sara Leib offers a fresh approach to jazz vocal classicism." - Larry Katz, Boston Herald
"Sara Leib is a young, evolving talent and with the future of jazz in her hands.the tomorrows of jazz will be secure." - Bob Agnew, LA Jazz Scene
Here's a live video of Sara And Michael playing "Little Girl Blue":
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And here's Sara performing at the Oscars:
If you want to know a little more about Sara.
LOVES:
Soup, dogs, pinkberry, gelato, dry rub ribs, design and modern architechture, bouncy balls, tribal art, string cheese, boggle, and the tragically-cancelled television show Huff.
