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Sarah Clay & The Magic Band

Breathing new life into Swing standards, Bossa Nova & Latin jazz, Sarah Clay and her band celebrate the Great American Songbook.

American Songbook, Vintage Vocals & Latin Jazz

Sarah Clay - vocals, flute

THE MAGIC BAND:
Ed Brainerd - flugelhorn
Steve Bulmer - upright bass
Bob Ferrier - guitar

With voice, flute, and playful stories Sarah explores American popular song of the early 20th century. Her rich tone captivates any audience and her unique wit makes them smile.

A musician constantly honing her craft, Sarah Clay is a singer, flutist, performer and teaching artist. She reveals the story of the human condition through song: triumph, fear, love, loss, and joy. Early training in classical music developed her discipline, technique, and tone clarity. But her father's guitar playing informed her love of jazz and the Great American Songbook.

Sarah studied classical flute with a member of the Radio City Music Hall Orchestra, and voice with a Russian opera diva. A versatile musician, she has performed a kaleidoscopic range of styles: classical, folk, plainchant, blues, country, tango, swing, you name it. But her father's jazz called to her. Her dad used to jam and play with Erroll Garner (who wrote Misty), and Dodo Marmarosa (bebop pianist for Gene Krupa and Artie Shaw).

In the 1990s Sarah began intensive jazz study: a new song every week. In 2002, after developing a substantial repertoire of standards, she formed Clay Jazz and began performing throughout New England, releasing two favorably reviewed recordings. Sarah continues to delight audiences and to teach at her thriving private studio and as a member the music faculty at Holyoke Community College.

"Clay is adept at both vocal and flute renditions of jazz standards, switching easily between her own vocal cords and the flute's elegantly curved mouthpiece." - John Stifler, Daily Hampshire Gazette, in review of "Clay Jazz Standards"

"Vocalist Sarah Clay is a musician of considerable experience, with a penchant for creating interesting phrases with material that could become clichéd in less capable hands." - Rich Mayer, music reviewer

"Impressive" ... "delightful" - Daily Hampshire Gazette