Sarah Jerrom

Sarah Jerrom is one of the freshest and most talented young vocalist/composers on the Toronto jazz scene. A natural performer since the age of three, the St. Catharines native began her musical career by performing in award-winning choirs and various dinner theatres. A graduate of the University of Toronto’s Jazz Performance Program, she has honed her skills by studying and collaborating with some of the most in-demand musicians in Canada, including Mike Murley, David Occhipinti, Melissa Stylianou, Phil Nimmons, Kevin Turcotte, Dave Young, John Sherwood, Heather Bambrick and Christine Duncan. Sarah’s eclectic tastes have led to her development of material that embraces traditional jazz standards, contemporary original compositions and jazz-inspired arrangements of contemporary songs that purposefully blur the lines between musical genres. Sarah is unpredictable and fearless – ready to explore any number of musical avenues. Her recently launched debut album, "Illuminations", has received local (CIUT, CKLN), national (CBC) and international (BBC) radio airplay, and widespread media attention. Other credits include a 2004 appearance as a featured soloist with the University of Toronto Vocal Jazz Ensemble’s recent CD, “Songs of Life”, the 2004 duo recording, "East of the Sun", with guitarist Harley Card, and in 2006, “I Remember You”. Sarah’s vocal arrangements have been performed nationwide, and she has directed numerous southern Ontario high school vocal jazz ensembles and clinics. Sarah Jerrom made her professional Toronto jazz singing debut to a packed house at the now legendary “Montreal Bistro & Jazz Club”, and has also appeared at well-known Toronto jazz boites, “The Rex Hotel Jazz & Blues Bar”, "Lula Lounge", and “Gate 403”, as well as JAZZ FM 91’s prestigious “Sounds of Toronto Jazz Series", The Ontario Vocal Festival, The 2003 International Association for Jazz Education annual conference, The Mississauga Living Arts Centre and The Dofasco Centre for the Arts.

"Sarah Jerrom, a U of T jazz program grad, takes risks. Sweet and clear tones in high registers are one of her ten-cut album strengths, alongside using her own lyrics, arranging songs and recruiting talented young colleagues. She draws from musical theatre, standards and jazz chestnuts, making an appealing job of most... She wrote the smart title track, there's a good take on "Angel Eyes" and a droll "Oh Lonesome Me". Top track: a really interesting "Wild Garden" (by Sweden's Josefine Cronholm) with neat band solos and a string quartet as a bonus."

Geoff Chapman - The Toronto Star ("What's on Disc", April 5, 2007)

"We really love (Sarah's) stunning sophisticated jazz... the style is powerful, stirring yet gentle and very subtle. The choice of material is marvelous and gels together into a lush sound that has you wanting more, and our audiences most certainly will love her sound. It certainly struck us a an extraordinary CD- one that will be very well received by our astute audience. (Sarah's) feel and experience is evident and shows in a very confident way. I would say the word that kept coming to mind was `sophisticated'."

Peter Merrett - Programming Director, PBS 106-7FM Melbourne, Australia

"(Sarah) is equipped with a lovely voice and a go-get-em attitude..."

On her debut CD, Illuminations, Sarah Jerrom has created a piece of work that has generated a lot of attention for its originality and musicianship. The recording is self-produced and was recorded in Toronto in August of 2006. Sarah has arranged much of the material and also surrounded herself with a compliment of top-flight musicians, including Stu Harrison and Jamie Reynolds on piano, Harley Card on electric and acoustic guitar, Mark McIntyre on bass, David MacDougall on drums, Mike Murley on tenor sax, Alison Young on alto saxophone, Rebecca Hennessy on trumpet & fluegelhorn, and Joel Green on trombone. Illuminations also features a sumptuous string section on the Josefine Cronholm composition, "Wild Garden".

Highlights of Illuminations include a contemporary, lilting and slightly mysterious version of the Hoagy Carmichael/Johnny Mercer classic "Skylark", replete with masterful and harmonically complex solos by Mike Murley and Jamie Reynolds; a funky, vocally challenging take on Brad Mehldau’s "Dusty Nugget" (with original lyrics by Sarah); Sarah’s original title track, "Illumination", which showcases her crystalline-pure pitch and technical control; Strayhorn’s immortal "Lush Life" – done here as an evocative and moving piano/voice duo featuring Stu Harrison; a snappy and swinging take on Rodgers & Hart’s "Do it the Hard Way"; a pristine, classic and uncluttered version of Benny Goodman’s "Stompin’ at the Savoy", featuring synchronistic rhythm section solos; a soulful and swinging rendition Dennis and Brent's "Angel Eyes"; the modern and haunting "Wild Garden" (Josefine Cronholm) with a lush, contrapuntal string arrangement by Sarah; a Neil Young-inspired perspective on Don Gibson's "Oh Lonesome Me" and the final track on the CD, "Heather on the Hill" - the radiant Lerner & Loewe classic from their hit Broadway show, "Brigadoon".

BUY SARAH'S NEW ALBUM

"Illuminations" is now available across Canada at the following stores:

And also online at:

For international orders, please buy from www.cdbaby.com/sarahjerrom