Press and forthcoming gigs
Praise for Sarah Ellen Hughes
"Sarah Ellen Hughes ... delightful work" - Jack Massarik, Evening Standard
The whole review can be found here: www.thisislondon.co.uk/music/gig
"An astonishingly assured singer" - Sebastian Scotney, LondonJazz
The whole review can be found here: londonjazz.blogspot.com
“Outstanding vocal performance” - Peter Green, The Stables at Wavendon “I heard her voice and I was like, wow!” - Toni Kofi
"Perhaps one of the best live jazz vocalists on the scene today" Brian Soundy Music and Programming Director Uk Jazz Radio www.ukjazzradio.com
Notable dates in Sarah’s calendar Album tour: (with funding from Jazz Services)
April 25th – Clare jazz, Cambridge, 9:30pm
May 2nd – Seven Jazz, Leeds, 1-4pm
May 6th – Matt and Phred’s Jazz Club, Manchester, 9pm
May 9th – Pave Bar, Hull, 2-5pm
May 14th-16th – Jersey, various locations
May 19th – Scarborough Jazz Club, 8:45pm
May 20th – Sewerby Hall, Bridlington, 2pm
May 20th – HX7 Jazz club, Hebden Bridge, 8pm
May 25th – Dempsey’s, Cardiff, 9pm
May 27th & 30th – Southport Jazz Festival, various locations
June 1st – The Jazz Cellar at the Big Bang, Oxford, 8pm
June 2nd – Spice of Life, London, 8pm
June 3rd – Burgundy’s, Kendal, 8pm
June 4th – Maltings Theatre, Berwick-upon-Tweed, 8pm
June 13th – Grove Inn Jazz Club, Leeds, 8:30pm
June 19th – Swindon Jazz Festival, various locations
June 25th – Carswell Country Club, Oxfordshire, 8:30pm
June 28th – The Cherry Tree, Newcastle, 8pm
June 29th – Bishop Auckland Town Hall, 8pm
June 30th – Lescar Jazz, Sheffield, 9pm
Sarah Ellen Hughes: biography
Sarah has been singing on the London jazz scene since 2006. Championed by leading vocalists Claire Martin and Ian Shaw, Sarah has this month released her first album: “Darning the Dream” on Say So Records. The album is a mix of standard songs and original tunes, showcasing the kind of material that makes Sarah unique – her versatility defies easy categorisation. The recording features Sarah’s quartet (Darren Altman, Rick Simpson, Tom Farmer/Andy Hamill) plus special appearances from Jim Hart, Dave O’Higgins and Ian Shaw.
The album has been selected as UK Jazz Radio’s ‘CD of the month’ for April 2010.
Sarah broke on to the London jazz scene whilst spending three years as the principal vocalist of the National Youth Jazz Orchestra (NYJO), most notably performing at Ronnie Scott's (Jan 07 & Jan 08), Pizza Express Dean Street, and The Stables at Wavendon.
Sarah is the featured vocalist with two military big bands: RAF Shades of Blue Jazz Orchestra and the Queen’s Division Big Band, with whom she recorded an album in 2007. She has considerable studio and session experience, having recorded numerous soundtracks with the Daniel Pemberton Television Orchestra. She is also a reviewer for LondonJazz – London’s leading blog on the ins and outs of the city’s scene. See www.londonjazz.blogspot.com.
Sarah comes from a musical family, learning the flute and piano to a high standard and singing in a chamber choir. But it was casually joining in with a jazz orchestra on flute that really tuned her in to the style of music that would become her passion. She learned solo singing with HYJE: Hertfordshire Youth Jazz Ensemble, before moving on NYJO, although she didn’t forget her flute and was pleased to occupy the flute chair in NYJO occasionally during 2007-8.
2010 is a significant year for Sarah – from the release of her album in March to her 24-date UK tour in May and June, supported by Jazz Services. She has also been invited to take part in three International jazz singing competitions.
For more information please visit www.sarahellenhughes.co.uk or www.myspace.com/sehughes
“Darning the Dream” is available from Amazon, eMusic, HMV, iTunes, Napster, Play.com, Tesco, and directly from Sarah’s website. It is available to order from any record shop.
Winner of the International JazzVoice Competition in Lithuania 10th April 2010