Video of the Day: Sarah L King shares ’Stolen Moments’ from debut album Fire Horse
Thursday, January 4, 2024
The jazz singer/songwriter releases her debut album on 16 February on Peccadillo in collaboration with ECN Music.
Fire Horse is jazz singer-songwriter Sarah L King’s debut album, featuring eight of her highly personal original compositions, alongside her arrangements of ‘Devil May Care’, ‘Lush Life’, ‘Stolen Moments’ and ‘Show You The Way To Go’.
Commenting on the repertoire she selected for the album, King said: “The songs are an emotional journey, mixing my originals with covers that I chose because I felt as closely connected to their meaning as my own originals. ‘Holding On To Love’ is a song of positivity, while ‘Born Yesterday’ is more of a pouring of confessional frustration. I lost my dad during the writing of the album and ‘Skyscapes’ is very directly about him. I think what connects all the songs is my emotional directness. I can only write about what I know, and I hope by being specific, others can relate, and they become universal in appeal.”
The recording reflects King’s musical influences growing up – Stevie Wonder, Joni Mitchell, Karen Carpenter. “I gravitate towards soulful overtones in my style, probably due to an appreciation of Roberta Flack, Kandace Springs and many others,” says King. “I compose on the piano & the musical styles that I’ve absorbed over many years inevitably reveal themselves. The great jazz vocalists I admire are Nina Simone & Billie Holiday, because of the emotions they imbue, so mix this with the earliest of my influences and it’s shaped my work as more of a jazz - singer-songwriter hybrid genre.”
Claire Martin OBE produced the album and selected leading British musicians to accompany King including Jim Watson on piano and keyboards, Laurence Cottle on electric bass, Jeremy Brown on double bass, Ian Thomas on drums, James McMillan on flugelhorn and Chris Traves on trombone. “I love Sarah’s vocal style and songwriting skills. Thought provoking, tender and sophisticated lyrics set to soulful jazz melodies that are fresh and well crafted,” says Martin. “I’m very proud to be involved with her debut album and look forward to more people hearing her music.”
See the video below to ‘Stolen Moments’ and catch the live launch on Sunday 18 February at Pizza Express Jazz Club, Soho, London www.pizzaexpresslive.com
