We Could Be Lovers

Sarah McKenzie should be a name all Australians recognise. It’s a tragedy we don’t. Her third album, We Could Be Lovers, is a wonder.  She wears her talent lightly, performing original songs interspersed with covers of songs by the likes of the Gershwin Brothers, Cole Porter, Duke Ellington et al. Not only does her original work stand up to the songs by the master songsmiths, but her exquisite voice beautifully renders these old standards as something new. Her new arrangements for these covers are wonderfully fresh, creating a cohesion to the album that wouldn’t be possible in the hands of a lesser musician. It’s hard to pick out individual tracks for praise, the whole album is a joy, but when pressed, I feel her new arrangement of the Oscar Hammerstein song I Won’t Dance is particularly special.

She is a musical polymath and chanteuse rolled into one.  Click on the youtube link below to watch her perform one of her original compositions.  I’m looking forward to following her musical progress, and seeing her perform live.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-FPOpqZXqLk&w=854&h=510]

As part of the Sydney Women’s International Jazz Festival, Sarah will be performing at the Seymour Centre’s Sound Lounge this Friday, the 7th of November.