Sandra Booker
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Sandra Booker
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BIOGRAPHY
Ms. Booker is a distinct and dynamic new voice in the next generation of jazz vocalists. Her voice is stirring and strong; her renderings are singular and personal. Her delivery is clear and pronounced. She sings with intensity and feeling. A masterful interpreter, she takes the listener on a journey with each lyric she sings and demonstrates a musical individuality that is both mesmerizing and heart wrenching. With a voice of almost four octaves, she is always in the moment and in complete control of that moment.
Booker takes a very independent and fresh approach to the classic jazz tradition, breaking new ground, adding an urban edginess to her music. Still, she never neglects the most vital aspect of her art; her ability to swing. Swinging is not just a idea to her, swinging is a way of life. Legendary drummer Billy Higgins often said "Sandra Booker is my favorite singer because she can really swing." She scats brilliantly, creating melodically and rhythmically compelling solos. Add to this exquisite tone and impeccable timing and you quickly understand what has endeared her to musicians and fans around the world.
She has worked with numerous artists including Lalo Schifrin, Patrice Rushen, Harry Connick, Jr., Billy Mitchell, Frank Collett, Mike Melvoin, Alvester Garnet, Billy Higgins, Lev Kushnir, Terri Lynne Carrington, Gerald Wiggins, Joe LaBarbera, Darek Oles, Phil Upchurch, BlackNote, the WDR Big Band, 'Round Midnight, The New Trio, and Ernie Watts. She has served as the opening act for the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis, The Texas Instruments Jazz Big Band, Norman Brown, Brenda Russell, and the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra.
In 1999, she was invited to KoIn, Germany to perform with Grammy Award Winning and Oscar nominated composer/arranger Lalo Schifrin and the WDR Big Band. The release "Jazz Goes To Hollywood" (Aleph Records 016) is a collection of music composed by Schifrin for motion pictures including Cool Hand Luke, Mission Impossible, and The Cincinnati Kid. "Jazz Goes To Hollywood" also features saxophonist Ernie Watts, trombonist Nils Landgren and drummer Wolfgang Haffner. Recorded live at the Koln Philharmonie, this was the first time Booker performed with a big band and it serves as a testament to her commanding versatility, while she places her vocal signature on each performance.
Hailed "Regina della Notte", Queen of the Night for her riveting stage performances at the Valtellina Jazz Festival in Italy and the Jazz en Tete International Jazz Festival and the Rive de Gier International Jazz Festival in France, she constantly pushes the musical envelope.
Not restricted to one form of artistic expression, her face has been featured in fine art and photography exhibits, including Roland Fisher's "Faces of LA" at Munich Museum in Germany and Phillippe Morotti's "LA: The People" in Los Angeles, CA.
Whether singing standards from the Great American Songbook, exploring obscure material or performing original compositions, she sings it as she hears it. Backed by her solid rhythm section that includes Danny Grissett, Peter Buck, Mike Valerio and Steve Cotter, she is pioneering a new jazz evolution. A sultry combination of pure sound and pure soul, Sandra Booker is redefining the meaning of the modern jazz singer.
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Sandra Booker
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