Prestige Concert - Sarah Jane & Tony Remy - Upclose & Personal

“…a transcendent mix of cold fury and compassion” THE OBSERVER

“…this is a remarkable album…for its ambition, its sound world, its powerful stories

and, at its centre, the breath-taking range and timbral richness of Sarah Jane

Morris’s voice..” JAZZWISE

Sarah-Jane Morris is the British soul, jazz and r&b singer who topped the UK pop

charts for a month in 1986 (with The Communards’ disco version of ‘Don’t Leave Me

This Way’) and then eloquently and joyously sidestepped the mainstream ever after.

Morris’s magnificent soul voice and emotional power would have brought multiple

Grammy awards and celebrity status to most singers with her charisma and drive.

But for over 25 years of a unique career, Morris has steered by her own star, not the

music industry’s, and that independence has brought her a devoted audience,

inspired by her belief in the power of song to change hearts and minds.

Sarah Jane is doing a series of intimate concerts accompanied by the virtuoso

guitarists Tony Remy to promote “Bloody Rain” and her forthcoming tribute to John

Martyn “Sweet Little Mystery”.

John Martyn produced a canon of music that is both breathtakingly bold and achingly

tender in its complex, atmospheric beauty. Martyn’s music influenced a generation of

his peers, friends and fans alike. His contribution continues to resonate many years

after his passing. He has picked up endless acclaim worldwide from those fortunate

enough to be seduced by his unique voice and instrumental mastery; and his music

will live forever in the annals of popular music history. Sarah Jane Morris, through

her own brilliant interpretive vocal talents, has picked up this torch to shine a light on

this great musical maverick, illuminating his life's work, in her inspirational new show.

Tony Remy is one of the world's most exciting guitar players of any genre. His hard-

edged rhythmically driven approach is enriched with jazz intuition and bluesy soul.

Live on stage, his relentless invention and incredible raw energy can set the crowd

on fire. The reputation he has gained within the jazz community worldwide is fast

making a legend out of this North London musician. He has toured and recorded with

a wide range of musicians which include: Courtney Pine, Jason Rebello, Julian

Joseph, Freddy Hubbard, Jean Toussaint, Steve Williamson, Lonny Liston Smith,

Lenny Whit, Omar, Steps Ahead, Gary Barlow, Simply Red, US3, Cleveland

Watkiss, Pee Wee Ellis, Ronny Laws, Nelson Rangell, Connor Reeves, Maysa Leak,

Down to the Bone, Matt Bianco, Karen Ramirez, Noel McKoy, Annie Lennox, Craig

David, Icognito, M-People and many more.

Dedicated to the people of Africa and the music of that continent that has inspired so

many artists for so long, Bloody Rain brings together a stunningly diverse group of

performers. Among a raft of guests on the album are the Zimbabwe-born singer

Eska, Senegal’s Seckou Keita on kora, the Soweto Gospel Choir and Adam Glasser

from South Africa, American/Israeli jazz trumpeter Avishai Cohen, the UK-Caribbean

saxophonist Courtney Pine and the former James Brown arranger Pee Wee Ellis -

and of course the soulmates from Morris’s touring band including guitarist and co-

writer of many of the new songs Tony Remy, Sting sideman Dominic Miller, Henry

Thomas, Martyn Barker, Tim Cansfield and Adriano Adewale. On vocals Morris is

accompanied on the album by a magnificent choir – well-known British jazz singer

Ian Shaw, her son Otis Coulter, Janine Johnson, Lilybud Dearsley, Gianluca Di

Martini and Roberto Angrisani. Bloody Rain is an ambitious collection of love-songs,

tributes, warnings and protests that Sarah Jane regards as one of the best albums of

her life.

Video Links

Into My Arms -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xupYrsRy3pw

Fast Car -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xvl7pCrtIdg

Piece of my Heart -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZT0DRLmiv7Y

Live at Ronnies -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OLhpchXZO6k

I Shall be Released -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KEE6KnoLfso

Don’t leave me this way -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44zZFsgh1MU

Interview with Tony and Tim -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eK-dYbTi-_I

about

working with Sarah Jane.

Worldwide Reviews

“Her shows are always models of powerful songwriting, atmospheric ensemble

playing and passionate delivery.” John Fordham, THE GUARDIAN

“A voice that can excite shivers of passion and delight. Soaring, swooping, sensual

and sophisticated, this voice is more than a style, it’s a force of nature…Torch song,

soul standard or smoky blues, the message remains constant: human passion with a

dazzling voice.” Neil Spencer, THE OBSERVER

“…her voice shines in these tales of life and love.. Throughout, Morris’s independent

spirit reigns supreme” BILLBOARD Magazine

“Mariah Carey may be mainstream America’s idea of a diva, but Europeans take a

more eclectic view of the role. The Englishwoman Sarah Jane Morris has earned her

queenly status over twenty years of activity. “ THE NEW YORK TIMES

“Her voice sounds so deep as to be almost scandalous. More than a great voice, she

is several great voices.” HARPERS & QUEEN

“A young, hip, deep-voiced British version of Sarah Vaughan” Q

“River deep, mountain high, Sarah Jane Morris has a magnificent, enormous voice.”

THE SUNDAY TIMES

“Those in the know rate her as one of the world’s great jazz-soul vocalists of the past

twenty years and more.” VOGUE ITALIA

“When that throaty, extraordinarily-deep voice comes booming out of that pale,

auburn-haired face, it’s a bit like the possession scene from The Exorcist.” EVENING

STANDARD

“Sultry and uncompromising” MUSIC WEEK

“Provocative and unorthodox” NEW MUSICAL EXPRESS

“Sarah Jane Morris has the kind of extensive vocal range Carole King and others

must have longed for.” GAY TIMES

“Her excellent voice soars and swoops with the agony and ecstasy of the delta and

smoky Chicago clubs.” DAILY TELEGRAPH

“Morris carved a hefty European following by delivering standards and originals in a

mighty, crinkly voice.” THE VILLAGE VOICE

“One of the most outstanding contemporary singers this country has produced…it’s

her deep, earthy, soul-driven sexuality and the emotional resonance of her voice that

produces comparisons with Janis Joplin, Bessie Smith and Sarah Vaughan.” GET

RHYTHM

“In a hot, sweating, packed room, she gave off vibrations which ranged from Janis

Joplin to Julie London, the bar room of the former, the late night sensuality of the

latter.” FINANCIAL TIMES

“Morris does not interpret soul. She is soul, with all its passion and pain, joy and

sorrow, hard times and highs.” THE GAZETTE, MONTREAL

“Morris is a vocal titan, infusing her original songs with shades of funk, soul and

blues.” THE STAR PHOENIX, MONTREAL

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