Sarah McKenzie — Montreux Jazz Festival, 2017

Live concert film of Sarah McKenzie at the Montreux Jazz Festival 2017, recorded on the shores of Lake Geneva and released by the festival’s official channel. An Australian pianist and singer based between Boston and Paris, McKenzie embodies a refined school of vocal jazz rooted in the American songbook and in swing. This full concert alternates original compositions from her albums, including « Paris in the Rain », with standards such as « I Won’t Dance », « Embraceable You » and « I’m Old Fashioned ». Leading the group from the piano, she is joined by a first-class quintet: Geoff Gascoyne on double bass, Hugo Lippi on guitar, Donald Edwards on drums and guest vibraphonist Warren Wolf. The interplay between voice, piano and vibraphone lends this live concert a chamber-like elegance, served by Montreux’s renowned acoustics. The recording documents an artist in full maturity, balancing personal writing with jazz tradition. A reference live concert film for lovers of contemporary vocal jazz.