Home » Jazz Musicians » Helen Sachs
Helen Sachs
HELEN SACHS
Born in the Dutch East Indies (Indonesia), Helen Sachs began to study classical piano at the age of 6. She started to perform as a vocalist with her own jazz trio during High School. Inspired by singers in the forties, such as jazz vocalists Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, but also posinger Rosemary Clooney, and above all Frank Sinatra and Mel Tormé, Helen Sachs soon began making some choices and, many of those songs she chose she still sings in her current program. Today, her repertoire exhibits a great deal of influence by the modern Brazilian composers/song-writers A.C. Jobim, Edu Lobo, Ivan Lins and by the great jazz musicians/composers, such as Bill Evans, Horace Silver, Benny Golson, Miles Davis and others.
In 1957, Helen Sachs moved to Germany, and in 1969, she began to perform regularly with duos, trios, small combos and big bands. She has performed at Hotel Lounges, Jazzclubs, Festivals and at other Gala events in Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium and toured Poland and former Czechoslovakia with success. She also has worked with various radio and television stations in Europe, a.o. TROS and VARAH, Hilversum/the Netherlands, SWF, Baden-Baden and Südfunk Stuttgart, Germany and TV Bratislava, former Czechoslovakia and at Jazzfestivals in Düsseldorf, Wuppertal, Idstein, Burg Dreieichenstein, Viersen a.o. in Germany, Bratislava Jazz Festival, Czechosl., Montreux Jazz Festival, Switzerland, North Sea Jazz Festival, The Netherlands and Disneyworld, Paris, France a.o. During several sessions, Helen met some of the most remarkable jazz personalities, such as Mel Lewis and Jeff Hamilton with whom she did studio recordings. At special occasions, she performed with Hank Jones, Art Farmer and Toots Thielemans. As a Jazzvocal Teacher, Helen taught at Duisburg University (Germany) from `73 through `88. As a member of the Jazz Faculty Ensemble of D.U. and as a member of IAJE (International Association of Jazz Educators), she performed at their annual Conferences in Miami and Anaheim. In 1997, Helen Sachs moved to the USA. She is married to alto saxophonist and teacher Dr. James Helder. In 1998, she established "Crossings", a Jazz Septet operating at Jazz Festivals, Clubs and private venues. She is a member of the "Big Band On The Rio Grande", Las Cruces, as a vocalist and conga player and performs as a guest vocalist on request with several bands in the El Paso/TX and Las Cruces areas. In `99 and 2001, with the Helen Sachs/Curt Warren Quintet, incl. James Helder, ts,as,fl, from Las Cruces and accompanied by a bass player and drummer from Cologne, Germany, she performed succesfully in eight German cities, among them Nienburg (Sister City of Las Cruces). In 2000 she toured Germany with Curt Warren in guitar and trombonist Allan 'Doc' Kaplan. In 2001 and 2003, she toured Germany together with saxophonist James Helder and the Ralf Butscher Trio. A special reunion with Helen's musician friends took place in December 2004 at the famous 'melody' club in Cologne, Germany. She toured Germany on a special request in June 2005. Plans for a next tour in 2006 are in process. 2006 and 2007 several performances in Germany.
Read moreTags
In 1994 and 1995 I received Certificates Of Appreciation for Outstanding Service to Jazz Education from the IAJE (International Assoc. of Jazz Educators).
Primary Instrument
Vocals
Willing to teach
Advanced only
Credentials/Background
I have taught Jazzvocals at Duisburg University, Duisburg/Germany from 1974 - 1988 and have administered private lessons to students. I had my last students in 2006. Momentarily I have no ambition to resume teaching.
Music
Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson
