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Sarah L King

Sarah started singing in soul & gospel choirs before emerging as a solo artist. Having a musical heritage, her father a jazz trumpeter, her grandmother an orchestral conductor, Sarah has a fine ear for harmonies and improvisation. Citing Karen Carpenter and Roberta Flack as early influences, Sarah’s unique phrasing and her ability to imbue an emotional depth to her lyrics have brought her much recent acclaim.

In 2024 Sarah released her debut album, Fire Horse, produced by Claire Martin OBE, & featuring Jim Watson (p), Ian Thomas (d), Laurence Cottle (eb) & Jeremy Brown (b). Featuring mostly her own compositions, the album has been lauded by critics for Sarah's ‘vocal prowess and formidable songwriting and arranging ability’. Her vocal timbre and songwriting style have been compared to the likes of Rumer, and her music has featured on Jazz FM’s Single Of The Week, as well as BBC Radio 3 Jazz Requests, and Helen Mayhew’s True Brits.

Sarah’s previous releases include an EP of jazz standards What’s New? in 2020. An accomplished bandleader, Sarah plays regularly on the London jazz circuit at venues including Piano Smithfield, and Toulouse Lautrec Jazz Club. Her recent sold-out album launch gig at Pizza Express Jazz Club Soho has put her firmly on the map as an exciting rising star to look out for.


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Album Review

Sarah L King: Fire Horse

Read "Fire Horse" reviewed by Neil Duggan


Starting her musical path with coaching from Mike King, one of the UK's leading contemporary vocal coaches, Sarah L King (no relation), surfaced as a solo jazz vocalist, releasing an EP of standards and several singles. Her passage was helped by a family heritage consisting of an accomplished jazz trumpeter father and an orchestral conductor grandmother. An early career as a writer and director of short films provided the right impetus to be a compelling musical narrator. King's ...

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"This debut album is like a breath of fresh air. The music is full of personality and a story in the album that is worth telling, and indeed hearing time and time again"  Nick Lea, Jazz Views

"Pure toned, new to us singer-songwriter Sarah L King is brilliant"  Stephen Graham, Marlbank Jazz

"Fire Horse is a highly assured and engaging debut providing a neat blend of smooth soul and jazz"  Neil Duggan All About Jazz

"I love Sarah's vocal style and songwriting skills. Thought provoking, tender and sophisticated lyrics set to soulful jazz melodies that are fresh and well crafted"  Claire Martin OBE

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