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Sarah L King
Sarah L King started singing in soul & gospel choirs before emerging as a solo artist. Growing up under the influence of her father Mike King, jazz trumpeter and bandleader, King has developed a fine ear for harmonies and improvisation. After a richly creative career in filmmaking and screenwriting, King has turned fully to music, catapuling onto the UK jazz scene with her assured, pure-toned vocals and sophisticated songwriting. Her richly metaphoric lyrics are a direct result of her storytelling past - and her ability to communicate emotional depth through her vocals 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 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.
King is a regular on the London jazz circuit, appearing at Pizza Express Soho, 606 Club, Hampstead Jazz Club, and Piano Smithfield. She has recently toured in Stockholm. Spring 2026 brings the release of her new original album The Light Ahead, produced again by jazz giant Claire Martin OBE and ECN music. Featuring her regulars Jim Watson piano, Laurence Cottle on electric bass and the UK's most exciting young drummer Jamie Murray. On her forthcoming release, King draws on influences from jazz, soul, acid jazz and disco in her original compositions and creates a highly polished ‘Donald Fagan' vibe’ in her recordings.
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Sarah L King: The Light Ahead
by Neil Duggan
Sarah L. King follows up her assured debut album, Fire Horse (ECN Music, 2024), with The Light Ahead. She maintains the format of the first album, mixing cover versions with eight of her own compositions. There is a clear shift in the tone of this release, with the focus being far more optimistic and celebratory. “I wanted to write something uplifting," says King. “All that matters is today -let's focus on that. Stop longing, stop wondering. Just be, and enjoy." ...
Continue ReadingSarah L King: Fire Horse
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 ...
Continue Reading"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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Music
April
From: The Light AheadBy Sarah L King
Snow Blind
From: Fire HorseBy Sarah L King
Black Dog
From: Fire HorseBy Sarah L King
