About Sarah
Bio
Sarah is a native of California, graduate of Oberlin College, and New Yorker for most of her professional life. She started her music studies in jazz after singing several major roles in high school musical theater productions at Cuesta College, going on to receive an honorable mention in Downbeat Magazine at age 18 for a solo she performed at the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland. She moved to Santa Cruz to continue jazz studies at Cabrillo College with famed jazz educator Ray Brown; after earning an A.A. degree she made her way to Oberlin, where she studied opera and classical music, and started her early music career in the 1990s in New York City and the U.K. She can be heard on several recordings of both jazz and early music, has toured the U.S. with her jazz quartet and crossover group, Nuove Music as well as with her early music ensemble, Galileo's Daughters. Her latest recording is with husband/co-conspirator Marc Wagnon, on the upcoming release, Interesting Times, Buckyball Records BR029.
Reviews"Ms. Pillow has a lovely, natural-sounding tone and a versatile gift for interpretation..."
- The New York Times The music on this CD ("An Afterthought") features the vocals (and lyrics) of Sarah Pillow, who turns in a first rate performance.... two tracks that really stand out are "Venus Incognito" and "The Warrior", which blend great lyrics and vocal delivery." -Progression Magazine |
"In other words, Sarah swings. Her scat version of Bird's "Confirmation"had her rising up into the stratosphere, displaying a formidable vocal range". - Jazz Now "...after hearing Sarah Pillow's delivery of the Improvisation on the Passacaglia I was not surprised to learn that she is also an accomplished jazz singer. " - Gramophone |
"...Sarah Pillow's singing of "O Maria Dei Genetrix" is gorgeous...." - The Sunday London Times "...Sarah Pillow sings with considerable allure in the beautiful soaring melody of the lament "Proserpina Gelosa" and the beguiling low register of "il mio cocente ardore"..." - BBC Music Magazine |
