Born on April 1st In Wilmington, Delaware, Ms Lazarus started singing at an early age, imitating the singers she heard on her mother’s record collection of Broadway musicals. After several years of classical piano lessons, she switched to saxophone in order to play in the school band. By 16, she was singing and playing tenor saxophone with the American Youth Jazz Band and went on a European tour that culminated in an appearance at the Montreux Jazz Festival. While studying English literature at Harvard University, Ms. Lazarus continued playing and singing jazz and studied briefly with Harvard Artist in Residence, Illinois Jacquet. He encouraged her to become a professional jazz artist and invited her to perform with his big band during a European tour. At the end of her final year at Harvard, she won the Downbeat student music award for “Best Jazz Vocal Soloist"—college division.

After graduation, Sara moved to Paris and began working steadily in various club and concert settings. She worked with pianists Jacky Terrasson, Alain Jean-Marie; bassists Riccardo del Fra, Pierre Boussaguet; drummers Steve Williams, Sangoma Everett and performed at many festivals including Jazz In Marciac, JVC Paris Jazz Festival, Vienne and the Red Sea Jazz Festival. In 1994, Miss Lazarus was awarded first prize in the prestigious Thelonious Monk International Jazz Vocal Competition. Her first solo Cd, Give Me The Simple Life (Dreyfus Jazz) was released to rave reviews. She was nominated for the French “Victoires de Jazz” and toured extensively throughout France.Her most recent Cd, It's All Right With Me (also on Dreyfus Jazz) finds Miss Lazarus in the company of the phenomenal French gypsy guitarist Bireli Lagrene. Highlighting Sara’s hard swinging phrasing and multi-colored voice, this second album has established her as one of today’s outstanding jazz vocal artists.

Press Reviews

Miss Lazarus can swing and she enunciates well. And she can improvise. She scatted a chorus of agile bebop ideas. Her voice was warm and supple.
The New York Times

Sara Lazarus’ qualities have blossomed to a quintessence: pure, natural phrasing, the ability to gently articulate each note and find the right inflections, stretching out each line with confidence.
Jazzman

It is in this supple vocal technique, and a kind of smile that is always present, that we find the purity of Sara Lazarus’singing.
Classica-Répertoire

A clear voice, carefully thought out scat singing, and perfect swing.
La Dépêche du Midi

This American in Paris is distinguished by her straightforward, unaffected approach to the music and a “joie de vivre” that delights the audience.
Dauphine Libérée