Sarah Jane Morris

Thursday 12th June - Saturday 14th June
£20.00 - £36.00

Information on Sarah Jane Morris

"Leave your preconceptions at home," begins one critic's assessment of sensual singer-songwriter Sarah Jane Morris, who straddles blues, rock, jazz and soul with a goosebump-raising four octave range that rumbles from the heels of her size nine shoes to the tips of her flame-red mane.

Famed for her association with the Communards in the mid-80s and infamous for her banned cult rendition of the classic 'Me and Mrs Jones', Sarah Jane Morris has always attracted as much attention for her outspoken politics as for her soul-driven, seismic voice. Seven solo albums later, pop stardom on the continent, and a diverse set of musical collaborations on record, film and stage, Morris continues to steer her unorthodox career to greater heights.

Some hear Sarah Vaughan or Billie Holliday in her voice, others cite Macy Gray and Erykah Badu, although Morris herself likes to say: "Nina Simone meets Janis Joplin." Yet always her own woman, Sarah Jane Morris is a truly independent spirit with a stunningly expressive voice who's been making exciting music for twenty-five years.

Some reviews:

Neil Spencer, The Observer: A voice that can excite shivers of passion and delight. Soaring, swooping, sensual and sophisticated, this voice is more than a style, it's a force of nature... Torch song, soul standard or smoky blues, the message remains constant: human passion with a dazzling voice.

Billboard magazine: Love and Pain is the perfect landscape for Morris's Southern Comfort-hued voice which brings to mind Janis Joplin by way of Alison Moyet, Shara Nelson and Macy Gray. And her voice shines in these tales of life and love... Throughout, Morris's independent spirit reigns supreme.

The New York Times: Mariah Carey may be mainstream America's idea of a diva, but Europeans take a more eclectic view of the role. The Englishwoman Sarah Jane Morris has earned her queenly status over twenty years of activity.

Harpers & Queen: Her voice sounds so deep as to be almost scandalous. More than a great voice, she is several great voices.

Q: A young, hip, deep-voiced British version of Sarah Vaughan.

The Guardian: In suggesting a simultaneous steeliness and impassioned fragility she joins a club of vocalists that admits only the best.
The Sunday Times: River deep, mountain high, Sarah Jane Morris has a magnificent, enormous voice.

Vogue Italia: Those in-the-know rate her as one of the world's great jazz-soul vocalists of the past twenty years and more.

Evening Standard: When that throaty, extraordinarily-deep voice comes booming out of that pale, auburn-haired face, it¹s a bit like the possession scene from The Exorcist.

Music Week: Sultry and uncompromising.

New Musical Express: Provocative and unorthodox.

Gay Times: Sarah Jane Morris has the kind of extensive vocal range Carole King and others must have longed for.

John Fordham, The Guardian: An individuality and urgent charisma.

Evening Standard: If you could hear voluptuousness, it would sound like Sarah Jane Morris... [her voice] harangues, then caresses; invites intimacy, then soars away.

Daily Telegraph: Her excellent voice soars and swoops with the agony and ecstasy of the delta and smoky Chicago clubs.

The Village Voice: Morris carved a hefty European following by delivering standards and originals in a mighty, crinkly voice.

Get Rhythm: One of the most outstanding contemporary singers this country has produced... it's her deep, earthy, soul-driven sexuality and emotional resonance of her voice that produces comparisons with Janis Joplin, Bessie Smith and Sarah Vaughan.

Financial Times: In a hot, sweating, packed room she gave off vibrations which ranged from Janis Joplin to Julie London, the bar room of the former, the late night sensuality of the latter.

The Gazette, Montreal: Morris does not interpret soul. She is soul, with all its passion and pain, joy and sorrow, hard times and highs.

The Star Phoenix, Montreal: Morris is a vocal titan, infusing her original songs with shades of funk, soul and blues.


For further information, check out www.sarahjanemorris.com