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  "Illuminations" Reviews . Media Testimonials . Feature Articles . Curriculum Vitae . Electronic Press Kit (EPK) .

BetterBaking.com
"Music and Dance Reviews", May 2009 Issue
Sarah Jerrom - Illuminations

"I first heard Sarah Jerrom on Sirius XM and then again on CBC. Her rendition of Heather on the Hill is riveting but her take on Skylark is exceptional. A relaxed, mellow style - with awesome backup in Jamie Reynolds, Harley Card, Mark McIntyre, Mike Murley and Alison Young (tenor and alto sax respectively) plus others makes this a singer to watch."

- Marcy Goldman - Editor, BetterBaking.com

IAJE Canada Newsletter
"CD Reviews", Volume 12 Number 2, Fall 2007
Sarah Jerrom - Illuminations

"Diverse and sophisticated are two words that repeatedly come to mind when listening to Toronto-based vocalist Sarah Jerrom's debut album, Illuminations. Diversity is perhaps most apparent in song selection; tried and tune tunes such as "Skylark" and "Lush Life" find a place among offerings written by country stalwart Don Gibson and by more contemporary artists such as Brad Mehldau (to whose music Jerrom provides lyrics), Swedish jazz vocalist Josefine Cronholm, and Jerrom herself. Each tune seems equally at home here, and this owes largely to the infusion of Jerrom's sophisticated touch as an arranger.

Harmonically compelling, with creative and engaging accents, Jerrom sets a personal touch on these tunes. This skill is particularly evident in her treatment of Gibson's "Oh Lonesome Me", where, with a mix of horns and acoustic guitar, she makes it her own- with a tip of the hat to Neil Young's treatment of the same tune. Diversity also comes to mind when speaking of the album's orchestration. From the duo format of "Lush Life" to the 9-piece ensemble- complete with strings- that performs Cronholm's "Wild Garden", Jerrom is not afraid to explore a variety of timbres and moods. The album benefits greatly from this willingness to explore, as Jerrom orchestrates the album in a manner that coaxes the most from each tune.

Sophistication is again evident on the part of the musicians appearing on this album. Jerrom's rhythm section performs deftly throughout much of the album, and is in particularly fine form on "Stompin' at the Savoy". They underpin each song with a concise and refined style that is perfectly suited to this music. Saxophonist Mike Murley is stellar throughout the album, and the band as a whole, in its various permutations, shines. This is a strong album that will leave you eager to hear more."

- Justin Litun - IAJE Canada Newsletter 

A Web of Fine Music
"Mike's Picks", Nov. 3, 2007
Sarah Jerrom - Illuminations

- Mike Saunders - A Web of Fine Music, CKTB Radio

O's Place Jazz Newsletter
"O's Place Review", Summer Issue 13.2
Sarah Jerrom - Illuminations (3/4)

- D. Oscar Groomes - O's Place Jazz Newsletter

The Toronto Star
"What's On Disc - Jazz, April 5, 2007
Sarah Jerrom - Illuminations (3/4)

"Sarah Jerrom, a U of T jazz program grad, takes risks. Sweet and clear tones in high registers are one of her ten-cut album strengths, alongside using her own lyrics, arranging songs and recruiting talented young colleagues. She draws from musical theatre, standards and jazz chestnuts, making an appealing job of most though her vocalese needs work and the high soprano should come down sometimes. She wrote the smart title track, there's a good take on "Angel Eyes" and a droll "Oh Lonesome Me". Top track: a really interesting "Wild Garden" (by Sweden's Josefine Cronholm) with neat band solos and a string quartet as a bonus."

- Geoff Chapman - The Toronto Star

Media Quotes & Testimonials:

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"We really love (Sarah's) stunning sophisticated jazz... the style is powerful, stirring yet gentle and very subtle. The choice of material is marvelous and gels together into a lush sound that has you wanting more, and our audiences most certainly will love her sound. It certainly struck us a an extraordinary CD- one that will be very well received by our astute audience. (Sarah's) feel and experience is evident and shows in a very confident way. I would say the word that kept coming to mind was `sophisticated'."

- Peter Merrett - Programming Director, PBS 106-7FM Melbourne, Australia

"Illumination, that's the word I was looking for when I heard Sarah Jerrom's music on her CD. Sarah has that voice quality that stands out among the others. A voice that grabs your attention. This is a CD that needs to be in your collection..."

- Leon Reyes - KVMR Radio 89.5 FM Nevada City/Sacramento, California
Host: Leon's Jazz In A Box

"After listening to (Sarah's) album, I get the impression that there is something in this for everyone... there's something laid back, there's some beautiful lyrics, understated but meaningful, and really, really impeccable phrasing.... And there's some swinging stuff."

- Colin Smith -  "One Flight Up", 88.1FM CKLN, Toronto, Canada

"An extremely talented and well versed vocalist, Sarah's on the ground training shows through and has made her more than a capable artist. Jazz is in excellent hands with the likes of Sarah."

- Tony Bates - Highlands 100.7FM, Australia

"The beautifully honed skills of both singer and composer are totally evident on Sarah Jerrom's "Illuminations". Let me say right up front that I love it. Sarah tackles a bunch of great standards with panache and throws a couple of interesting originals into the mix. Neither is Sarah any slouch with her arrangements. Several of my favourites get the Jerrom treatment. "Lush Life" does it for me (not forgetting Nat Cole), along with "Angel Eyes" and "Stompin' at the Savoy'". Don Gibson's great song "Oh Lonesome Me" is a standout and "Heather On The Hill" takes me straight back to the village of Brigadoon. "Illuminations" has certainly found a spot on my "Jazz Infusions' playlist."

- Robin Elks - 2TENFM 89.7 and 98.7 Tenterfield, Australia
Host: Robin On The Radio

"Great album. Fantastic stuff for our radio station."

- Alex Pijnen - BRTO Radio, Netherlands 

"(Sarah) is equipped with a lovely voice and a go-get-em attitude"

- Ashante Infantry -  The Toronto Star
"The Jazz A List", April 25, 2006

 Features:

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GADZOOKS
by Andrea Ledwell, Thursday, June 4, 2009

To view the full article, please visit
http://gogadzooks.com/episodes_2/episode_187/episode187.htm

HUMBER ET CETERA
by Tracey Finklestein, Wednesday, March 22, 2008

To view the full article, please visit
http://www.humberetc.com/displayArticle.php?id=785&sid=17

MIDTOWN TOWN CRIER
by Lorianna de Giorgio, April 2007 Edition

Singer's album carves place for her in city's jazz scene

Who says Sesame Street can't be inspirational? Certainly not Sarah Jerrom. It was while watching an episode of the popular children's show, which starred Diana Ross, that a 3-year-old Jerrom decided singing would be in her future. Twenty-four years later, the University of Toronto jazz program grad has followed through with her musical passion. Having just released her debut album, Illuminations, in early March, the midtown resident is slowly but surely making a name for herself as a singer in Toronto's jazz scene.

The St. Catharines native's self-produced CD was recorded in August. It features both up-and-coming and established musicians, including tenor saxophonist Mike Murley, guitarist Harley Card and pianists Stu Harrison and Jamie Reynolds. Two of the 10 songs were penned by Jerrom; other tracks she arranged. The rest were chosen because they each meant something special to her. The self-penned "Dusty Nugget", about a homeless person dealing with a newfound freedom, is a version of the song "Dusty McNugget" from Brad Mehldau's Largo. "The lyrics are written from the perspective of a homeless person, but it can apply to anyone who, when face-to-face with an offer of freedom and happiness, feels that they don't deserve anything good," Jerrom wrote in the liner notes for her CD. "Sometimes when you have an opportunity in life, you're not ready to take it," she elaborated in early April, a month after her CD's release at the west-end Lula Lounge. "The song is indirectly about myself."

While she grew up in a musical family, jazz wasn't Jerrom's first choice. She moved to Toronto in 1999 to study classical music at U of T, but soon realized the jazz students at the university seemed to be having a much better time. "I wasn't very happy in the program, and I was looking at the jazz musicians, going `They look really happy. What's up with that?'" Jerrom recalled, with a laugh. "So I decided at the end of that year to go into the (jazz) program." Her original jazz audition was a disaster, but Jerrom didn't give up. She began taking private lessons, and re-auditioned two years later. Her second time around was a success.

Since graduation Jerrom has been striving to get her name out there. She supplements her solo career with singing with the Debonaires, a fun country/jazz/experimental that improvises old Hank Williams tunes. Jerrom's friends Mark Laver (saxophone/vocals), Mike Smith (bass/vocals) and Ryan Driver (piano/vocals) round out the band. But it's jazz she loves. "You can sing a song differently every time," Jerrom says. "You're not locked to a page." Although she has upcoming gigs with the Debonaires and as a soloist at the Toronto Downtown Jazz Festival in May and June, Jerrom admits she's still trying to figure what Toronto's music scene is all about. She is confident, however, about her place in it. "I'm just trying to do my own thing, and do the music that I love," she said. "I'm trying to put my own stamp on things and see what that'll bring with it. I'm not going to try and be anybody I'm not just to be different."

Big Bird (and Ross) would be proud.

To view the full article online, please visit:
http://www.towncrieronline.ca/main/main.php?direction=viewstory&storyid=6243&rootcatid=%

SNAP! ST. CATHARINES
by Patrick Adams, April 2007 Edition

Sarah Jerrom Launches her New CD, "Illuminations"

Talented young jazz vocalist and composer Sarah Jerrom, recently launched her new CD, "Illuminations" at The Laura Secord Secondary School (her alma mater!) Sarah, local to St. Catharines,who was accompanied by her band, put on a great show, and judging by the audience response, Sarah has a great career ahead of her. Good luck Sarah!

For photos (taken by Patrick Adams), please visit:

http://www.snapstcatharines.com/display/6283/117/

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Sarah Jerrom, B.Mus.

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Please visit www.sonicbids.com/sarahjerrom to view
Sarah Jerrom's  EPK.