Magma’s take:

Notting Hill’s hub of culture hosting weekly jazz connoisseurs.

Zara McFarlane (vocals), Rio Kai (double bass), Lyle Barton (keys), Will Cleasby (drums) 

Multi award winning Jazz singer, Zara McFarlane sings music by Sarah Vaughan, one of the jazz singing legends of the 20th century, ‘the musician’s musician’, whose story is rarely told.

The twice Jazz FM vocalist of the year winner has led her band in festivals from British Summer Time (Hyde Park), Field Day and BoomTown Festivals to prestigious international jazz festivals and venues such as Ronnie Scott’s, The Jazz Cafe, The Royal Albert Hall, Love Supreme (UK), Rochester Jazz (US), Cully Jazz (CH), St. Lucia Jazz Festivals and SXSW (US).

With a voice that has been described as ‘a caressing voice of sparkling clarity’, Zara is an in-demand vocalist internationally and has performed with acclaimed musicians including High Masekela, Gregory Porter, Gary Bartz, Ernest Ranglin, Shabaka Hutchings, Moses Boyd and Ezra Collective and collaborated with esteemed producers Lil’ Louie Vega, Swindle, Floating Points, Osunlade and Dennis Bovell.

In the centenary year of her birth, Zara McFarlane is releasing album “Sweet Whispers: Celebrating Sarah Vaughan” on June 14th, Eternal source of Light / k7! Records.

Zara’s live show tells the story of this great Jazz icon. It will not only include key songs from Sarah’s career but also songs and artists that influenced her and helped her sustain a career from her early legendary debut performance at Carnegie Hall in 1946 right through to her death in 1990.