Sarah McKenzie: A Love Letter to San Francisco
The "breezy technical style" and "lyrical sense of swing" that have made Sarah McKenzie a global jazz fixture are returning to Northern California this March. Although her upcoming tour dates stay just outside the San Francisco city limits, the "Paris of the West" remains the emotional anchor of her latest creative chapter.
See the full show details and ticket information at the end of this feature.
Listen to the full conversation with Sarah McKenzie below:
McKenzie’s newest single, "City By the Bay," is the heartbeat of this program. Originally commissioned in 2018 and recorded at the legendary Capitol Studios with jazz giants John Clayton and Jeff Hamilton, the track sat on the shelf for years. It wasn't until McKenzie moved to the city’s Civic Center that the music found its true resonance. Discovering a "vibrant and deeply connected community" in Hayes Valley while raising a young family reshaped her perspective, infusing the song with a newfound "soul."
These upcoming performances masterfully bridge personal narratives with the bossa-nova-infused textures of her 2023 album, Without You. The result is a performance that showcases her technical prowess on the piano while highlighting her evolution as a storyteller. By blending her original "San Francisco - Paris of the West" compositions with Brazil's rhythmic pulse, McKenzie offers a masterclass in modern jazz that feels both global and deeply personal.
What to Expect
Audiences can look forward to an evocative performance by a first-class quartet: Larry Koonse on guitar, Anthony Fung on drums, and Mike Gurrola on bass. The repertoire will transport listeners across continents, seamlessly weaving between the sophisticated jazz of Paris and the rhythmic warmth of Rio de Janeiro.
“I’m very excited to bring a beautiful quartet with me... When we play Brazilian music, we’ll transport them to Brazil; for more Parisian songs, we’ll take them to Paris. I hope listeners will come, enjoy the music, and join us on this musical journey”
