Sara Leib Biography

One of the most inventive young vocalists and improvisers around, Sara Leib is proving herself an integral key to the modern jazz scene. Her harmonic approach to scatting, charismatic personality, and endearingly thoughtful stage presence have echoed through the jazz communities of her native Los Angeles and the New Englad jazz scene

Born and raised in Los Angeles, California, Sara Leib has been honing her vocal and performance skills from a young age. In 1999 she participated in the GRAMMY High Scholl Jazz Ensembles, where she performed at various GRAMMY functions, and won a scholarship to the Berklee College of Music. In 2001, she continued her studies in jazz at the New England Conservatory. In 2002, Leib performed with renowned saxophonist Dave Liebman, and won the Downbeat Student Music Award for Outstanding Performance by a College Jazz Vocalist, her second honor in the acclaimed publication. In 2003 Sara had the honor of participating in the Jazz Aspen Snowmass Academy in Aspen CO where she worked with artists like Christian McBride, Allan Harris, and Cyrus Chestnut. She has performed at the International Association of Jazz Educators Conference, at the famed Jazz Bakery and Catalina Bar and Grill in Los Angeles, CA and toured Japan in 2003 with Jim Stinnett an Bob Kaufman.

At the age of 26, Sara has studied and worked with such notable figures as Art Lande, Tierney Sutton, Kevin Mahogany, and innumerable others. She has performed at various clubs and concert halls nationwide, and her skill, charisma and passion are undeniable. In the words of Bob Stoloff, having enjoyed a live performance of hers in Boston, MA in 2000, "her performance - is memorable revelation of her unusual talent in this idiom."

On a more personal note, Sara lives in Los Angeles, and is gigging, working as a studio singer, teaching, and writing. She currently teaches at the University of Southern California and World Mission University. Right now she enjoys listening to Dar Williams, Ella Fitzgerald, Ben Folds, Amel Larrieux, Kate McGarry, Nancy King, and the music of her friends (see Links page). A self-confessed music nerd, Sara also enjoys Ethiopian food, Boggle, french dips from Doughboys, and laying down scat tracks and layered vocals for electronic music producers. She can currently be found cavorting around LA eateries, getting annoyed at the lines at Pinkberry, at home laughing/sobbing at DVDs of Showtime's brilliant but prematurely cancelled show "Huff", and scouring the world and the internet for new hobbies and cool Japanese house slippers.