“Colman intelligently negotiates the often perilous path of finding balance between respecting the original song and making her own mark on it. It is testimony to her skill and vision that she manages not only to find that balance but to take the music beyond any such thoughts, successfully making an album that amplifies the wonder of Mitchell’s songwriting in a refreshing, thoughtful and joyful way.”
Ink on a Pin
Sara Colman’s celebration of the work of Joni Mitchell, one of the most influential singer-songwriters of our time.
Inspired by her love of classic songwriting and known for her instinctive improvisational energy, the release of Ink on a Pin, her fourth studio album (Stoney Lane Records) showcases Sara’s versatility as she weaves elements of folk, Americana and jazz music into sumptuous new arrangements of iconic songs drawn from Mitchell’s wide repertoire.
“A class act . . . richly evocative . . . immaculate performances. Situated in the hinterland somewhere between jazz and the territory of the singer-songwriter.”
Sara Colman and band at The CBSO Centre, Birmingham.
Ink on a Pin follows What We’re Made Of (2018, Stoney Lane Records) her third solo album described by American jazz critic Ted Gioia as “Worthy of your attention” and met with wide critical acclaim. The title track won the ‘Jazz and Blues’ category in the UK Songwriting competition announced that year and Sara herself won ‘Lyricist of the Year’.
Current collaborations include the very special Ribbons: original music written by Sara and pianist Rebecca Nash and recorded with a handful of specially invited guests. Sara also writes with multi-instrumentalist Nicholas Dover for their project Motion Slow
Sara has worked with some of the leading lights in British music including Laura Mvula and Mahalia.
In 2019, Sara (a firm supporter of initiatives addressing barriers facing women in pursuit of social and political equality) was commissioned by The Canales Project (US) to write a song celebrating the life of Sakena Yacoobi, an Afghan activist who has spent her life fighting for the rights of children and women to education in Afghanistan. The song was premiered in Washington, US in May 2019.As a vocalist, she has made numerous festival appearances (Cheltenham, Manchester, Mostly Jazz, ReVoice, Sligo) and has appeared as ‘featured vocalist’ with The National Youth Jazz Orchestra of Scotland at the BBC Prom Night at The Royal Albert Hall.
In addition to her own singing and writing achievements, Sara is an inspirational educator, teacher and coach and is in much demand across a variety of educational media.
She leads the Jazzlines Summer school with Percy Pursglove, is a regular tutor at Sligo Jazz Summer School and co-leads jazz vocal workshops around Europe with Liane Carroll, Sophie Bancroft, and Brian Kellock. She is also a visiting tutor in contemporary vocal styles and songwriting at both Royal Birmingham Conservatoire and Guildhall School of Music and Drama.
