Chris White
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Sara K's voice is resonant, bluesy and powerful, yet manages to remain intimate
I suspect Water Falls, Sara K's newest album, will soon be a staple on plenty of AAA format radio stations. It could also turn up on certain jazz and NPR stations, the latter more likely late at night or during pledge drives. Would that music like this might also find itself in heavy rotation on MTV. I know AAA doesn't have a stellar reputation in certain circles (and there are good reasons for skepticism) but Sara K's Water Falls is a fine example of the better attributes inherent in Adult Alternative Album music. The superb Ms. Sara K has crafted an album that flows seamlessly from beginning to end with self-penned material exhibiting heart and intellect. Her songs on Water Falls are performed by experienced players who convey the pleasure and satisfaction that comes from doing what they love at such a high level.
Ms. K has a distinctive voice and plays 4-string (tenor) guitar. Her voice is resonant, bluesy and powerful, yet manages to remain intimate. Among the sorority of similar artists, one of closest vocally might be Cassandra Wilson. Sara K is joined on Water Falls by an excellent group of mostly European musicians, not surprising as her label, Stockfisch Records, is headquartered in Northeim, Germany. To get a taste of Water Falls, check out her Web site, where you can preview four of the songs: the title track plus "Step on Mine," "Destination," and "All Your Love (Turned to Passion)." You can also download an MP3 of the last tune in a live concert version that was recorded in Germany with fellow Stockfisch artist, guitarist Chris Jones, who appears on all but three of the dozen tracks on Water Falls. There is a nice bio of this Texas born artist, who currently resides in New Mexico, along with links to fellow artists and audio samples from her catalog of eight (!) albums. Now that I've become a fan I gotta' dig into some of the older ones.
The album opener is the only anomalous track on the album, an accordion version of "Chattanooga Choo-Choo" performed by Pavlyk Volodymyr. As Sara K explains in her liner notes, he's a Russian street busker she passed each day on her way to the studio, who would shift from his usual repertoire of musette waltzes each time he spotted her to play this American music tribute. The disk has a well designed booklet with capsule intros and complete lyrics, making it easy to appreciate not only Sara K's musical capability but also her ability to turn a phrase. She can be caustic, as in the poetically political "Step on Mine" with these lines: "You can stand your ground and stab my back/ But you cannot make me lie for you/ Feed yourself and starve the pack, save a chosen few" -- the last word admittedly misprinted as 'view.' Sara K can also be poignant, as on a tribute to her mother, "In the Fall (Maggie's Dream)," or romantically enraptured, as on "Destination." The one constant is her powerful, spirited delivery.
~ Chris White, greenmanreview.com
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Zoe Montana
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Featured CD on radioioACOUSTIC week of Aug 11, 2003
If the voice sounds familiar... could be you listen to Tracy Chapman... perhaps Melissa Etheridge. But Sara K. puts her unique style, emotion and earthly vocal tones into each song. Lyrics are excellent, that four-string "tuned to an A" guitar is the perfect accompaniment. I bet it's a laugh when someone else tries to pick it up and play it! I'd post the video of that! Come hear Sara K. on radioioACOUSTIC! She'll be here long after this week's debut!
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Austin Audu
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Superb New release from Sara K., deeply moving and well recorded
I have owned all Sara K.previous releases and found Play on Words to be the most sofisticatedly beautifull, this new release I beleieve reached another dept of expression in her wonderfull output.
Sometimes Jazzy sometimes pure blues and sometimes almost new-age but always Sara K. intimate, beautiful and totally commited to the feelings expressed. After every listen I can feel an aura of warm beautiful emotion wrap around me, and the feeling of waterfalls!!!. There is a lot of new elements in this recording like Sara is experimenting a bit, but she throws in a few tracks at the end in the old style(alla "play on words", "Tell me I am not dreaming" etc )
The recording quality is excellent, although the recording level is a bit on the high side, so you may have to turn your volume down a bit. Definitely 5 star for the performance and recording. Thanks Sara just keep them coming.
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