Additional Information
Soprano singer and cantor Sharon Azrieli, also known as a major patron/philanthropist for music in Canada as we know, is embarking on a new side of her career as a jazz singer after having worked successfully all her life in the realms of classical and Jewish sacred music. She is deeply rooted in Montreal yet was also raised on jazz and the Great American Songbook, so this beautiful extension of her musical world appears to be quite natural, without, however, abandoning her prestigious achievements. Her show Sharon—presented at Salle Le 9e a few months ago—successfully embodies this artistic reinvention, and the three-set program taking place this Sunday, September 27, at Upstairs serves as the next showcase of this evolution.
INFOS AND RESERVATION AT UPSTAIRS HERE
PAN M 360: So, how is Sharon doing those days?
Sharon : You know, I’m so busy, but I guess that’s really good. Yeah, it’s good to be busy. It’s good to be busy. I like to work. I am always working on five things at once. But I have to say I had a rough summer. I had my favorite auntie died on August 28th and I was with her. And that was harsh.That was very harshAnd then another auntie was sick, but she’s going to recover, hopefully. So, it’s just a lot.
I sang in Bayreuth, home of Richard Wagner. If you would have ever said to me that I was going to sing in Bayreuth, I would have said you are crazy, you’re dreaming ! No, it’s great. It’s so fascinating because I sang the work of the son of Wagner.
Yeah, and I sang a world premiere by Bruno Walter, the creator of the Israel Philharmonic. I loved it. And you know, I also have Jewish music concerts that I do all over the world, it’s been very well received. They want me to go back and they would be interested in having my students come and perform there. So that’s cool. Very cool. But then right after that, I went right to New York to the one auntie who had the heart attack. And then I went to California for the other auntie who died. So yeah, it’s been a tough summer.
And I’m going to be singing again in Israel, at the festival that I created after October 7th – as a response to the fact that now it’s becoming increasingly difficult for Israeli musicians all around the world. I wanted them to have work.
I think it was last year, I sang Mendelssohn’s Psalm 94 at this festival, and my dressing room was a bomb shelter, you know?! The purpose of this festival is to give work, you know, to all the musicians in Israel, but also it has to be only Jewish sacred music. Jewish sacred music. And that was very hard to get the orchestras on board, because Israelis are secular, they’re not religious.
PAN M 360 : Some very positive vibes through the last months, but also very tough vibes too. And then now you sing some jazz!
Sharon : So this concert that I’m doing on the 27th is at Upstairs and it’s my first time singing there. And yes, well, if you can come, it will be great.It’s a jazz set. In other words, it’s a pure jazz set with John Roney.
PAN M 360 : Okay, still with John Roney, excellent Montreal jazz pianist who’s which you work for your « Broadway » show.
Sharon : Yeah, I always work with John, a real jazz guy. And then on bass, Phraser Hollins, and Mark Nelson on drums.Those three guys are really talented and experienced too.. Yeah, it’s going to be great. I’m really looking forward to it.
PAN M 360 : I know now that your musical world is vast : opera singing, sacred music singing, but also Broadway and modern jazz!
Sharon : And for me, you know, jazz is just fun. Really, I love jazz. It’s actually my first love from when I was 12 years old.
PAN M 360 : And what are you gonna sing on Sunday September 27th?
Sharon : So it’s a three set evening, I’m gonna sing standards of course. The middle set will be all Gershwin. So some of the songs will be from my recordings with John, one or two are from the album I made with Matt Herskowitz. I love Matt, fabulous musician with great humour. I would be very grateful to work with such gifted musicans. And what I did in the recent past was I always brought John Roney with me to New York. Not just is he a fantastic musician, but he’s such a lovely man. He’s so sweet! He’s become a very good friend. And he’s so reliable. You know, when you’re up on the stage, you really need to know that the person has your back.
PAN M 360 : We obviously know that you have a classical background and training. So how did you switch from opera singing to jazz?
Sharon : Because I was extremely lucky. You know, when I started to realize that I had to get out of classical because of age, I was lucky enough to work with the composer Frank Wildhorn. So I made my first album with him. I was the one who translated his words into French! He basically taught me how to sing in a pop jazz voice. Yeah, with a different voice, not only with the lyrical training. So it’s a totally different technique. Yeah, it’s real jazz.
PAN M 360: And we also must know that jazz has always been important in your own music world.
Sharon : Yes. Singing jazz took me back to my childhood. Because when I was 12, I discovered a huge amount of Ella Fitzgerald records of my parents. And I fell in love with Ella.
PAN M 360 : Is she still your favorite?
Sharon : Yes she is.
PAN M 360 : About Sarah Vaughan? Betty Carter? Shirley Horn? Abbey Lincoln?
Sharon : I love them all ! Also, somebody that people have not heard of so much is Dakota Staton, who I love too; after Ella, she’s my favorite. Ella is just lyrical… You know, I guess the closest instrument to her voice would be a flute. Because she goes right to the pitch, she’s never off pitch. She’s perfect. And Dakota, to me, sounds like a happy trumpet. So I’m a big fan of jazz singing. And there are fantastic singers today. That’s amazing!
