Biography:

A female trombonist, playing in The Ray Charles Orchestra? Not until Sarah Morrow.

Charles had been playing a concert with the Dayton Philharmonic when he first heard Morrow play. His reaction? “Who is that trombone player? I want to hire him.” One week later, he hired Morrow, and she toured with the legendary Charles globally for two years. (Read more: https://www.nytimes.com/2001/08/15/style/trombonist-sarah-morrow-crosses-a-barrier-horning-in-on-male-turf.html).

Since then? She’s performed extensively with a veritable who’s who of artists, has composed and produced multiple recordings, written for musical icons and has produced/arranged music for major Hollywood film. Most recently this “SuperStar of the Trombone” collaborated with Dr. John, the Nitetripper as musical arranger and producer of his recent CD, Ske Dat De Dat…The Spirit of Satch! debuting #1 Billboard, #1 CJC, and #1 on iTunes concurrently.

Artists she’s worked with include: Ray Charles, Funk Legend Bootsy Collins, the Duke Ellington Orchestra, Van Morrison, Blind Boys of Alabama, The funky Drummers of James Brown (Clyde Stubblefield and Jabo Starks), drummer Bernard Purdie, Bonnie Raitt, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Anthony Hamilton, free form saxophonist David Murray, organist Rhoda Scott, tenor sax legends Pee Wee Ellis and Hal “Cornbread” Singer, Cuban rapper Telmary, Rickie Lee Jones, the American All-Stars in Paris, Mingus alumni Ted Curson and Ricky Ford, French star Anne Ducros, trumpeters Arturo Sandoval, Terence Blanchard, Marcus Belgrave and Nicholas Payton, Branford Marsalis, Pianist Robert Glasper, drummer Chris “Daddy” Dave, DJ Jahi Sundance, underground hip hop sensation Mike Ladd, cultural icon Dr. John the Nite tripper, and many others…as well as with her own bands.

Morrow has even appeared as a headliner and as a guest performer at jazz festivals throughout the world. Her 2006 performance at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC prompted a standing ovation just 20 minutes into her group’s set. This recorded concert was chosen to represent live jazz music in America for the NPR World Special “Washington DC: A City of Music.”

Sarah’s vibrant onstage personality and her innovative approach to composing, playing and interpreting music have earned her a rank as one of the top jazz musicians in the world. She continues to experiment, innovate, and forge ahead on a path few, and in some cases none, have traveled before her.

“Ray Charles had in his ranks a great musician, Sarah Morrow. A long and beautiful career await this talented jazz woman!” PULSAR Radio France

Fun Facts About Sarah Morrow

• Sarah’s 2004 set at the Saratoga Springs Jazz Fest was voted as one of the top 20 festival highlights in 20 years.
• Sarah was chosen as Guitar Player Magazine’s Top 10 Jazz Musicians under the age of 30; however Sarah declined the honor because she was in fact over the age limit.
• Sarah was awarded the Guinness Jazz Festival 2005 Rising Star Award during Ireland’s stay as the cultural capital of the European Union
• She received A Key to the City of Montmelian, France
• She is a 2007 winner of the Chamber music America/FACE French American Exchange grant awarded for advancement of science in music.
• In 2016, Sarah produced and wrote a brand new arrangement of the children’s classic “Bare Necessities” for Disney Motion Pictures and Award-winning Director and Producer, Jon Favreau’s highly acclaimed The Jungle Book
• She served as a cultural envoy for Africa Regional Services of the US State Department, visiting countries such as Madagascar, Benin and Togo.
• Sarah Morrow’s original compositions have been delegated as “Jazz Standard Repertoire” in the book The Jazz Canvas, alongside the most innovative Jazz Artists of today.
• Sarah is endorsed by the Getzen Company, Inc. located and manufactured in Elkhorn, Wisconsin. She is one of Getzen’s most requested Artist in Residence clinicians and travels worldwide performing on her Getzen model 3508Y trombone.
• While on tour, Sarah makes frequent visits to local orphanages to spend time with the children; she hopes one day to adopt children of her own.
• In between tours, Sarah is proud to work as a clinician and guest soloist for junior high, high school and universities around the world.
• Sarah is an avid supporter of the World Wildlife Fund.