Sarah Jane Morris & the Gianni Vancini Band

Leave your preconceptions at home,” begins one London critic’s assessment of sensual singer-songwriter-actress Sarah Jane Morris, who straddles blues, rock, jazz and soul with a goosebump-raising four octave range that rumbles from the heels of her size nine shoes to the tips of her flame-red mane. Some hear Sarah Vaughan or Billie Holiday in her voice, others cite Macy Gray and Erykah Badu, although Morris herself likes to say: “Nina Simone meets Janis Joplin.” Yet always her own woman, Sarah Jane Morris is a truly independent spirit with a stunningly expressive voice who’s been making exciting music for 25 years. Sarah Jane trained at the Central School of Speech and Drama before embarking on a career as a singer and actress. Success with the British band Communards in 1986 (most notably a performance on the UK’s best-selling single of the year, Don’t Leave Me This Way) led to solo albums (the first of which included the BBC-banned iconic rendition of Me and Mrs Jones), sell-out tours and appearances on TV, theatre and film.