There Is Something Special About Sarah Jarosz
Listening to Sarah Jarosz' album, Song Up in Her Head, I found myself soul searching on my way to work. There is something about this 18-year-old. I can't decide if I was mesmerized by her impeccable instrumental skills, her blues-drenched lyrics or her passion. Still, she is just like any other teenage girl and loves to talk. Jarosz was so willing to chat with me that I felt like I was laughing along with my best friend.
Growing up with a guitar-playing mother and attending bluegrass jams in Wimberley, Texas, are what sparked her musical interests. Familiar with the piano and mandolin at age 10, she was eventually drawn to the clawhammer banjo, built by one of the first players she heard, Bernard Mollberg. She says that it is all about learning from other musicians. "I feel that having roots in the acoustic and bluegrass scene really helped me, as far as learning improvisation and learning music by ear. I've just been trying to create the most original music possible. As time goes by, I'm constantly listening to as many other artists as I can and learning from them and creating my own music out of that."
With the influence of artists like Tim O'Brien, Gillian Welch, Chris Thile, Darrell Scott, Mike Marshall and Abigail Washburn, her album is a mixture of original bluegrass songs and two covers, including the Decemberists' "Shankill Butchers." She told me that although songwriting has been the only thing she could see herself doing, school is still important. In fact, Jarosz is moving to Boston to attend the New England Conservatory of Music.
Driving home after our interview, I removed her CD from my car stereo and noticed that the back of the case read, "... This bird flies higher with a song up in her head. ..." And because of this, I sang along with Jarosz for the rest of the day.
©2008 Country Music Television, Inc., a Viacom company. A division of
Chris D. says:
I love this CD, I’m working on writing a review of it for My Kind Of Country, it’s fantastic.
I wish I could meet her…
Jasper says:
Your review really inspired me to check her out. I have never heard of her before. Looking forward to hearing her now. I love nothing more than an album that leads to soul searching and helps the spirit soar.
Jessica Phillips says:
I just interviewed Sarah for Country Standard Time as well. This is a beautiful album and she’s great to speak with.
Redmaz says:
Amazing talent, absolutely wonderful. Sarah is already in the upper echelon of today’s Roots Music artists and Americana Music Legends. This teenager has loads of talent, and will be a major force in today’s music scene.
solongsowrong says:
This girl’s music is decades ahead of her age. I’m not sure I can fully appreciate it, it digs so far down into the soul. This is a kind of talent that comes along only a few times in each persons lifetime.
I was amazed at all the artists she has been influenced by. An Americana who’s who, and more. She sort of has a Gillian Welch kind of look and feel about her.
She may never be a latest and greatest, but she’s going to have a long productive career ahead of her, with many others looking for collaborations and use of her services.
Thanks for this excellent blog, and introduction into an amazing talent.
peppersprout says:
Sarah Jarosz’s music excites me!
It’s what I call “shared music”: really, really great quality music my teenage daughter and I can appreciate and enjoy together without any complaints from either of us!
Her talents are amazin’ - vocal, instrumental and sonwritin’! … no wonder someone of Tim O’Brien’s caliber sings her praises to the rafters.
Thank you Sugar Hill and Ms. Brass for bringin’ Sarah Jarosz to our attention … in the midst of all the mediocrity on the “music” market, she shines, shines, shines!
John Fine says:
Living in Austin, I have had the pleasure of hearing Sarah Jorosz play twice now and am amazed at how musically mature she is at such a young age. I look forward to watching and listening to her for a long time. I’d love to see her get together with another local musicial prodigy, 15 year old Ruby Jane Smith. Now that would be a show!
Redmaz says:
Hi John, Ruby Jane is great too. Now THAT would be a wonderful duet project! How lucky you are to live in Austin, and to have seen these two talented teens perform. The next generation of the Roots Music scene is in good hands.
peppersprout says:
Mr. Fine,
Kudos for the mentionin’ of Ruby Jane! … another little gal who’s the real deal when it comes to makin’ music of the sharin’ kind … she’s loaded with talent and spunk along with bein’ “rooted” to my two favorite places in the whole world - Mississippi and Texas! … a little lady after my own heart: “Mississippi soul; Texas spirit” as her site proudly proclaims!
You can bet your boots if Ms. Jarosz and Little Miss Ruby Jane are ever on a show together here in Central Texas, my daughter and I will be found in the crowd!
Miss Wendy says:
Alyssa, great blog! You’ve inspired me to check her out.
Monica Hudson says:
Reading your comments has made me really feel lucky to have known Sarah since she was 11 and to be living in one of the most beautiful towns in Texas. Wimberley, just like Sarah is full of talent and heart. Watching Sarah grow up at the Friday night jams and hearing her sweet voice is something that will always stay with me. My husband, Don and the other older ones were always there for her, helping her master her talent and she was there for Don onstage playing and singing with the rest of the Friday night jammers, when he turned 50. I wish her all the luck in the world as she goes up to Boston to start college.