Virna Sanzone Quintet

…Virna Sanzone’s voice is informed by her fine melodic sensitivity, her sophisticated understanding of the jazz tradition and above all, her characteristically rich, soul-drenched feel. Drum Media

Having released her highly acclaimed debut album in 2005, (ABC Jazztrack), Virna Sanzone is emerging as one of Australia’s most captivating singers. Deeply soulful, yet with the ability to sail effortlessly through the most intricate jazz melodies, her passionate delivery and understated approach have seen her compared to vocal masters from Roberta Flack and KD Lang to Shirley Horne.

One of the few singers ever to be accepted into the prestigious jazz course at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, over the past decade Virna has worked consistently both in Australia and overseas, winning the admiration and respect of audiences and contemporaries alike. Virna has performed extensively with her own band at a long list of festivals and events and spent some years as a regular vocalist with Sydney’s godfather of soul, Jackie Orszaczky, working closely with Tina Harrod and Jade Macrae.

Though her roots are firmly planted in the fertile ground that resides between soul and jazz, Virna has been an integral part of projects that have seen her move across a diverse range of genres, most recently lending her voice to Delta Goodrem’s live shows, appearing with Paul Capsis, supporting Roy Ayers and Ernest Ranglin on their most recent Australian tours, and appearing as a guest vocalist with Lulo Reinhardt, grand-nephew of the great Django Reinhardt, and with the “voice of the revolution”, South African singer and freedom songwriter Vusi Mahlasela.

Virna is currently writing material for a second album, and continues to perform regularly with her own band and as a featured guest vocalist. Tonight, hear her perform with some exciting voices in local jazz.

She not only has a beautiful voice but is an accurate, skilful and passionate singer…an outstanding soloist with thrilling improvisational skills and the rare quality of being a good listener… Tony Backhouse