Sarah Jaffe Performs Friday Night at The Parish
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Music fans tend to treasure certain profound moments they share with their favorite artists. Such is the case with Sarah Jaffe. I’ve seen her perform to a massive crowd of admirers packed round the outside stage at The Mohawk, practically singing along to all the songs, and I’ve seen her perform to a respectfully hushed gathering of both loyal fans and curious onlookers seeing her for the first time on a lone stage in Marfa, TX, lit by nothing but a string of lights, the moon and the stars.
Both moments are frozen in time. Both were emotional. And Jaffe is very much like her music – thoughtful, passionate and lovely.
Jaffe’s debut full-length release, Suburban Nature, was a mind-blower for many who had never heard her music before. It truly marked the arrival of a fresh, new songwriter to look out for, after it received rave reviews for its beautiful, lovelorn, deeply emotional songs. And there was no denying – it’s her gorgeous voice that makes each track a powerful experience. Needless to say, she was feeling the pressure of heightened expectations with the release of her new album, The Body Wins. It was nerve-wracking, but Jaffe took the time to ease her way into things by exploring different ways of recording with the CD/DVD The Way Sound Leaves A Room. The CD contains home demos of new material and alternate versions of tracks like “Clementine,” while the DVD features a documentary by filmmaker Jon Todd Collins of the recording process.
This was definitely a new direction for Jaffe, and despite being worried about not living up to all the praises of her previous work, The Body Wins is rapidly picking up momentum. Jaffe shifts her focus from acoustic folk to more pop-laden melodies and beats, and her voice maintains that incredible emotional potency.
Jaffe’s current tour includes a stop Friday night at The Parish, 214 6th St. The bill includes performances by electro funk-pop artist Zhora and John Dufilho‘s project John Singer Sergeant. Doors open at 8 p.m. Highly recommended.
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