Sara Mitra is a singer, songwriter and bandleader whose new music forges an original, alternative sound at the junction of folk, jazz and country blues. Tonight Mitra previews tracks from her forthcoming second album ‘Losing You’, with a limited-run FREE download ‘Baltimore Oriole / In The Pines / The Secret Sorrow Of A Travelling Man’ produced by Ben ‘Nostalgia 77’ Lamdin.
A Time Out ‘Critics Choice’ live act, Mitra’s original songs hold their own within a strong set of well-known standards and fresh reworkings of traditional numbers. With band-members including saxophonist James Allsopp, drummer Tim Giles and bassist Riaan Vosloo, the 7tet’s reworking of the classic standard ‘Baltimore Oriole’ lets Mitra’s vocals weave effortlessly around the psychedelia-laced electric guitar of Rob Updegraff. Horn lines from Fulvio Sigurta underpin a solo of ruthless organ virtuosity from Ross Stanley. Alternate A-sides ‘In The Pines’ and ‘The Secret Sorrow Of A Travelling Man’ showcase a more intimate side to Mitra’s voice, with the Leadbelly murder-blues leading into a wryly upbeat original song with soul-piercing lyrics.
Recorded using vintage tape technology, the tracks are available to download free from Weds 3rd Sept 2014 for a limited time only via Impossible Ark’s Bandcamp page until the vinyl 12-inch release of Mitra’s second album for Impossible Ark, scheduled for November 2014.
“Mitra has a really fresh-sounding voice: a great night” The Sunday Times
“Especially talented” The Daily Telegraph
“When I heard the album, I immediately became a fan of her voice… Absolutely brilliant.” Jamie Cullum, BBC Radio 2
“Her skill as a songwriter and honesty as a performer shine through” Mercury Prize Recommends
“I love her voice… I love her Englishness.” Gilles Peterson