Jazz enthusiasts regard British singer
Zara McFarlane as a truly exceptional talent. Born and raised in London, in recent years the vocalist has been compared outright to well-known artists like Erykah Badu and Cassandra Wilson. But what sets McFarlane apart from other singers is her completely original sound. Naturally, it leans heavily on the beautiful voice of the thirty-year-old singer but it is also influenced by soul, jazz, dub and Afro-funk. McFarlane, the child of Jamaican parents, dares to emphatically mix all these styles. Her music is released on DJ Gilles Peterson’s label. Her second album,
If You Know Her, was released this year and is an unparalleled crossover classic. She drew on her own sources of inspiration for the album on which she worked with many artists. McFarlane is giving a special dinner concert at the festival, in the North Sea Jazz Club.
