Azhaar Saffar - Out There

Debut album from violinist / vocalist Azhaar Saffar, part of the award winning latin jazz band Sirius B. Featuring guest saxophonist Ian Ballamy and pianist Jason Rebello.In 1998 Azhaar formed the Brazilian jazz band Sirius B with partner Joe Cavanagh, The band have released 5 albums in the U.K. and Japan and received airplay worldwide, reaching number 1 in Japan's world music chart in 2004. Their album Posto Novo was voted one of Jazz FM's top 10 albums of 2002. Their most recent album was released on Freestyle Records. The band has performed in festivals all over Europe, including the Montreux Jazz festival. In 2006 she formed her jazz quartet, featuring violin alongside her individual vocal style and original compositions. Although Azhaar has been more prominent as a singer, the violin was always her first instrument and travelling companion. She studied Arabic music in Egypt, toured Europe playing funk and jazz and absorbed Latin music during journeys in South America. All this has shaped her deep understanding of this instrument that has found expression through the medium of jazz.