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Grammy® nominated jazz singer, Sara Gazarek, has been one of the leading lights of an impressive generation of jazz vocalists since her brilliant emergence at age 20. She has five acclaimed albums, an ardent fanbase, enthusiastic reviews, a teaching position at the University of Southern California, and collaborations with such luminaries as Kurt Elling, Fred Hersch, Billy Childs, and Larry Goldings.Sara joins The Playful Musician to discuss the Grammy® nomination process and what it’s like to be nominated and attend music’s biggest event. We chat about the loss of legendary jazz musician Chick Corea. Sara shares about finding success at an early age, improvising beyond melodies, and the value of going on the road. We discuss teaching practices and how she empowers and challenges her students. Sara also shares her approach to songwriting and how she’s finding inspiration with her new vocal group, säje.