Rural country-meets-bluegrass newcomer Sarah Jarosz may be only 17, but already she’s emerged on the scene as someone to watch, per respected artists and music industry watchers alike.
A native of Texas, Jarosz—according to her artist bio from Sugar Hill Records--has done things that many musicians only dream of, from performing on stage with country/bluegrass icons Ricky Skaggs and David Grisman, to gearing for the release of her debut CD, the 13-tune Song Up in Her Head.
Founded in 1978, the Sugar Hill label announced the signing of Jarosz (pronounced juh-ROSE) to its roster in summer 2008, with news that her first-ever solo album would be forthcoming.
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Regarding the label affiliation, Jarosz wrote in a May 11, 2008, blog that she was “so excited and honored to be a Sugar Hill recording artist … (and) working with Grammy Award-winning producer Gary Paczosa on my first CD.
“I am proud to be a part of a record label like Sugar Hill that has a long and distinguished history of supporting great artists and music,” shared the then-16-year-old via the May '08 MySpace blog. “Everyone associated with Sugar Hill Records and Welk Music Group has been so encouraging and supportive of my music. and what I'm trying to accomplish as an artist.”
Thus, by signing a recording contract, the multi-instrumentalist Jarosz, as a teen, had yet to graduate high school. She had, however, managed to master the mandolin, guitar and taken up banjo by then, and her voice has been compared to that of Natalie Maines of Dixie Chick Fame and Patty Griffin—all of which contributed to the brunet acoustic musician’s early career victories.
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The daughter of school-teacher parents, Jarosz’s freshman roots country-inspired release for Sugar Hill was—true to her blog post--produced by the teen and Paczosa. Moreover, on the record’s liner notes, musician in-demand player Tim O’Brien—who helped inked said notes—summed up Jarosz’s debut effort as “an impressive coming out party, a survey of where she's been so far, and a good indicator of where she's headed.”
Additionally, banjo player, recording artist and one of Jarosz's musical influences, Abigail Washburn, referring to the talented upstart’s inaugural solo recording, has said, “You hear Sarah Jarosz sing or play even a note and the relevancy of time and space goes on hold. As a multi-instrumentalist and songwriter she attracts the finest musicians into her musical fold.
"This young woman," continued Washburn in a March 5, 2009, press statement from Sugar Hill, " is proof that the future of music itself is certain to be full of virtuosity, passion, integrity, deep beauty, and soul."
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Set for release June 16, 2009, the Song Up in Her Head CD features a happy mix of the Austin-based player’s original new-old-timey ballads, as well as two handpicked cover song; specifically, the Decemberists' "Shankill Butchers" and the Tom Waits/Kathleen Brennan co-write, "Come On Up To The House," both of which seem to mesh flawlessly with the disc’s other 11 tracks.
Following the June CD release (and her pending high school graduation), Jarosz already has summer tour plans in the works, but this time around, she will have a disc to peddle, too.
"I see myself spending my entire life doing what I love,” she writes on her MySpace page, “and that love is music."
To sample her music, please access her personal music page here.
Lisa L. Rollins - Texas native Lisa L. Rollins, Ph.D., is an award-winning feature writer, interviewer and journalism educator.
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