With the release of her debut album Red Umbrella, Astrid is introducing a real fusion of Bossa/Pop/Jazz and Chill.
She is currently performing with her band in Vancouver and the Lower Mainland and working on her next CD to be released soon. She has performed and collaborated with many great Canadian and European musicians, and some of her music has been featured in film, documentaries and dance productions.
On “Red Umbrella”, produced by Kerry Galloway and co-produced by Astrid, she reveals herself as an artist with a style and sound of her own.
Astrid was born and raised in the Netherlands. She developed her musical sensibilities early with the support of her father, well known conductor Wim Sars, who played organ and conducted Gregorian masses in cathedrals. At a young age Astrid sang in her father’s church choirs with her two sisters, and has memories of listening to jazz and Brazilian music with her parents at home.
Besides performing with her band, Astrid also performs with the trio “Indigo” backing New-York Poet Leanne Averbach in Vancouver, Toronto and New-York.
"Astrid's Red Umbrella is a sophisticated stylistic blend, characterized by tight arrangements, smooth vocals, & sultry ambience.”
- Tony Montague, Globe & Mail
"As genre-hopping goes, this combination of bossa-nova and jazz is confident and stylish"
- Tom Harrison: Quickspins, The Province
"As a vocalist, Astrid is kind of a cross between Bebel Gilberto and Sade: she'd be at home at a Brazilian carnival or an urban lounge."
- Marke Andrews, Queue, The Vancouver Sun
"Just like a nice cool breeze on a hot summer day Astrid sings us some refreshing new bossa sounds with hints of mellow pop melodies, jazzy passages and funky smooth grooves. The sounds are familiar but with a refreshingly nice vibe..."
- Marc Xavier Leblanc, Host of CKUM J93.5FM Moncton, NB
Astrid is:
Astrid Sars - Vocals, Alto Sax and Flute
Russell Scholberg - Bass
Tim Sars - Baritone Sax and Flute
Glenna Powrie - Piano
Shawn Soucy - Drums
Kris Mitchell - Laptop |
