The Next Generation of Jazz

Nancy Sanchez
Tues. August 30
Steamers Jazz Cafe
Fullerton

Every once in a great while, a fresh singer with a distinct voice emerges onto the scene. That voice is Nancy Sanchez. Sanchez played Steamers Cafe in Fullerton Tues. Aug. 30.

Sanchez has been busy crafting original compositions for her upcoming recording which will borrow influences from her debut self-titled EP and merge them with her unique and modern style.

Upon hearing Nancy, one is reminded of such classic voices like Billie Holliday, Carole King, Sarah Vaughn, Joni Mitchell and Astrud Gilberto, as well as contemporaries like Bjork, Regina Spektor, Imogen Heap and Lisa Ekdahl.

Ms. Sanchez, born Nancy Sanchez Estrada from the town of Toluca, Mexico, now resides in Orange County. She has been singing and writing music from a very young age, often as a Mariachi cantante in her teens, and was a member of "Mariachi Anacatlan" and "Mariachi Puno de Oro".

While attending college, Nancy was exposed to American Jazz and instantly developed a love for it, often listening and singing along to greats like Ella Fitzgerald and Nancy Wilson. “Music is inside of me and has been my passion since as early as I can remember. I love the creative process. The ability to write my own music and share it with the world is a gift that I am grateful for. Real-life situations influence my writing styles as much as my dreams and fantasies do. In my songwriting I try to fuse the two.”

She created a “buzz” while performing at local Orange County restaurants and clubs, drawing the attention of Steamers Jazz Club’s owner Terence Love and veteran jazz drummer, Evan Stone.The two were immediately impressed by her talent and jumped on the idea of featuring her.

For the last two years, Nancy has been performing monthly at Steamers and recently has added Spaghettini’s Jazz Club to her schedule. , In May she took the big stage at the KSBR Birthday Bash Jazz Festival and also performs at the prestigious Laguna Beach Art Festival. In 2010, drummer Evan Stone, a frequent performer at Steamers, produced and helped launch her debut CD, “Nancy Sanchez” which continues to receive rave reviews and gets frequent airplay on So. Cal’s only two jazz radio stations, KKJZ and KSBR.