Whilst many vocalists get described as a “powerhouse”, very few actually are. However, when it comes Brooklyn-based singer Sari Schorr, no other word will suffice. Blessed with a powerful voice and a huge range that draws favourable comparisons with Billie Holiday and Janis Joplin, Sari has the type of voice that could make even the most mundane textbook sound interesting. Thankfully, she comes armed with a selection of songs that are the perfect vehicle for a voice that is both bluesy and operatic. Following 2023’s collaboration with Robin Trower (Joyful Sky, reviewed here), Sari returns with her third studio album, Running Wild, a collection of ten tracks that’s sure to propel Sari from clubs to stadiums.
While we are currently living in the golden age of the singer/songwriter, what sets Sari Schorr apart is the ability to weave different styles into a cohesive whole. And while Running Wild has classic rock at its heart, it weaves blues, jazz and soul into its tapestry to create an album that never stays in one place for long. It’s an album in perpetual motion (though it’s certainly not eclectic), and that means it’s an old school album; rather than being a collection of singles, Running Wild is a record that ebbs and flows, taking the listener on a journey…and one with a few unexpected stops. Things get off to an explosive start with ‘Mr. In The Middle’, a cut powered by a gnarly guitar riff and an equally muscular performance from Sari. Her voice is confident and takes centre stage, dictating the pace and rhythm, suggesting that this album will be delivered on no ones terms but her own. It’s the musical equivalent of a white knuckle ride in a souped up convertible as the wind ruffles your hair and the corners are taken at breakneck speed before we crash down a few gears for the sultry title-track, then kick up a notch for ‘Monday Morning’. It’s testament to Sari’s five-octave range that she can handles all these different styles and roll them into the cohesive whole that is Running Wild.
Perhaps Sari’s greatest power is the ability to make these songs three-dimensional. Each of these tracks is a novella or vignette, ‘Call It Freedom’ magically transporting us to a late night blues club in South Bronx or the Lower East Side as cigarette smoke caresses the air and a band plays a seductive brand of blues. It is with ‘Finding My Way’ that the album comes to a conclusion and as the song fades into the ether, suggests that this is just a beginning.
- Running Wild is released via Provogue/Mascot Label Group on 9th October 2026.
Track List:
- Mr. In The Middle
- Running Wild
- Monday Morning
- Man On Fire
- Cool Hand Rider
- Elevate
- Call It Freedom
- Better Day
- Afterglow
- Finding My Way
