Virna Sanzone Quartet

“…a memorable performance and moreover a beautiful experience…how fortunate the Sydney jazz audience is, to be able to hear such music of the highest excellence…” Eric Myers, The Australian

“Relaxed and unaffected, Sanzone’s voice danced…with irrepressible swing…” John Shand, SMH

"...left the musicians breathless and the audience whooping with delight" Jessica Nicholas, The Age

"Sanzone has a voice like the caramel layer in a piece of caramel slice…so smooth, warm and pliable…and you’d definitely want a second serve with another piece to take home. It’s rich and beautiful.” Lissa Christopher, SMH

With a career spanning over 25 years, Virna Sanzone has established herself as one of Australia’s most versatile and respected vocalists. For her debut performance at Church Street Studios, Virna is joined by pianist Matt McMahon, bassist Jonathan Zwartz and drummer Hamish Stuart — musicians with whom she shares a long and deeply established musical history. With a sensitivity and synergy forged over years of collaboration, the quartet takes an improvisational approach, breathing new life into much-loved standards and reimagining lesser-known repertoire, moving between jazz, soul and songs in Romance languages.

Deeply soulful, yet with the ability to sail effortlessly through intricate jazz melodies, Virna has been an integral part of projects across a diverse range of genres, taking her from major festival stages and concert halls to performances with renowned Australian and international artists.

Both as a bandleader and collaborator, Virna has appeared at major festivals including the Sydney Festival, Stonnington Jazz Festival and SIMA Women's International Jazz Festival. Among many significant creative projects, The Italian Project with pianist Paul Grabowsky reimagined music from her paternal Italian heritage, while Crossroads with pianist and composer Zela Margossian drew on the musical traditions of her maternal Armenian heritage. Most recently, she appeared as a guest vocalist on Margossian's acclaimed release Remedy, performing in Armenian. Alongside an extensive performing career, Virna has taught jazz voice at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music for over a decade, mentoring many of the outstanding young singers now active on the Australian jazz scene.

In addition to her work as a performer and collaborator, Virna has maintained a long-standing career as a sought-after backing vocalist, performing nationally and internationally across a wide range of projects. Most recently she toured Australia with Lisa Simone, paying tribute to her mother, the legendary Nina Simone. She has also toured with Paul Kelly and Vika and Linda Bull as part of the Meet Me in the Middle of the Air concert series with the Australian Art Orchestra, and has performed nationally with numerous legendary Australian artists such as Ian Moss, Richard Clapton and David Campbell.