SaraLazaruswasborninWilmington,Delaware,whichisalsothehometownofCliffordBrown.Shebeganhercareerinmusicaltheatre,andlearnedjazzstandardsearlyoninlife.At8yearsold,shebegantotakepianolessons.Shethenlearnedtenorsaxophoneandplayedinanorchestrainherelementaryschool.At16yearsold,shebecameamemberoftheAmericanYouthJazzBandasatenorsaxophonistandsinger.ItwaswiththisgroupthatshecompletedherfirstEuropeantourwhichendedattheMontreuxJazzFestival.ShebeganhercollegestudiesinEnglishliteratureatHarvardandplayedintheuniversity'sorchestra.IllinoisJacquet,whoshemetwhileastudent,encouragedhertofurtherdevelophervoicebyperformingasasinger.DownBeat,oneoftheprincipalAmericanmagazinesregardingjazz,calledher,"thebestjazzsoloistattheUniversitylevel."Afterherstudies,SaraLazarustookupresidenceinFranceandparticipatedinanumberofEuropeanfestivals:JazzinMarciac,CrestJazzVocal,thefestivalofMontlouis-sur-Loire,BragaJazz,andtheJVCJazzFestivalParis.SheworkedwithsuchmusiciansasAlainJean-Marie,JackyTerrasson,ManuelRocheman,FranckAmsallem,DominiqueLemerle,RiccardoDelFra,GillesNaturel,SteveWilliamsandAndreaMichelutti.In19,shewasabletocarrythefirstprizeattheInternationalFestivalofTheloniousMonk,wherethejuryincludedJonHendricks,ShirleyHorn,CleoLaine,AbbeyLincoln,DianneReevesandJimmyScott.[1]Attheawardsceremony,SarahadtheopportunitytoparticipateinajamsessionwithHerbieHancock,RonCarter,GradyTate,KennyBurrell,JimmyHeathandClarkTerry.InNovember2000sheparticipatedinaprojectofPatriceCaratiniandhisJazzEnsemble,whichfocusedonthemusicofColePorterandspecificallytohisalbumAnythingGoes.InMarch2005,hersecondalbum"GivemeaSimpleLife"wasreleasedandshegainednotorietyfollowingtoursinFranceandthroughouttheEuropeancontinent,notablyparticipatinginvariousjazzfestivals.SaraLazarusissaidtohavea"soberanddelicate"voice,notedforits"spontaneity,itstenderness,andsenseofcommunication."