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BIO

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Throughout a notable career as a New Orleans singer, songwriter and performer, Sarah Quintana has been firmly rooted in her hometown’s rich music tradition — but eager to playfully explore its boundaries and possibilities. Her two self-released full-length studio albums, live concert release and EPs brim with a blend of jazz, folk and rhythm & blues, and her new BABY DON’T brings together an all-star lineup for an album inspired by Louisiana’s music and culture of the 50s and 60s. Sarah has partnered along the way with acclaimed Louisiana-based musicians, including Grammy winners Michael Doucet, Kevin Clark (The Nightcrawlers) and Leyla McCalla. She has received recognition from the Grammy Foundation Recording Academy, The Voice Foundation and The New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival Foundation, Big Easy Awards among others. When she’s not writing, performing or touring internationally, Sarah works as a music educator and a vocal coach to help others find power in their own voice. She is a fellowship-trained voice-pathologist and member of the Memphis Chapter of the Grammy Foundation where her research highlights the importance of creating vocal-health care pathways for Louisiana’s culture bearers and oral traditions.

Throughout a notable career as a New Orleans singer, songwriter and performer, Sarah Quintana has been firmly rooted in her hometown’s rich music tradition — but eager to playfully explore its boundaries and possibilities. Her two self-released full-length studio albums, live concert release and EPs brim with a blend of jazz, folk and rhythm & blues, and her new BABY DON’T brings together an all-star lineup for an album inspired by Louisiana’s music and culture of the 50s and 60s. Sarah has partnered along the way with acclaimed Louisiana-based musicians, including Grammy winners Michael Doucet, Kevin Clark (The Nightcrawlers) and Leyla McCalla. She has received recognition from the Grammy Foundation Recording Academy, The Voice Foundation and The New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival Foundation, Big Easy Awards among others. When she’s not writing, performing or touring internationally, Sarah works as a music educator and a vocal coach to help others find power in their own voice. She is a fellowship-trained voice-pathologist and member of the Memphis Chapter of the Grammy Foundation where her research highlights the importance of creating vocal-health care pathways for Louisiana’s culture bearers and oral traditions.

Biographie de Sarah Quintana en Français: Quintana a grandi à La Nouvelle-Orléans où la musique en performance fait partie de la ville quotidienne. Son apprentissage de la guitare a commencé à l’âge de douze ans. Elle a fait ses études de lycée au New Orleans Center for Creative Arts comme une étudiante de jazz de Kent Jordan en 2000. Ancienne étudiante du prestigieux Benjamin Franklin High School, elle a reçu le BA en littérature anglaise et en français de Loyola University New Orleans et  une bourse du CODOFIL pour étudier en France. En 2005 KATRINA a interrompu ses études en France; l’ouragan l’a affectée en la faisant perdre amis, membres de famille et maison. C’est alors qu’elle a voyagé par le monde et s’est installée en France. Elle attribue sa carrière de chanteuse au mal du pays, un désir de retrouver sa maison, son état de Louisiane. ​ En 2009, après avoir chanté dans les rues de Provence au sud de La France ou elle a fais la rencontre de Marion Rampal et Raphael Imbert, Quintana s’est trouvée sur l’estrade de Lagniappe au New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival et sur l’estrade de Preservation Hall de Voodoo Fest. En juin 2010, Quintana a chanté à Lincoln Center New York avec les New Orleans Moonshiners pour les séries de Mid-Summer Night Swing. Elle a sortie 3 albums avec eux dans le moyeu de swing et New Orleans Traditional Jazz avant de lancer sa carrière solo singer-songwriter.  Elle enregistre sa troisième album en Octobre 2018 à la Nouvelle- Orleans sur les lettres d'amour de la deuxième guerre mondiale.

ARTIST STATEMENT

I live in a Louisiana music bubble and I love it. On any given day, I could be singing traditional jazz in the french quarter, cajun dancing, speaking French, or performing alongside my own musical idols.  I’ve worked previously with indy rock band The Generationals, Leyla McCalla, Kevin Clark of The Nightcrawlers, and cajun legends, Beausoleil avec Michael Doucet and came up on the traditional jazz scene.  

 

I really set out to be myself on this record and to make a Louisiana album. What happened was an exercise in trusting my own voice. 

 

Louisiana music has classical, french, African influences, strings, brass and rhythm and blues–  I wanted this record to sound improvised and orchestrated, embracing those influences.  Forging my sound while paying homage to classic Louisiana artists like Fats Domino, Irma Thomas, Shirley & Lee, Beausoleil avec Michael Doucet, Bobby Charles.

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"Baby, Don't" is also a refusal to give up. It's about saying no to whatever is getting in the way of a creativity and a good time and following your dreams. To me, that is what Louisiana music and culture is about. Our community, how we have each other, how we survive and have a good time. Helps to be surrounded by wonderful people like Rex, Rose, Chris and Jurzak who are so talented and supportive.

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-Sarah Q.

Vocal Performance History

1000+ performances with Michael Doucet (Compass Records), BeauSoleil, Leyla McCalla, The Generationals, Raphael Imbert, Sarah Quintana and the Miss River Band, The New Orleans Moonshiners, and Les Jeunesses Musicales de France and The Iguanas, including:​​

  • Marseille, Palais des Arts (2025) Fest Jazz New Orleans

  • The New Orleans Jazz Museum Jazz Fest Paris, à la Gout d'Or (2025)

  • Irma Thomas Tribute by Sonny Schneidau at Tipitinas (2024)

  • With Jon Cleary at Saturn Bar (2023)

  • Blue Bird Cafe, Nashville (2021)

  • Folk Alliance International Official Showcase (2020)

  • Nick Spitzer's American Routes (2020)

  • Roots Music Agency National Tours (Berkeley, CA)

  •  International tours with La Companie 9 Spirit (Marseille, Fr)

  • The Ford Foundation Gallery in New York (2020)

  • The Smithsonian Hirschhorn Gallery (2018)

  • The New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival (10 + years)

  • French Quarter Festival (10 + years)

  • Le Festival Cinq Continents in Marseille, FR (2018)

  • The Big Island Blues Festival, Hawaii (2019)

  • Kingman Island Bluegrass Festival (2018)

  • The New Orleans Jazz Museum (2018-present)

  • The 20th Edition of “Chantes de Noel” PACA, FR (2016)

  • Black Pot Music Festival (2016)

  • Miss River CD release Party at Preservation Hall (2015)

  • The Contemporary Arts Center of New Orleans (2015)

  • Jazz à Porquerolles (2014)

  • The Lincoln Center- Midsummer Swing (2014)

  • The Harwood Museum in Taos, NM (2013)

  • Jazz at Lincoln Center (2012)

Discography

  • Sarah Quintana & Band, Baby Don't (Independent, 2025)

  • Peter Stamphel’s 20th Century, Red Hot Records (New Orleans, 2021)

  • David Heatley, Various (2021-2022) 

  • Sarah Quintana, Live in Marseille (Independent, 2020)

  • Michael Doucet— Lacher Prise, Compass Records (Nashville) 2020

  • Sarah Quintana and Christophe Lampidecchia— Love Letters 2019, Piment Rouge (France)

  • The Generationals, In Green— Polyvinyl Record Co. 2019

  • Paul Sanchez— One More Trip Around the Sun 2018

  • Keith Porteous— Sound Refuge I & II 2018

  • Sarah Quintana— Daddy Lies 2018

  • Iguanas— Juarez 2017

  • Leyla McCalla— Day for the Hunter, 2018 Jazz Village (France)

  • Sarah Quintana— Miss River 2016

  • Cry You One, Soundtrack, 2016

  • Creating a Healthy Future for Sea Turtles, (Ocean Conservancy) 2015

  • Raphael Imbert- Music is my Home 2015 Harmonia Mundi (France)

  • Aurora Nealand and Tom McDermott— City of Timbers 2015

  • The New Orleans Moonshiners— Frenchman Street Parade 2014

  • Sarah Quintana— The World Has Changed 2013

  • My Louisiana Love, Soundtrack 2012

Thanks!

  • Youtube
  • Soundcloud
  • Instagram
  • Spotify
  • Facebook
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