VOCALIST | COMPOSER | IMPROVISER
Sascha Ley
VOCALIST | COMPOSER

The vocalist Sascha Ley likes walking along unconventional paths in her musical output embracing jazz, free improvisation, imaginary folklore and contemporary music, and reaching out for extended vocal techniques.

Since 2007 she has produced and published five albums with mostly own compositions under her creative office label yela music. The latest release "It's Alright To Be Everywhere" by her duo with French double bass player Laurent Payfert is the duo's second work featuring an experimental mixture of contemporary jazz and instant composition. "It's Alright To Be Everywhere" has been released by the German label JazzHausMusik on October 16, 2019.

A part from guest singer appearances, the Ley & Payfert duo and project collaborations with fellow musicians (United Instruments of Lucilin, The Grund Club, Laurent Payfert Quartet...), Sascha has recently been focussing on her solo program, commissioned by the Belgian Gaume Jazz Festival 2018. The opening was on August 12, 2018 at the Church of Rossignol, followed by an appearance at the Festival Sommermusik in Saarbrücken, Germany.

She occasionally teaches workshops in free vocal improvisation.

She has been trained in Amsterdam, Bombay, Luxembourg and Saarbrücken with Reinette van Zytveld (NL), Kenny Semour (L/USA) and Dhanashree Pandit-Rai (IND). Her interest in free improvisation led her to attend master classes and workshops with Gabriele Hasler, Shelley Hirsch, Frank Köllges, Meredith Monk and Sainkho Namtschylak.

"Sascha Ley is and will remain a thoroughbred artist. She has been admired as a fascinating interpreter of songs by Kurt Weill and Georg Kreisler, a femme fatale in [various the projects], and is certainly indispensable from Luxembourg’s musical life as a jazz icon." - D'Land (L)

"Sascha Ley has created her own musical identity." - Melodiva (D)

DOWNLOAD A PDF OF SASCHA’S MUSIC BIO  
SASCHA LEY & LAURENT PAYFERT
VOICE & DOUBLE BASS DUO
Sascha Ley and her French colleague, double bass player Laurent Payfert, present a mix extraordinarily rich of variations from jazz standards to original compositions; sounds that evolve from instantaneous improvisations with over laid patterns of modern jazz: Fantastic and suggestive soundscapes, experiments, the use of special singing and instrumental techniques as well as the art of storytelling evoke a surprising and vivacious experience beyond mainstream.

The album also features guitar player and songwriter Jean Pascal Boffo and French piano player Murat Oztürk as special guests "It’s Alright To Be Everywhere" will be released on October 16, 2019 by the fine German label JazzHausMusik (JHM267)

LATEST RELEASE
IT'S ALRIGHT TO BE EVERYWHERE

"... a remarkable duo whose beautifully integrated music breathes fresh life into familiar songs, as well as heading off in bold new directions as Sascha's wordless vocals interweave with Laurent's freely melodic playing. Hypnotic and mesmerizing."
PRESS PHOTOS
    
PRESSKIT
RIDER
SASCHA LEY SOLO INVENTIONS
PRESS PHOTOS
    
PDF
SASCHA LEY combines both an acting and music career. The multilingual vocalist, composer, actress and poet enjoys to explore unconventional paths in her musical output. She uses a vocabulary from jazz and free improvisation to imaginary folklore, new music and noise, as well as advanced vocal techniques.
Sascha invents her own individual music in virtuoso vocal compositions and improvisations, offering the audience an experience of intense abstract narrations and sound fragments. In her solo program which opened in August 2018 at the Gaume Jazz Festival in Belgium, she sings and performs arranged and improvised songs.
PRESS
"Sascha Ley carries a whole universe of voices. Galaxies full of music." Jazzpodium (DE)
"Sascha Ley does raise the vocal bar some artists have been limboing under for years. (…) a new way of looking at vocal jazz." Critical Jazz (USA)
"Sascha Ley moves between improvisation, as well as regular singing, chanting or pure sound accompanying intonations, being an artist of a rare profile. She works in the fields of music, theater, film and dance, and all on an exceptional level." JazzZeitung (DE)
VIDEOS
NEXT PERFORMANCES
Jun 18, 2020
Ma barque vagabonde Canceled & postponed TBA – Auditoire Spuerkees – Schifflange, LU
Oct 31, 2020
Sascha Ley Solo Inventions – Institut Français – Luang Prabang, LAO
Nov 04, 2020
Sascha Ley Solo Inventions – Institut Français – Vientiane, LAO
Nov 06, 2020
Sascha Ley Solo Inventions – Institut Français – Bangkok, THA
Dec 13, 2020
Onirisée – Mierscher Kulturhaus – Mersch, LU
Mar 12, 2021
Spooky Improvisations | Lucilin – Luxembourg City Film Festival – Luxembourg, LU
PAST PERFORMANCES
Apr 22, 2020
Sascha Ley & Laurent Payfert | Cancelled & postponed tba – Rock café – Prag, CZ
Apr 21, 2020
Sascha Ley & Laurent Payfert | Cancelled & postponed tba – Uštek – Uštek, CZ
Apr 19, 2020
Sascha Ley & Laurent Payfert – Saxstall | Cancelled & postponed tba – Porhsdorf bei Tharandt, DE
Apr 01, 2020
Cancelled & postponed tba Monster Jazz | Duo Coq-Amman/Ley – Bei der Gare – Luxembourg, LU
Mar 27, 2020
Der Klang der Lyrik CANCELLED & POSTPONED tba – Abtei Neimënster - Institut Pierre Werner – Luxembourg, LU
Mar 24, 2020
Solo Inventions CANCELLED & POSTPONED tba – Festival Francophonie – Bangkok, TH
Mar 20, 2020
Solo Inventions CANCELLED & POSTPONED tba – Festival Francophonie – Vientiane, LAO
Mar 19, 2020
Solo Inventions CANCELLED & POSTPONED tba – Festival Francophonie – Luang Prabang, LAO
Mar 15, 2020
Ma barque vagabonde CANCELLED & POSTPONED tba – Théâtre National Luxembourg – Luxembourg, LU
Mar 14, 2020
Ma barque vagabonde CANCELLED & POSTPONED tba – Théâtre National Luxembourg – Luxembourg, LU
Mar 13, 2020
Spooky Improvisations Lucilin CANCELLED – Cinémathèque LuxFilmFestival – Luxembourg, LU
Feb 29, 2020
Hall & Ley – Vedanza – Luxembourg, LU
Feb 28, 2020
Ley-Öztürk-Payfert – JazzZeit @ Breite 63 – Saarbrücken, DE
Feb 13, 2020
Ley Öztürk Payfert – Ruby's Off Zone @ Brunnenhof – Trier, DE
Feb 09, 2020
Ley-Öztürk-Payfert – Camille Kerger House Concert – Hellange, LU
Feb 07, 2020
Sascha Ley & Laurent Payfert – La Première Rue/ Cité radieuse Le Corbusier – Briey, FR
Feb 05, 2020
Sascha Ley & Laurent Payfert – Kinneksbond – Mamer, LU
Dec 15, 2019
Der Klang der Lyrik – Camille Kerger House Concert – Hellange, LU
Dec 08, 2019
Sascha Ley & Laurent Payfert – Mesa Verde – Luxembourg, LU
Dec 03, 2019
Sascha Ley & Laurent Payfert – Fondation Biermann-Lapôtre – Paris, FR
Nov 23, 2019
Sascha Ley & Laurent Payfert – Casa Fabiana – Luxembourg, LU
Nov 22, 2019
Sascha Ley & Laurent Payfert – Ancien Cinema – Vianden, LU
Nov 21, 2019
Sascha Ley & Laurent Payfert - Concert/Literature – Schauwebuerg – Bertrange, LU
Nov 15, 2019
Der Klang der Lyrik | Theodor Storm Projekt – Theodor Zink Museum – Kaiserslautern, DE
Nov 09, 2019
Sascha Ley & Laurent Payfert – BuckBlech – Saarbrücken, DE
Oct 26, 2019
Sascha Ley & Laurent PAyfert – Brandbau – Wiltz, LU
Oct 26, 2019
Sascha Ley & Laurent Payfert – Brandbau – Wiltz, LU
Oct 16, 2019
Sascha Ley & Laurent Payfert Release Concert – Opderschmelz – Dudelange, LU
Sep 05, 2019
Der Klang der Lyrik | Theodor Storm Projekt – Stadtgalerie | Sommermusik – Saarbrücken, DE
Jul 23, 2019
with Appolo Munyanshongore & Pierre Coq Amman – Liquid – Luxembourg, LU
Jun 08, 2019
@ SOUNDING OFF JUNE 2019 | Duo with Robert Hall – Vedanza – Luxembourg, LU
May 03, 2019
Sascha Ley & Laurent Payfert – Ankara Jazz Festival – Ankara, TR
Apr 25, 2019
Sascha Ley & Laurent Payfert – Yuyintang Livehouse – Shanghai, CN
Apr 24, 2019
Sascha Ley & Laurent Payfert – Open Live Art Space – Nanjing, CN
Apr 23, 2019
Sascha Ley & Laurent Payfert – Musée L'Amour – Hangzhou, CN
Apr 21, 2019
Sascha Ley & Laurent Payfert – Time Beacon – Ningbo, CN
Apr 20, 2019
Sascha Ley & Laurent Payfert – Gebi Bar – Yiwu, CN
Apr 18, 2019
Sascha Ley & Laurent Payfert – On The Way Livehouse – Hefei, CN
Apr 17, 2019
Sascha Ley & Laurent Payfert – Piston Livehouse – Wuxi, CN
Apr 16, 2019
Sascha Ley & Laurent Payfert – DDC Dusk Dawn Club – Beijing, CN
Mar 07, 2019
Bluebird's Carte Blanche – Gudde Wëllen – Luxembourg, LU
Feb 16, 2019
Ma barque vagabonde | Ley, Nosbaum & Random Trio – Théâtre d'Esch – Esch/Alzette, LU
Feb 15, 2019
Ma barque vagabonde | Ley, Nosbaum & Random Trio – Théâtre d'Esch – Esch/Alzette, LU
Dec 19, 2018
with Pugsley Buzzard Trio | A Bluebird Night – Gudde Wëllen – Luxembourg, LU
Dec 07, 2018
Sascha Ley & Laurent Payfert – Villa Vauban – Luxembourg, LU
Dec 01, 2018
Sascha Ley & Laurent Payfert – Terminus – Sarreguemines, FR
Nov 25, 2018
Lucilin's Le Bal – Rainy Days Festival at the GT – Luxembourg, LU
Nov 18, 2018
Hear And Now! – Ini-Art at BuckBlech – Saarbrücken, DE
Nov 17, 2018
Live Room Series 21 – Vedanza – Luxembourg, LU
Sep 21, 2018
Le Bal | United Instruments of Lucilin – Le Carré – Luxembourg, LU
Aug 16, 2018
Solo InTERvention – Sommermusik | Domizil Leidinger – Saarbrücken, DE
Aug 15, 2018
Sascha Ley & Laurent Payfert – Art in Beaufort – Beaufort, LU
Aug 12, 2018
Solo InTERvention – Gaume Jazz Festival – Gaume, BE
Aug 10, 2018
Sascha Ley & Laurent Payfert – Hüttenjazz – Völklingen, DE
Jul 21, 2018
Sascha Ley & Murat Öztürk – Blues'n'Jazz Rallye – Luxembourg, LU
Jul 07, 2018
The Grund Club – Rock um Knuedler – Luxembourg, LU
Jun 20, 2018
Up To Eleven | Sascha ley & Laurent Payfert – MUDAM – Luxembourg, LU
Jun 15, 2018
Ley & Payfert – Fête de la Musique – Luxembourg, LU
Jun 13, 2018
Up To Eleven | Surprise de Ley – MUDAM – Luxembourg, LU
Jun 06, 2018
Up To Eleven | Ley, Meis & Celestino – MUDAM – Luxembourg, LU
May 22, 2018
Ley Öztürk Payfert – Liquid – Luxembourg, LU
May 19, 2018
Live Rooms 17 – Vedanza – Luxembourg, LU
Apr 29, 2018
"Vocal Soundscapes" Workshop – Inecc – Luxembourg, LU
Apr 28, 2018
"Vocal Soundscapes" Workshop – Inecc – Luxembourg, LU
Apr 27, 2018
"Vocal Soundscapes" Performance – Museum MNHA – Luxembourg, LU
Apr 21, 2018
End of the Rainbow – TNL – Luxembourg, LU
Apr 19, 2018
End of the Rainbow – TNL – Luxembourg, LU
Apr 18, 2018
End of the Rainbow – TNL – Luxembourg, LU
Mar 28, 2018
End of the Rainbow – TNL – Luxembourg, LU
Mar 27, 2018
End of the Rainbow – TNL – Luxembourg, LU
Mar 25, 2018
Laurent Payfert Quartet & Sascha – Théâtre d'Esch – Esch/Alzette, LU
Feb 07, 2018
Duo Ley & Payfert – Artikuss – Sanem, LU
Jan 21, 2018
Ley & Payfert – Jazz North East – Newcastle, UK
Jan 21, 2018
Sascha Ley, Faye CacCalman & John Pope – Jazz North East – Newcastle, UK
Jan 08, 2018
Ley & Payfert – B-flat – Berlin, DE
Jan 07, 2018
Ley & Payfert – Klosterscheune – Zehdenick, DE
Jan 06, 2018
Ley & Payfert – Saxstall – Pohrsdorf bei Tharand, DE
Dec 11, 2017
Der Gesang der Schneekönigin – Abbaye de Neumünster – Luxembourg, LU
Dec 10, 2017
Der Gesang der Schneekönigin – Abbaye de Neumünster – Luxembourg, LU
Dec 06, 2017
Der Gesang der Schneekönigin – Kinneksbond – Mamer, LU
Dec 05, 2017
The Grund Club X-mas edition – Abbaye Neumünster – Luxembourg, LU
Dec 03, 2017
Der Gesang der Schneekönigin - A la lueur de brume – Atelier Paradiso – Bettemburg, LU
Dec 02, 2017
Der Gesang der Schneekönigin - A la lueur de brume – Atelier Paradiso – Bettemburg, LU
Dec 01, 2017
Der Gesang der Schneekönigin – Atelier Paradiso – Bettemburg, LU
Nov 24, 2017
Charity Concert – SOS Village Enfant – Luxembourg, LU
Sep 22, 2017
Ley & Payfert – Altrimenti – Luxembourg, LU
Sep 21, 2017
Laurent Payfert Quartet & Sascha – Kulturzentrum – Bascharage, LU
Aug 06, 2017
Ley & Payfert – Food For Your Senses – Luxembourg, LU
Aug 02, 2017
Ley & Payfert – Festival Crest Jazz Vocal – Crest, FR
Jul 29, 2017
Ley & Payfert – Blues & Jazz Rally, Uptown Café – Luxembourg, LU
Jul 22, 2017
Itinerantes Electro Acoustic Session – Konrad Café & Bar – Luxembourg, LU
Jul 17, 2017
Konrad Café & Bar – Konrad Café & Bar – Luxembourg, LU
Jun 21, 2017
Casse-Tête n°12 – Terminus – Sarreguemines, FR
Jun 18, 2017
Canto D'Amore – Kinneksbond – Mamer, LU
Jun 17, 2017
Canto D'Amore – Kinneksbond – Mamer, LU
May 07, 2017
Vocal Workshop – Inecc – Luxembourg, LU
May 06, 2017
Vocal Workshop – Inecc – Luxembourg, LU
Apr 30, 2017
Solo In(Ter)ventions at the Pulse Of Europe – Place Clairefontaine – Luxembourg, LU
Apr 29, 2017
Vocal Workshop – Inecc – Luxembourg, LU
Apr 04, 2017
Vocal Workshop – St Peter's Church – London, UK
Apr 03, 2017
Ley & Payfert – Vortex – London, UK
Apr 02, 2017
Ley & Payfert – Jazz North East – Newcastle, UK
Mar 26, 2017
Ley & Payfert – Thillenvogteischeier – Rindschleiden, LU
Feb 25, 2017
Sascha Ley – Radio ARA – Luxembourg, LU
Jan 15, 2017
Ley & Payfert – Neijoerspatt Déi Gréng, ARCA – Bertrange, LU
Dec 18, 2016
Der Gesang der Schneekönigin – Atelier Paradiso – Bettemburg, LU
Dec 17, 2016
Der Gesang der Schneekönigin – Atelier Paradiso – Bettemburg, LU
Dec 11, 2016
Der Gesang der Schneekönigin – MUDAM – Luxembourg, LU
Dec 10, 2016
Der Gesang der Schneekönigin – MUDAM – Luxembourg, LU
Dec 04, 2016
X-mas Concert – CAPE – Ettelbruck, LU
Dec 03, 2016
X-mas Concert – CAPE – Ettelbruck, LU

NEWS ARCHIVE
Onirisée
Apr 20, 2020
| MUSIC
Latest Reviews of the new album
Jan 10, 2020
| MUSIC
It’s Alright To Be Everywhere JHM 26
Nov 13, 2019
| MUSIC
NEW RELEASE | SASCHA LEY & LAURENT PAYFERT | JHM 267
Sep 25, 2019
| MUSIC
Der Klang der Lyrik
Aug 14, 2019
| MUSIC
Sounding Off June 2019
May 25, 2019
| MUSIC
Singing Body – Dancing Voice | Workshop
Feb 24, 2019
| MUSIC
PIECE EN PLASTIQUE
Jan 17, 2019
| ACTING
Guest on the RTL TV show No Art On Air
Dec 14, 2018
| MUSIC
UPCOMING projects in WINTER
Sep 28, 2018
| ACTING
Sascha Ley Solo Inventions
Sep 24, 2018
| MUSIC
Sascha Ley SOLO INVENTIONS
Aug 8, 2018
| MUSIC
Up To Eleven – in June | MUDAM
May 28, 2018
| MUSIC
Ley Öztürk Payfert
May 22, 2018
| MUSIC
Live Room Series
May 15, 2018
| MUSIC
Coffee Talks : Sascha Ley | by Paulo Lobo
Apr 25, 2018
| ACTING
Vocal Soundscapes Workshop
Apr 25, 2018
| MUSIC
MI FRIDA
Apr 24, 2018
| ACTING
End of the Rainbow
Mar 26, 2018
| ACTING
Sascha Ley & Laurent Payfert 4tet
Feb 13, 2018
| MUSIC
DER GESANG DER SCHNEEKÖNIGIN
Nov 1, 2017
| MUSIC
Drôles de petites bêtes
Oct 28, 2017
| ACTING
Artist Residency Ottawa
Oct 1, 2017
| ACTING
MI FRIDA
Feb 28, 2017
| ACTING
La putain de l’Ohio
Jan 1, 2017
| ACTING
THE AGONY OF INGEBORG BACHMANN
Jun 5, 2016
| ACTING
Cosmodrama
Jun 1, 2016
| ACTING
In the Spotlight November 2015 Sascha Ley
May 1, 2016
| MUSIC
WORKSHOPS
Feb 15, 2016
| MUSIC
Peter and Wendy
Feb 1, 2016
| ACTING
NEW ALBUM
Jan 1, 2015
| MUSIC
Blind Date
Nov 1, 2014
| ACTING
FIEBER
Feb 1, 2014
| ACTING