Sari Schorr And The Engine Room

Sari Schorr And The Engine Room

Sari Schorr And The Engine Room is a blues and blues rock group based in Memphis, New York, active since 2015. The act centres on vocalist Sari Schorr, whose work with the band follows years of touring in the US and Europe with blues musician Joe Louis Walker and guitarist Popa Chubby.

Background

Schorr gains prominence in the blues scene after extensive touring and later receives induction into the New York Blues Hall of Fame. She is known for forceful, emotionally charged vocals and is often compared to Janis Joplin and Tina Turner. Her debut album, A Force of Nature, receives critical attention, and she records a follow-up studio album in Bath before touring the UK with the band.

The Engine Room line-up

The Engine Room features guitarist Innes Sibun, keyboard player Anders Olinder, bassist Kevin Jeffries and drummer Kevin O’Rourke. Sibun is described as a British guitarist and is noted for his association with Robert Plant. Olinder is linked with Peter Gabriel, Glenn Hughes and PP Arnold, while Jeffries is associated with Mike Oldfield, Roger Taylor and Steve Harley.

Recording and collaborators

The band’s album is written across the US, the UK, Spain and Germany, with basic recording taking place in London and Seville. Guests on the recording include guitarists Walter Trout and Oli Brown, alongside keyboard player John Baggott. Schorr also says the group works as a live unit where strong audience reaction is an important part of the performance.

Humanitarian work

Outside the band, Schorr takes part in humanitarian projects through music. She contributes to “Toast to Freedom” for Amnesty International, working alongside Warren Haynes, Levon Helm, Keb Mo’, Taj Mahal, Eric Burdon and Carly Simon. She also carries out humanitarian work in Haiti and India and founds Matters, a non-profit organisation that highlights humanitarian causes through the arts.