Cynthia Nan Sayer, born May 20, 1962, in Waltham, Massachusetts, is an American jazz musician known for her banjo playing. She began playing the banjo at age 13 and chose a music career over law studies after graduating from Ithaca College. In 1981, she played with Freddie Moore and contributed to Marvin Hamlisch's score for Sophie's Choice in 1982. Sayer was a founding member of Woody Allen’s New Orleans Jazz Band, performing with them for over a decade and appearing in the documentary Wild Man Blues. She formed several bands, including Cynthia Sayer & Joyride and Cynthia Sayer's Women of the World Jazz Band. Notable albums include Jazz at Home (1997) and Joyride (2013). Sayer has performed at venues like Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall and was inducted into the National Four-String Banjo Hall of Fame in 2006.
