Laila Biali performs ‘Secret Heart’

– originally written by Ron Sexsmith

 

Laila Biali is fast becoming the new face of contemporary jazz. From touring with Suzanne Vega, Chris Botti and Paula Cole to recording with and supporting Sting on his If On a Winter’s Night DVD and tour, her resume precedes her. The past two years has seen a renewed focus on her skills as composer, arranger, singer and pianist. Her reputation for challenging the boundaries of music is unparalleled  She takes the best of pop, rock, classical and soul, informs it with her knowledge of Jazz and weaves it all into her musical arrangements seamlessly. Laila’s music has been presented at prestigious venues spanning four continents including the North Sea Jazz Festival, Tokyo’s Cotton Club, Peru’s El Festival Internacional de Lima, and Carnegie Hall in New York City.

Her latest studio recording Tracing Light received a JUNO nomination for “2011 Best Vocal Jazz Album of the Year” and her most recent release Live in Concert, recorded live in February 2012 in front of a gracious audience at the Glenn Gould Studio in Toronto, Canada, captures the spirit of live performance so essential to Jazz. Her accolades include “SOCAN Composer of the Year” and “Keyboardist of the Year” at Canada’s National Jazz Awards. She currently splits her time between New York City and Toronto.