Laila Biali WINTERSONGS

October 13, 2024

LAILA BIALI

WINTERSONGS

Independent Label

Laila Biali, vocals/piano/composer; George Koller, double bass; Ben Wittman, drums/percussion; Sam Yahel, Hammond B3 organ; Jane Bunnett, flute/soprano saxophone; Lori Gemmell, harp; Kevin Turcotte, trumpet; Wade O. Brown, vocals; Joanna Majoko, Genevieve Marentette, Jackson Welchner, background vocals; VENUTI STRING QUARTET: Drew Jurecka, violin/bandoneon/quartet arrangements; Rebekah Wolkstein, violin; Shannon Knights, viola; Amahl Arulanandam, cello. CHAMBER ORCHESTRA: Rob Mathes, string orchestrations/conduction; Scott Good, harp arrangement; VIOLINS: Rebekah Wolkstein, Drew Jurecka, Shane Kim, Boris Kupesic, Sydney Chun, Bethany Bergman, William Lamoureux, Nancy Kershaw, Aya Miyagawa, Erika Raum, Stephen Sitarski. VIOLAS: Shannon Knights, Diane Leung, Rory McLeod & Nicholaos Papdakis. CELLOS: Amahi Arulanandam, Naomi Barron, Lydia Munchinsky & Kevin Fox.

Laila Biali spent a winter season inside a cabin, surrounded by the snow-capped Rocky Mountains. It was to gain inspiration for this project. She is very proud of her “Wintersongs” album that took three years for this Canadian, award-winning vocalist, pianist and composer to make. This marks the talented lady’s tenth album as a bandleader. Her opening tune, “Drifting Down Ice” flows slowly, like melting icicles, with Biali’s warm voice singing wordlessly against the relaxing music track. This is followed by “Rocky Mountain Lullaby.” This time Laila Biali’s voice floats like a silver cloud, bright and soprano with lyrics that praise nature’s lullaby. Her high tones work beautifully with the string ensemble of the Chamber Orchestra and the lovely, fluttering flute of Jane Bunnett. I had to pause and listen to this song three times in a row. It is so beautiful. This is the first single released to the public on October 4^th. Jane Bunnett will be touring with Biali beginning in November with this album’s launch.

For more than ten years, Alberta, Canada’s “Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity” has been a creative haven and get-away for Biali to find inspiration and to let her creative juices flow. This album is a result of the Centre’s support. Also, the production was made possible with funding and support from Canada Council for the Arts, Ontario Arts Council and Toronto Arts Council.

Laila Biali’s voice and arrangements are more pop than jazz. Some of her compositions could easily be called chamber music. She has been performing and recording for several years, including the “Pennies From Heaven” duet with Caty Gyorgy.

On “Dance of the Pines” the orchestration is rich and lovely. Biali’s voice sounds like another instrument, beautifully blending with the arrangement. Jane Bunnett’s soprano saxophone solo is stunning. Her composition “Winter Waltz” is an instrumental version of the French song she co-wrote with Sonia Johnson. It was released last year as “Belle Nuit de Noel” with lyrics that she sang. This year the song is arranged all instrumental.

They close with a religious song titled “Jesus, He is Born” perfect for the Christmas season.

Reviewed by Dee Dee McNeil

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