Theatre Raymond Kabbaz 2013-2014 Season Opens with Laila Biali
An evening at the Theatre Raymond Kabbaz, opening night of the 13th season on September 27 with Laila Biali, was better than being in a film, with a live performance to boot.
Joining Ms. Biali on stage for this, her Los Angeles stop of a North American Tour, were the brilliant local musicians, Hamilton Price (bass) and Aaron McLendon (drums), whose magnificent solos were show-stopping highlights.
Award-winning Canadian jazz pianist, vocalist and songwriter, Biali, lived up to her reputation for “taking the best of pop, rock, classical and soul, and informing it with her knowledge of jazz as she weaves together her exquisite musical arrangements.”
Laila Biali’s command of the piano is astonishing – one writer accurately described it as “from the get-go, music has been like air to her” and her voice tempered and lilting. Her radiant personality shined through every number as well as in her inviting introductions.
Raised in Vancouver, her German-born, stay-at-home mom discovered her talent when Laila was three. Her Egyptian dad was an electrical engineer and inventor – and Laila proved she was her father’s daughter during one number by taking apart the top of the grand piano to pluck the strings!
A rare warm welcome and a live voice greeted callers right up to the event, which was a portent of the experience to come. The weather was perfect and the evening was filled with “beautiful people,” including the talented performers, and the Le Lycée Français de Los Angeles international staff, who filled in as servers behind the buffets and as the theatre staff. It was even more intriguing that this glamorous group spoke French with the guests.
The special reception held in the charming theatre courtyard was sponsored by The Consulate General of Canada in Los Angeles and Le Lycée Français de Los Angeles. And when was the last time you found yourselves talking to a refreshing pair of siblings, and their dad about the philosophy of a school and theatre – only to find out that their family founded it!
Even entering the intimate performance space at Le Lycée Français de Los Angeles (on Pico) was entertaining with a madcap, “What’s New Pussycat” movie rush for parking spaces on the street outside once it was available at 7 pm. Before that drivers double-parked and strayed in no parking zones all around the block. The crowd was split between the reform temple on the next block and the school, all dark brick and trees out front, both Los Angeles treasures, easy to miss while maneuvering Pico traffic.
Laila has toured with Suzanne Vega, Chris Botti and Paula Cole and recorded with and supported Sting. She infuses her own brand of jazz into the best of pop, rock and soul. 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.
Biali’s most recent studio recording Tracing Light received a JUNO nomination for “2011 Best Vocal Jazz Album of the Year.” Laila’s most recent performance release, Live in Concert, recorded live in February 2012 at the Glenn Gould Studio in Toronto, was in rotation at 73 radio stations in North America.
As an educator, Laila has been on faculty at Stanford University’s renowned summer jazz workshop. Laila picked out the notes of the Sesame Street theme at the age of three, following in her older sister’s footsteps of being a pianist, though 8 years earlier. She soon reached the top of the Royal Conservatory and began playing in international piano competitions with an eye to a concert career, despite a serious arm injury at the age of 15.
She is also a member of the all female, New York based neo-‐Classical quartet Rose & The Nightingale whose members have toured with Grammy award-‐ winner Esperanza Spalding.
Today the 32-year-old Biali, is raising a toddler of her own and as a musician, wife and mother, calls Brooklyn and Toronto her home base while she records and tours.
Théâtre Raymond Kabbaz, 10361 W. Pico Blvd., Los Angeles CA 90064, (310.286.0553).
Please see more at: http://www.theatreraymondkabbaz.com/2013/06/11/20132014-season-opening-night-with-laila-biali/#sthash.u3kEUn3y.dpuf