The multi-awarded Canadian singer-composer-pianist and CBC radio host, Laila Biali, is a master of combining different genres. Taking spices from rock, pop and soul, she combines the flavors into her own distinctive jazz sound. This has brought results and she has been performing on really important stages around the world, for example the North Sea Jazz Festival, Beijing’s National Center for the Performing Arts, Tokyo Cotton Club, Peru’s El Festival Internacional de Lima, and New York’s Carnegie Hall. In 2020, Biali was awarded the Hagood Hardy Award for Excellence in Songwriting by the Canadian SOCAN Music. Laila Biali’s latest self-titled recording, released on the prestigious ACT label, won the JUNO award (Canadian Grammy) for the best vocal jazz album of the year. In 2018, she won the main prize in the jazz category of the Canadian Songwriting Competition, and the list goes on. In addition to the fact that Biali has received glory at award galas, her album has been quoted in the very famous DownBeat Magazine. Along with her own music, she has been touring the world with e.g. Suzanne Vega, Chris Bott and Paula Cole, and has recorded, performed and worked as a warm-up artist on Sting’s tour.
Vuonna 2020 Laila palkittiin kanadalaisen SOCAN Musicin toimesta Hagood Hardy Award for Excellence in Songwriting -säveltäjäpalkinnolla. Lailan uusin, hänen omaa nimeään kantava, arvostetulla ACT-levymerkillä julkaistu levytys voitti JUNO-palkinnon (Kanadan Grammy) vuoen parhaasta vokaalijazz albumista. 2018 hän puolestaan pokkasi pääpalkinnon Canadian Songwriting Competion sävellyskilpailun jazzgategoriassa ja lista sen kuin jatkuu. Sen lisäksi, että Biali on saanut glooriaa palkintogaaloissa, on hänen tuotantoaan noteerattu mm. erittäin maineikkaassa DownBeat Magazinen vuoden parhaat albumit listalla ja kunnioitusta on herunut myös nimekkäiden artistien piirissä. Oman musiikkinsa ohella hän on kiertänyt maailmaa mm. Suzanne Vegan Chris Bottin ja Paula Colen kanssa, sekä levyttänyt ja toiminut lämmittelijänä Stingin kiertueella.
“It is the ultimate task given to the musician, whether as singer or instrumentalist, to create a unique signature or fingerprint that is instantly recognizable as their own. What is surprising and delightful in Laila Biali is that both as vocalist and pianist she accomplishes this with equal aplomb. She is an exciting and unique talent, and I admire her greatly.”- Sting.