Award-winning Canadian singer-songwriter, pianist, and CBC Music national radio host Laila Biali has long enchanted audiences around the globe. From gracing the stage at New York City’s Carnegie Hall to captivating listeners at Beijing’s National Centre for the Performing Arts—and even supporting the legendary Sting—Biali’s artistry knows no borders. Her accolades are equally impressive, with multiple JUNO Award nominations for albums like Tracing Light, Out of Dust, and Your Requests, and a JUNO win in 2019 for Vocal Jazz Album of the Year. She’s also been recognized with the Hagood Hardy Award for Excellence in Songwriting and is the youngest-ever double winner at Canada’s National Jazz Awards for SOCAN Composer of the Year and Keyboardist of the Year. This September, Biali celebrated eight years as the host of CBC Music’s Saturday Night Jazz, a program that brings her passion for music to millions across Canada.
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Now, with her tenth album as a bandleader, Laila Biali invites listeners into a world of shimmering melodies and cinematic soundscapes with Wintersongs. Three years in the making, this collection of winter-themed originals was composed during a writing retreat in a cozy cabin nestled among the snow-capped peaks of Canada’s Rocky Mountains. The result is a musical love letter to winter—one that captures both the serenity and the grandeur of the season.
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Wintersongs is a truly collaborative achievement. With support from the Canada Council for the Arts, Ontario Arts Council, and Toronto Arts Council, Biali brought together an extraordinary team to realize her vision. The album features JUNO-winner and Grammy nominee Jane Bunnett, whose sparkling improvisations and solos illuminate tracks like “Rocky Mountain Lullaby” and “Dance of the Pines.” These pieces are sonic journeys inspired by the flora, fauna, and northern lights of Canada’s wilderness.
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The album’s lush arrangements are elevated by the Venuti String Quartet, a full chamber orchestra, and the talents of one of the industry’s most sought-after orchestrators, Rob Mathes (Sting, Bruce Springsteen). Biali shares, “Rob Mathes has been on my dream list since I first heard his early work. There was magic in his writing. He and Drew Jurecka really brought grandeur and a spirit of play to Wintersongs through their string treatments.” Her longtime co-producer, drummer, and husband Ben Wittman also returns, ensuring the album’s intimate yet expansive sound.
Special guests, including acclaimed trumpeter Kevin Turcotte, organist Sam Yahel, and Detroit-born singer Wade O. Brown, further enrich Wintersongs. Each artist brings their unique voice, adding color and warmth to Biali’s wintry soundscape.
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As Laila Biali prepares to embark on an extensive tour with Jane Bunnett this November and December, Wintersongs stands as a testament to her creative vision and collaborative spirit. The album is not just a celebration of winter, but a reminder of the beauty that can be found in every season—if we listen closely enough.
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For further information on the artist, please visit the following links:
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Image provided courtesy of Crossover Media
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