Review by John P McLaughlin
The Province, August 7, 2007:

LAILA BIALI
From Sea to Sky (CBC)

She’s released indie records, but this is my first intro to North Van-raised, Toronto-residing and New York-bound pianist/singer Biali. Very nice to meet. From the opening glissando of Sarah McLachlan’s “Ice Cream” through a lovely cover of Ruth Lowe’s “I’ll Never Smile Again,” featuring a killer trumpet solo from Guido Basso, there isn’t a misstep. Indeed, her cadre of helpers, including Phil Dwyer on sax, fabulous vibraphonist Don Thompson and former Vancouverite Claire Lawrence producing, is top-drawer. Featuring all-Canadian songs, this screams “Juno.”
It even whispers “Grammy.” Superb. Rating: A

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Finding her real voice
Laila Biali's singing talent took her by surprise

John P. McLaughlin

The Province

Tuesday, August 07, 2007

As the story goes -- and it makes good bio fodder -- North Vancouver's Laila Biali was a bright-eyed three-year-old when she first climbed up to the family piano and poked out, note-perfect, the theme to Sesame Street. Her mother had been thinking about putting the girl in gymnastics, what with her skinny frame and endless bouncing around but, after that spontaneous homage, her life's path was revealed.

Today the 26-year-old Biali, while currently touring as a pianist behind singer/songwriter Paula Cole, releases her first big-label, studio-recorded CD -- a disc that should give her a serious solo career. (Review on B5.)

And just for the record, smooth jazz this ain't. She possesses a beautifully tempered, smiling, feathery voice and her keyboard playing can be mesmerizing. Comparisons to Diana Krall will be inevitable, but Biali is more interesting. Maybe it's all that classical training.

Her German-born mother stayed home for the kids while her Egyptian dad was an electrical engineer and inventor who once came up with the prototype for those tennis-racket-shaped bug zappers. They first met on the collegial sands of Kits beach.

Evidently there was a lot of music around the house. Biali's older sister started classical piano at 11 and, by the time she was 16, hit the highest Royal Conservatory level possible.

For her part, young Laila was in piano studies shortly after her Sesame Street debut. She, too, reached the top of the Royal Conservatory and began playing in international piano competitions with an eye to a concert career. From the get-go, music has been like air to her.

"I don't want this to sound arrogant but, as a kid, I remember wondering if this was an unusual talent," says Biali, "or is it that I'm so in love with the music? I remember going to bed at night and playing tapes of Chopin tudes as a really young girl and fantasizing about myself playing these pieces for other people."

Alas, her place at the Steinway grand with the orchestra swelling beside her was not to materialize. At 15, her intense regimen caused injuries to her right arm and hand and it took a good while to get over her dashed dream. But a teacher at Handsworth high school in North Van, Bob Rebligati, introduced Biali to jazz and, when she went away to Humber College in Toronto a couple of years later, she discovered Keith Jarrett and Kenny Wheeler's classically influenced playing and the die was cast.

Biali had landed a gig backing trumpeter Chris Botti when she was heard singing off-hours, and she wound up as Botti's lead vocalist, which was a complete surprise. She'd only ever thought of herself as a piano player. When she was spotted recently by producer/manager Bobby Colomby -- he's a founder of Blood, Sweat and Tears -- she was paired with Paula Cole for her current tour.

But that'll just be a footnote in a career sure to blossom into something lasting and substantial. Biali's moving to New York soon, and there's no question, an interesting trip is just beginning.

"It's been the beautiful and vulnerable discovery of a voice," says Biali. "I don't mean a literal voice but a creative voice, an artistic voice. We all have something to say and music is a means for expressing that. I truly believe if we're open in our art, we invite fellow music lovers . . . We musicians are just framing them in ways that are unique to our talents. It's that dialogue that drives me and that I think will keep jazz alive."
jpmac@gmx.net © The Vancouver Province 2007

LAILA BIALI
from sea to sky

Review by Irwin Block, Montreal Gazette, July 12, 2007

When an extraordinary talent delivers an exceptional recording, it is time for celebration and recognition. Such is the case with multi-talented Laila Biali-Toronto-based singer, pianist and arranger of a CD that is full of heart and joy. A recent prize-winning graduate of Humber College, Biali has a voice that makes the listener shudder, it is so rounded and pure. She has given new scope and texture to nine Canadian-penned tunes, written one instrumental and re-worked Autumn Leaves. Standouts include Ron Sexmith’s Secret Heart, Joni Mitchell’s Woodstock, and Ruth Lowe’s I’ll Never Smile Again. A power drum and soprano sax conversation introduces Bruce Cockburn’s Stolen Land. The band is pumped, especially Phil Dwyer (saxophones), Don Thompson ((vibraphone, piano), Guido Basso (flugelhorn, trumpet), and Rob Pilch (guitar). Bookers take note.

5 out of 5 Stars - Instant Classic
Podworthy: Secret Heart



July 10, 2007
*American Baseball League 78th All-Star Game*
AT&T Park, San Francisco
See video of Laila and Paula Cole http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/events/all_star/y2007/video.jsp
Scroll down to the More Game Highlights section and click on the link beside God Bless American in the right-hand column


Toronto Star - June 26, 2007
Review by Geoff Chapman, Toronto Star

LAILA BIALI from Sea To Sky (CBC Records)
* * * * (four out of four stars)

This one's a surefire winner from pianist and now pianist-vocalist Biali, one of the very best of Canada's new crop of jazz artists. Given a tryout at a Glenn Gould Studio concert in February accompanied by an all-star group that includes Guido Basso, Rob Piltch, Don Thompson and George Koller, the 11-song result should quell any doubts about her move from keyboard virtuoso to appealing singer with a distinctive sultry sound and an intimate, emotional jazz approach that can be playful or broody.

Her repertoire is absolutely up to date, from Feist and Sarah McLachlan via Ron Sexsmith and Bruce Cockburn, to Joni Mitchell and Leonard Cohen. All arrangements are hers, she contributes the passionate "Radiance" for piano trio and nods to the classics with a sweetly melancholic "I'll Never Smile Again" and an instrumental "Autumn Leaves." She can be playful, broody and poignant. Listen for the gorgeous high notes on "Calling All Angels" and "Woodstock." Top track: "Secret Heart" with its intense delivery, superb soloing by saxist Phil Dwyer and reggae-fied rhythm. Geoff Chapman

Don Thompson, vibes and piano   		Phil Dwyer, saxophones

Guido Basso, trumpet and flugelhorn		Rob Piltch, guitar

Geoge Kollar, bass				Larnell Lewis, drums

TRCD 3013        UPC Code   0 59582 30222 4

RELEASE DATE: JUNE 19th 2007