Canadian vocalist Laila Biali brings fresh, exciting and unorthodox takes of American Songbook classics in that they may sometimes not be recognizable, but are certainly enjoyable. Think Anita O’Day’s reading of “Tea For Two” for comparison. Here, Biali is supported by a crew of Larnell Lewis-Ben Wittman/dr, George Koller/b and Kelly Jefferson/ts along with a series of guests like Sam Yahel/key, Kurt Elling/voc and caity Gyrogy/voc, Anat Cohen/cl, Gregoire Maret/harm and Maninho Costa/perc.
The arrangements and deliveries are as diverse as the members, as Maret’s harmonica lurks with the luscious Biali on “Corcovado” while a “Poinciana” styled cadence and smokey tenor sax brings together the leader and Gyorgy on a fragrant “Pennies From Heaven”. Kurt Elling adds primary colors to a bravado’d “My Funny Valentine” and Emilie-Claire Barlow “oos” together with Biali on a dramatic “My Favorite Things” Cohen is cozy around the snappy sticks and Bialies earthy upbeat of “ But Not For M e” and Biali displays her own piano skils on the assertive make of “ Bye Bye Blackbird” as well as the wispy blue “Blame It On My Youth”. A musical mosaic with all the colored pieces perfectly fitting together.