Laurin Talese

Laurin Talese
OriginCleveland, Ohio
GenresJazz, Traditional Pop, Folk, Soul
Occupation(s)Actor, Composer, Lyricist, Vocalist
Websitewww.laurintalese.com

Laurin Talese is an American vocalist and composer.[1] Her 2016 album Gorgeous Chaos peaked at 16 of the Billboard magazine's Traditional Jazz Album charts.[2] She has performed and recorded with musicians such as Adam Blackstone, Christian McBride, Robert Glasper, Gregory Porter, and Patti Labelle.[3]

Early life

Laurin Talese was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, United States. At 14, Talese received a scholarship to study classical voice at the Cleveland Institute of Music under the instruction of A. Grace Lee Mims. She left her native Cleveland for the University of the Arts, in Philadelphia, where she majored in vocal performance and graduated in 2004.[4][5]

Music career

Her debut album, Gorgeous Chaos,[6] was released in 2016 and charted at 14 on Billboard.[2] In 2018, Talese won the Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition.[7] The following year she made her debut at the Newport Jazz Festival.[8] In 2019, Talese represented the United States as a cultural ambassador with American Music Abroad – an initiative of the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.[9] In 2020, Talese was awarded the New Jazz Works grant funded by the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation.[10]

In a 2019 interview, Talese cited singers Sarah Vaughan and Nancy Wilson as musical influences.[7]

Discography

References

  1. ^ "The ASCAP Foundation "Songwriters: The Next Generation" Showcases ASCAP Artists at The Kennedy Center". www.ascap.com. Retrieved March 24, 2021.
  2. ^ a b "Laurin Talese". Billboard. Retrieved March 29, 2021.
  3. ^ "August 23rd: Patti LaBelle, Gregory Porter & Laurin Talese". The Dell Music Center. Retrieved March 29, 2021.
  4. ^ "Laurin Talese". University Of The Arts.
  5. ^ Reich, Howard (November 15, 2011). "A splendid new voice blossoms in Philly". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved March 29, 2021.
  6. ^ ""Gorgeous Chaos" by Laurin Talese". www.newswire.com (Press release). Retrieved March 24, 2021.
  7. ^ a b "Laurin Talese Wins Sarah Vaughan Vocal Competition". downbeat.com. November 19, 2018. Retrieved March 24, 2021.
  8. ^ mrabrams (July 31, 2019). "WhatsUp Interview: Laurin Talese, Playing Newport Jazz Saturday". What's Up Newp. Retrieved March 24, 2021.
  9. ^ Brady, Shaun (August 26, 2019). "Two Philadelphia-area singers selected out of hundreds by the State Department to bring jazz around the world". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved March 24, 2021.
  10. ^ "CMA Awards More Than $1.2 Million in Grants to the Small Ensemble Music Field | Chamber Music America". www.chamber-music.org. Retrieved March 29, 2021.