JUNO-Nominated Jazz Singer Laura Anglade Shares an Autumn Ode to Blossom Dearie with “Manhattan”

Today, the JUNO-nominated, French-born, NYC-via-Toronto jazz singer Laura Anglade shares a delicate ode to “Manhattan” with her striking version of the Great American Songbook classic. Laura channels the magical excitement of the Big Apple, the city she now calls home. She transports us to the streets of Soho, from Mott St to old Delancey, through beautifully polished vocals and demure delivery.

Laura explains: “I remember wanting to record this tune first thing because of all those nice low notes I have in the morning. We were still getting our levels together, but one take was all we needed to capture the magic. I am inevitably influenced by Blossom Dearie’s version – I can’t help it. The fact that this was recorded in the morning makes it special. There is nothing like New York City waking up. We are transported back through the lens of a young person. ‘…made for a girl and boy’ Manhattan – a grand, terrifying, daunting place – serves also as a playground. I remember a close friend saying to me one day that ‘music is play’ —a reminder not to take oneself too seriously. It is okay to be uncertain, to not have it all figured out. There is joy in the unknown.”

The gauzy “Manhattan” follows “A New Day, a New Life, a New Love,” and the breezy “April in Paris” signaling more music to come from the rising star.

Listen & Share “Manhattan” Here:
https://lauraanglade.ffm.to/manhattan

French and American singer Laura Anglade is a promising storyteller hailing from the idyllic town of Brousse-le-Château, France. She draws inspiration from Carmen McRae, Blossom Dearie, Sarah Vaughan, Ella Fitzgerald, Shirley Horn, Billie Holiday, Michel Legrand and Barbra Streisand, among others.

Laura has made a mark in the music scenes of New York, Paris, London, Toronto and Montreal, collaborating with some of the world’s finest musicians, including Peter Bernstein, Jonathan Kreisberg, Ben Paterson, Ira Coleman, Reg Schwager, and Neil Swainson, to name a few.

In 2022, she joined singer Melody Gardot across the east and west coasts of the United States and Europe. Laura has performed in renowned venues such as Olympia (Paris), the Royal Festival Hall (London), Town Hall (New York City), the Ace Theatre Hotel (Los Angeles), and the main stage at the Festival International de Jazz de Montreal.

Her debut album, ‘I’ve Got Just About Everything’ (Justin Time Records, 2019) was met with praise by critics and fans alike. Her second JUNO-nominated album, ‘Venez Donc Chez Moi’ (Justin Time Records, 2022) is a duo recording featuring Montreal guitarist Sam Kirmayer, with whom she was awarded the “Prix Opus” for Jazz Concert of the Year in 2023.

Laura kicked off 2024 releasing a version of “April in Paris” where she introduces the melody a cappella. She inhabits the character in her vocal, breathing life into an experience she can relate to even if she hasn’t lived it exactly.

“I’ve been reflecting recently on the parallels between acting and singing,” she explains. “Each art form is an extension of the other. Singing, like acting, is rooted in human expression, in the power of a good story. I never pursued musical theater growing up, but I’ve found that the deeper I get into this music and grow as a person, the more each song feels like performing a role.”

Then she shared “A New Day, a New Life, a New Love,” reflecting on the magic of the recording process. “We did two takes of this song in the studio. I was convinced the second one was stronger, especially the vocal performance. There is a certain magical quality in the first take, that the band came to an agreement on in the listening booth. This first take carries a more honest delivery, it resonates profoundly. I am grateful for this decision. The song captures the overwhelming and exciting emotions of navigating a new environment.”