Background
Biali was born in Vancouver and began playing piano at the age of 4.
Biali was born in Vancouver and began playing piano at the age of 4.
She studied classical piano for many years and is a proud alumnus of the Royal Conservatory of Music.
She has performed with and opened for Chris Botti, Sting, Dave Brubeck, Philosophy Dwyer, Diana Krall, Paula Cole, Suzanne Vega, and others She then developed a keen interest in Jazz in her late teens. At age 19, she began her professional career when she moved to Toronto to attend Humber College on scholarships.
She performs regularly around the world and her most prolific performance includes taking to the stage at Carnegie Hall in New York City. She plays regularly to sold out audiences at Glenn Gould Theatre in Toronto.
She has also toured with Paula Cole, Chris Botti and Suzanne Vega. She recorded the Digital Video Disc for If On a Winter"s Night with Sting in Tuscany in August 2009.
Her first independent album was released in 2003, Introducing the Laila Biali Trio. lieutenant was followed up with the Canadian Broadcasting Company Records commissioned release From Sea to Sky: Laila Biali, released: 19 June 2007 which features cover versions of popular Canadian songs including Mushaboom.
Her third album Tracing Light was released independently on 26 October 2010 and is currently distributed by Select Distribution in Canada.
One week later, the compilation album World Jazz for Haiti (produced by Biali"s Tracing Light producer and bass player George Koller) was released on 1 November 2010 which features her performing an original song Radiance. The album proceeds benefit victims of the earthquake in Haiti. The summer of 2011, she tours Canada in a coast-to-coast festival tour as well as the kick-off date in her new hometown of New York at The Rockwood in early June.
On tour, Biali performs with longtime collaborators, drummer Larnell Lewis and stand-up bass player George Koller.
She is a Juno Award nominated performer and has won numerous other honours. By 2003, she had won the Canadian Broadcasting Company Galaxie Prize (Rising Star Award) at the National Jazz Awards. In 2005, she won SOCAN Keyboardist of the Year and Composer of the Year at the National Jazz Awards. Biali was nominated for a Juno Award for her Tracing Light album in February 2011.
