Upon completing her degree at Middlesex University and studying in New York with Nancy Marano from the Manhattan School of Music, Laura launched her career in Italy, performing with leading jazz musicians in Rome and appearing at the Umbria Jazz Festival.
She released her debut album Nobody Else But Me in 2000 which was The Observer newspaper’s album CD of the Week, and her second release Just One of Those Things (2004) received airplay on Michael Parkinson’s Radio Two show, and her third album About Love (2008) was similarly well received with Peter Quinn of Jazzwise describing Laura’s vocal performances as ‘A-list’ and of showing a ‘hypnotic, incantatory quality’.
Laura’s latest album Songs for Modern Lovers – inspired by the iconic Frank Sinatra album Songs for Swinging Lovers – is a fresh take on an old theme. New arrangements of the original tracks are complemented by an eclectic array of contemporary love songs that Laura grew up with. Tunes by the likes of Joe Jackson, Sam Brown, Elvis Costello, Paul Weller and even Chicago have been arranged by some of the country’s leading jazz musicians.
Whether she is re-working neglected standards or doing jazz interpretations of contemporary tunes, Laura is a true jazz vocalist, employing her voice as a musical instrument, improvising and molding the melodic line to lend each lyric the best possible effect.
We can expect nothing less than the very best from Laura Zakian.
Tickets for the concert and for other Lichfield Arts events can be purchased directly from Lichfield Arts Box Office at Donegal House, Bore Street, Lichfield, (tel: 01543 262223) or online at www.lichfieldarts.org.uk.
