Events / Press
Releases / MapleBlues
Magazine / Join TBS / Contact Info
BluesBook
Online / TBS Listserv / Links
/ Live Blues / Background
/ Marketplace
Layla
Zoe at Women’s Blues Revue
Into The Light
Layla Zoe will be a featured vocalist at the Women’s Blues Revue December 1, 2007 at Massey Hall. The other guest vocalists include Shawne Jackson, Treasa Levasseur, Roxanne Potvin, Dawn Tyler Watson & Nikki Yanofsky. Photo by Antti Lumikari
Since her arrival on the Toronto blues scene in January of this year, Layla Zoe continues to leave an indelible impression on her audiences and fellow artists. Hers is a story of how faith, fortitude and a forum for expression culminate into fortune.
This year, the Toronto Blues Society’s acclaimed “Blues Summit” provided a forum for Layla as a contributing artist, by way of Brian Blain’s beautiful, inspirational and welcoming campfire song circle.
“Layla was the first person in the door at the Chelsea Hotel. Layla’s independent spirit and determination was readily apparent. She was ready to give it her best shot”, cited Brian.
The campfire song circle is where this redheaded, blues siren who hails from Vancouver Island, made a valuable and lasting connection with Toronto’s own voice of the blues, host of bluz.fm, Danny Marks.
“I had that 1950 ES5, the T-Bone guitar. It was tuned down to an open tuning and I was picking some Elizabeth Cotton. She said, ‘I love that song’. I thought, ‘I hope this girl can sing’. Turns out she can. Layla’s vote of confidence in my picking, as a complete stranger, led to us playing together a lot. I get a real lift out of it”, he beamed.
Layla captivated the Blues Summit delegates at the campfire circle, with an energetic and moving a cappella version of an original song, “Someday” from her debut CD, “Shades of Blue”. She received many accolades and an invitation, from Danny Marks, to guest with him at the landmark venue, Jeff Healey’s Roadhouse.
Her
scheduled performance in June at the NXNE Conference had her back in Toronto
with a return engagement to the Roadhouse and this time she was honoured to
share the stage with Jeff Healey.
In the ensuing weeks, Layla performed around the city and was a featured artist with Brian Gladstone at The Rivoli, as part of Hearts Open Toronto (HOT) Sunday Showcase, a monthly charitable event created by Zuzana Hahn of Get Graphic Inc. Understanding the importance of this concept, Layla was thrilled to be part of this series as she generously opens her heart with portions of proceeds from, Shades of Blue going to charities that resonate with her values.
She made guest appearances with regarded artists such as, The Downchild Blues Band at a Berkeley Church event, Danny Marks and Trouble & Strife at the Orangeville Blues and Jazz Festival and Julian Fauth at The Distillery Blues. In September, she was part of the Fram Slokker Street Shuffle and sang at jams hosted by Johnny Max as part of Chuck Jackson’s prestigious Southside Shuffle.
This year Layla garnered the award of Vancouver Island’s Female Vocalist of the Year and winner of the Compo10 International Blues Songwriting Competition held in Järvenpää, Finland, where she will perform in 2008 at the Lakeside Blues Festival.
As Shades of Blue has showcased Layla’s talents as a diverse singer and songwriter that can rock the house with songs like “Someday” and “Flightplan”, then lull you with her lyrical laments in “You Won’t Call” and “Disappearing Delta”, it leaves you with more than shades of anticipation for her next CD.
Layla assures she has plans for just that as she has been working on a new record which she hopes to be released in mid-November, in time for her farewell party to be held in her west coast hometown.
On December 1st, Layla will be sharing the stage at the regal Massey Hall as part of the Women in Blues Revue, with vocalists Treasa Levaseur, Shawne Jackson, Roxanne Potvin, Dawn Tyler Watson and Nikki Yanofsky backed by the all-star Women’s Revue Band (Michelle Josef, Margaret Stowe, Lily Sazz, Brandi Disterheft, Carrie Chesnutt, Colleen Allen, Sarah McElcheran and bandleader Suzie Vinnick).
On this return, Layla Zoe, a woman of strong independent spirit and soulful sensitivity, intends to call “home” the city and society that welcomed her, almost one year ago, with arms wide open.
Sharon Grace
[Back to Maple Blues Magazine] [TBS Home]