Multi award-winning Canadian jazz singer-songwriter, pianist and radio host Laila Biali tours Atlantic Canada from May 12 to May 21. Recently we spoke with Biali about her past, present and future. What are your roots? In terms of my heritage, Dad comes from Egypt and Mom is from Germany. They met on a beach in Vancouver and raised me and my three older sisters there. When and why did you start playing music? My Mom tells the story of how I climbed up onto the piano bench to plunk out the melody to Sesame Street by ear when I was just 3.5 years old. It was then that she decided to enroll me in piano lessons rather than gymnastics classes. (I was a bouncy, energetic child, so that was the next logical choice!) Once I had begun formal classical lessons, I truly fell in love with the piano. My teacher, Juanita Ryan, who sadly passed away earlier this year, would loan me stacks of CDs to bring home and study. I listened obsessively, even while going to bed at night, ...
Our good friend, Halifax-based broadcaster Leon Cole has passed away. In 2012, he shared some of his thoughts with Arts East. You can read our chat with "The Piano Man" HERE.
