Lena Seikaly and the Jimmy Masters' Trio at The Sandler Center for the Arts

Washington D.C. vocalist Lena Seikaly made a return visit to the Tidewater area to perform with the Jimmy Masters Trio (Masters on bass, John Toomey on piano and drummer Frank Russo. Singing to a nearly sold out room it was evident from the audience reaction she would be welcomed back as often as she liked.

Seikaly began piano lessons at just 4 years old. By her teen age years she had developed a strong foundation in classical voice which led her to a degree in classical music performance at the University of Maryland. While in college she transitioned to jazz studying and imitating jazz legends Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughan but as time went on she expanded her listening to a wider range of artists, both vocalists and instrumentalists, which helped influence her unique sound.

Her diverse background, from classical opera to jazz, has allowed her to blend those two worlds earning the vocalist praise for her rich mezzo-soprano voice and improvisational skills. The singer's rich vocal phrasing, improvisational style and deep connection to jazz traditions has made her a crowd favorite wherever she performs.

Following are photos of the show.