Laura Chalk

Biography

One of the rising young stars on the Kansas City music scene is vocalist Laura Chalk. She performs in the top jazz venues with some of the best Kansas City jazz musicians. In September 2004 Laura and her band were chosen to provide entertainment on the main stage of the Plaza Art Fair, a three-day event that annually attracts nearly 300,000 art enthusiasts to the renowned Country Club Plaza. Her music can be heard on NPR jazz affiliates across the country.

Laura’s vocal style is elegant, smooth and warm, and she sings with honesty of emotion. Her intonation and her phrasing gain the attention of the jazz community as she performs both American and Latin jazz. Laura has said the artists who have influenced her the most are Billie Holiday, João Gilberto, Elis Regina and Ella Fitzgerald.

Bill Cunliffe, 1989 winner of the $10,000 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Piano Award and a grammy nominated pianist, composer and arranger, sat in with Laura’s band while in Kansas City to play with jazz legend James Moody. Impressed with Laura’s singing, Mr. Cunliffe said it was "...great to hear singers who sing with honesty and lyricism." Kansas City’s Paul Smith, a well-known and respected jazz pianist, calls Laura "A gifted singer with a natural ability to sell a song." Jazz guitarist, composer and arranger Danny Embrey said, "Laura and I played one gig together and it was instant simpatico. She has a gift for conveying the true meaning of a lyric, and is equally at home with swing, ballads, blues and Brasilian grooves. She has a delightful sound and sophisticated sense of phrasing and time feel."

Laura’s first album, My Favorite Things, was recorded at Soundtrek Recording Studios in Kansas City, Missouri on February 28 and 29, 2004. She chose 11 of her favorite tunes in different genres, including Latin, ballad and swing. On the session were Paul Smith, piano, Bob Bowman, bass, Todd Strait, drums and percussion, Danny Embrey, guitar, and Rod Fleeman, guitar. Danny Embrey arranged and produced the album, with arrangements from Laura Chalk and Rod Fleeman.

In April 2004, Laura began serving on the Kansas City Youth Jazz Band Advisory Board.