Laila Biali – Wintersongs
Laila Biali; Jane Bunnett; Venuti String Quartet; chamber orchestra
Independent (lailabiali.bigcartel.com/product/wintersongs)
Just in time for you-know-what, Laila Biali has released Wintersongs, a gorgeous, contemplative ode to Canada’s downtrodden season. Born out of a retreat at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity that the talented singer, piano player and songwriter went on in November 2021, the album is very much a product of its environment with most of the songs being studies of snow and wind and pine trees.
Resplendent with strings courtesy of the Venuti String Quartet and a 20-piece chamber orchestra led by Rob Mathes (Sting, Bruce Springsteen) and with Biali’s warm, pure vocals floating over top, the reverie is real.
There are a few heart-starting moments to snap us out of our trance, though, as Keep on Moving, with a guest choir, amps things up midway through the album, before returning us to our winter wonderland. A standout track for me is Winter Waltz, a gently lilting instrumental with an Argentinean vibe, thanks to Drew Jureka’s bandoneon work. We also get a taste of Christmas as the album closes out with a wonderful chamber-jazz instrumental take on Jesus, He is Born a.k.a The Huron Carol featuring the great Kevin Turcotte on trumpet.
With this lovely album for company, even diehard winter-haters might learn to embrace the season.
