Jacqui Naylor at Blues Alley November 18, 2009

On the heels of her fourth European tour, jazz vocalist and songwriter Jacqui Naylor returns to the United States to play St. Louis’ Hett Center, New Orleans’ Snug Harbor, Washington DC’s Blue’s Alley, Philadelphia’s World Café Live, Doylestown’s Puck, Piermont’s Turning Point, and New York’s Blue Note. The artist will celebrate Thanksgiving with three nights at the famed New York jazz club with her trio and will introduce eleven year-old Matt Wong on piano and guitar.

The talented youth has played with Naylor and her band often in the past year in support of their recent release, You Don’t Know Jacq (Ruby Star/Warner). Known for her interpretative capabilities and wide vocal range, Jazz Times called Jacqui Naylor “an incomparable triple threat, serving up classic covers with the best of them, delivering top-drawer originals and inspiring with the musical marriage she calls acoustic smashing.” “The words and melody are Gershwin’s Summertime but the groove is Allman’s Whipping Post. Naylor has the chops and sensitivity to pull it off,” adds New York Times.

You Don’t Know Jacq features new arrangements of the most requested songs from Jacqui’s previous six albums, as well as completely new material including the first single “Celebrate Early and Often.” The song has been touted by many wedding websites and Martha Stewart Weddings as “the new wedding standard” and used in the advertising for both Novell Wedding Rings and Columbian Emeralds. And her inspiring “Rise Up” was featured on President Obama’s website.

On this tour, fans can expect to hear their favorite selections as well as lovingly covered standards and brand new originals, some chosen specifically for Thanksgiving. Jacqui will also be debuting a newly written song for her manager, Harvey Leeds, called In Annie’s Voice, which pays tribute to his daughter who suffers from Rett Syndrome, a developmental disorder that occurs only in girls. “I’m planning to perform it personally for Annie and her dad while we’re in New York,” says Naylor.

Naylor and her band tour regularly in the U.S. and internationally, including acclaimed debuts recently at Ronnie Scotts London, Blue Note Milan and Tokyo, and The Women In Jazz Festival Germany.

The artist will be touring with her trio, led by the pianist, guitarist and co-composer Art Khu.

Official Website: http://www.bluesalley.com/calendar.cfm