Lineup:
La Tanya Hall - vocals
John DiMartino - piano
Marvin Sewell - guitar
Joe Martin - bass
Damon DueWhite - drums

If one word could be used to describe La Tanya Hall’s talent, it would have to be diverse. Her versatility in a variety of musical genres has allowed her to travel the world and work with some of the world’s most celebrated artists, including Steely Dan, Seal, Bobby McFerrin, Diana Ross, Harry Belafonte, Aretha Franklin, and Rob Thomas, among others.

Raised in Texas and Colorado, La Tanya first began singing professionally at age 13 with her father, a jazz pianist who performed all over the world. “Mastering the standards was invaluable training for me,” she says. “I learned from my father to create my own style and not be afraid to take chances vocally. He also taught me the importance of a lyric and how my primary job is to be a storyteller."

Shortly after moving to New York in the early 90s, she wound up working with Harry Belafonte for five years almost continually; this was the last period when the great star was still touring heavily, doing an average of 150 shows a year. She filled the same role in his group that the acclaimed jazz vocalist Dianne Reeves had occupied a decade or so earlier, and was a featured duet partner with Mr. Belafonte on the song “Skin To Skin,” both on the recording and PBS special, “An Evening with Harry Belafonte and Friends.” During those occasions when she was not on the road with Mr. Belafonte, she began working all over New York as an in-demand session vocalist.

When Mr. Belafonte began phasing out his touring operation, Ms. Hall accepted two engagements that furthered her standing in industry: she headlined as Deena in the final road company production of the smash hit musical show Dreamgirls, and also toured with the legendary diva Diana Ross. After working with Ms. Ross, LaTanya also did several gigs with the no-less legendary Aretha Franklin.

Her work with Bobby McFerrin is incredibly pivotal and special to her. For many years, she was a regular member of Mr. McFerrin’s 12-voice ensemble, Voicestra. “That was some of the most creative and fulfilling work that I’ve ever done,” she says. “Everything was totally improvised – we didn’t use written or pre-set music of any kind. Sometimes we reached to places so deep musically that I was actually in tears on the stage.” She is featured on his last two recordings, 'Vocabularies' and 'SpiritYouAll.'

She has been a member of Steely Dan for the past 13 years and is grateful to share the stage with Donald Fagen and a host of other celebrated musicians. In between Steely Dan tours, she was lucky to tour the world with Seal in celebration of the 30th anniversary of his first two record breaking albums. For the last year, she has toured the world with celebrated pop star Rob Thomas on his “All Night Days” tour, sharing the stage with Rob as well as special guests Carlos Santana and Robert Johnson.

La Tanya is back with her third and most diverse studio album to date, If Not Now, When…[Blue Canoe Records.] She has assembled an all-star team of musicians to bring her musical vision to life, including NEA jazz master Gary Bartz on alto saxophone; trumpet legend Eddie Henderson; celebrated pianist Cyrus Chestnut; and harmonica virtuoso Gregoire Maret, among others. Produced by Grammy Awarding winning musician Michael Leonhart, this album combines hidden gems from the jazz canon with stunning arrangements that breathe whole new life into these carefully curated songs.

“I’ve always been attracted to the ‘rare gem’ – the song that has rarely been remade”, she says. “On this album, I’m especially proud of “A Turtle’s Dream” and “Tender As A Rose”, two lesser known songs by Abbey Lincoln; “Let’s Burn Down the Cornfields” by Randy Newman and inspired by Lou Rawls’ seminal interpretation; “Pretty Eyes” by Horace Silver; and “Long As You’re Living” by Oscar Brown, Jr., whose lyrics are so topical and relevant in our current world climate.”

In addition to La Tanya’s musical career, she is also an esteemed educator. She created the jazz voice program at Oberlin Conservatory and continues to teach there as a tenured Associate Professor of Voice. She was also the chair of the voice division for the National YoungArts Foundation for more than 11 years. Her students have gone on to stellar careers in recording, performing and on Broadway.

La Tanya’s voice has been described as “powerfully sensuous,” “a show stealer” and “beautifully musical” in a number of reviews from around the world. And her stage presence has been touted as “brilliant” and “extremely engaging.” As one review, Stephen Mosher from BBW magazine, so aptly stated, “On empowered, emboldened display are talent, musical vocabulary, and emotional range with crystal clear intentions. Some singers can bring all the feelings to the lyrics they sing, but this singer takes all those emotions and channels them into every vocalise. Listeners, prepare to be hypnotized. La Tanya Hall is like an enticing but elusive guest at your cocktail party - fascinating, interesting, and leaning against the wall as every other guest comes to her, spellbound by sheer star power.”