In her so far short career, Nailah has already written songs with Grammy winner and Guggenheim Fellow, Billy Childs, and contemporary jazz icons, Tom Scott and Jeff Lorber. She recorded and toured with various artists including Beck, Warren G, and John Cale (Velvet Underground). In addition Nailah released two CDs on her own label NaiMuse (Life In Session EP and Nailah Live at Kula), catching the attention of various critics and musicians, such as tastemaker Gilles Peterson, who regarded her as “the female jazz voice of the year ” and subsequently invited her to perform at his Worldwide Awards! Contemporary world-known producer and artist Nicola Conte also recognized the talent of Miss Porter and did not only feature her on his latest Love & Revolution LP, but also invited her to tour with his Jazz Combo across the globe.
Porters solo LP ConJazzNess is her major debut for Emarcy Universal and has been released this summer. It features top musicians from LA and NYC and is a tasteful blend of rural jazz and worldly wise lyricism, crossing over from its be-bop roots to neo-soul hipness. Being asked what informs her music she recalls “the smell of hickory-smoked barbeque” of her hometown of Winston-Salem, North Carolina… “the feel of cotton-pricked fingers, pinchin’ her cheeks”… and “the foot stomps and African vocal harmonies of the Elder’s Choir at St. John CME Church.” Nailah says her music “on the surface is a blending of genres, but more importantly, it sounds like what it is…Spirit speaking to me and through me to Itself in everything that is.” Music that is “Rooted in Spirit, Based on Jazz.”.
On stage, Nailah is usually supported by her London based Trio.
Listen to “Sacred”
www.nailahporter.com
Request for Nailah Porter