A stunningly talented young vocalist out of New Orleans who won the 2017 Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition, Quiana Lynell fuses her gospel roots with jazz chops and bluesy swagger.

Quiana Lynell made her salient mark on the jazz-and-beyond musical world as a wise, warm vocalist whose voice is singular in its soul, intensity, ecstasy and outright spiritual courage. Like so many significant artists, she came from the church. In her house when she was growing up in Texas, there was no secular music allowed. But music was everything to her and she knew she was singer. After studying voice at Louisiana State University, the Texas native sang in a zydeco/blues band for a time before eventually moving to New Orleans to soak in the city’s vibrant jazz scene.

Once in the Crescent City, Lynell began turning heads with her powerfully expressive voice and commanding stage presence. The great Terence Blanchard caught wind of the young phenom, and was immediately struck by her talent. Says Blanchard, “When I first heard her sing, my initial thought was ‘Who are you, where have you been, and why am I just hearing you now?’” He subsequently hired her for a high profile gig in Europe, a performance which garnered heaps of accolades. With encouragement form Blanchard, Lynell entered the Sarah Vaughan Vocal Competition and took first prize, leading to a record contract with Concord.

Her debut record, A Little Love, came out last year to wide acclaim. A feast of soul, gospel, r&b, groove and jazz, A Little Love blooms with songs about searching, trying times, buoyant love, deep reflection and social action. Lynell sings with the voice of authority and the takeaway from the album as a whole is honesty. She’s a truth-seeking storyteller with a spirited resolve.