Biography
Vocalist Quiana Lynell brings a distinctive touch to jazz through her affinity for standards, blues, contemporary gospel, and the R&B heritage of New Orleans. She first gained traction in Louisiana during the 2010s and reached broader attention by capturing the 2017 Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition. Her initial full-length project, A Little Love, appeared in 2019.
Tyler, Texas, marks her birthplace, yet she passed much of her early years in Abilene immersed in church gospel singing. Following graduation from high school she relocated to Baton Rouge, enrolling at Louisiana State University on scholarship and completing a B.A. in Vocal Performance. During her time there she performed classical repertoire and joined the choir at St. James Episcopal Church. Motherhood later prompted a temporary withdrawal from the stage.
In that interval she formed a connection with Janelle Brown, the frontwoman of the eclectic Zydeco and R&B group 2 Da T, whose encouragement drew Lynell back to music and introduced her to jazz blended with other New Orleans styles. She soon joined 2 Da T onstage and began directing her own jazz ensembles before moving to New Orleans to concentrate fully on the genre. Additional refinement came through collaborations with Aaron Neville, Germaine Bazzle, and Wendell Brunious.
The 2016 EP Loving Me preceded the acclaim that followed her Sarah Vaughan victory the next year. Subsequent work has placed her alongside Terence Blanchard, Nona Hendryx, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Marvin Sewell, Eric Harland, Herbie Hancock, Bilal, Ledisi, and numerous others. Concord Records issued her debut album, A Little Love, in 2019.
Tyler, Texas, marks her birthplace, yet she passed much of her early years in Abilene immersed in church gospel singing. Following graduation from high school she relocated to Baton Rouge, enrolling at Louisiana State University on scholarship and completing a B.A. in Vocal Performance. During her time there she performed classical repertoire and joined the choir at St. James Episcopal Church. Motherhood later prompted a temporary withdrawal from the stage.
In that interval she formed a connection with Janelle Brown, the frontwoman of the eclectic Zydeco and R&B group 2 Da T, whose encouragement drew Lynell back to music and introduced her to jazz blended with other New Orleans styles. She soon joined 2 Da T onstage and began directing her own jazz ensembles before moving to New Orleans to concentrate fully on the genre. Additional refinement came through collaborations with Aaron Neville, Germaine Bazzle, and Wendell Brunious.
The 2016 EP Loving Me preceded the acclaim that followed her Sarah Vaughan victory the next year. Subsequent work has placed her alongside Terence Blanchard, Nona Hendryx, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Marvin Sewell, Eric Harland, Herbie Hancock, Bilal, Ledisi, and numerous others. Concord Records issued her debut album, A Little Love, in 2019.
Albums
