Sophie Milman

Jazz vocalist Sophie Milman delivers torchy, sophisticated phrasing steeped in American popular songbook standards. Born in Russia to a Jewish family, she passed much of her early years in Israel after her parents relocated following the Berlin Wall’s collapse. In the early ’90s the household moved once more, settling in Toronto. Already immersed in singing as a teenager, she drew inspiration from such defining voices as Ella Fitzgerald, Mahalia Jackson, Stevie Wonder, and their peers. A spontaneous appearance at the city’s “Real Divas” night—a Toronto jazz showcase—in 2004 caught the ear of producer Bill King, who promptly arranged several showcase slots for the rising talent. She soon entered a recording deal with Linus Entertainment, issuing her self-titled debut, after which Make Someone Happy appeared on JVC in 2007.