Home » Jazz Musicians » Jacqui Naylor
Jacqui Naylor
Jacqui Naylor is not an easy artist to categorize. There are times when she performs straight-ahead vocal jazz, but at other times she favors more of a folk-rock/adult alternative approach. Depending on the mood she is in at a given moment, the northern Californian can bring to mind anyone from Cassandra Wilson or British jazz vocalist Claire Martin to Sarah McLachlan or Shawn Colvin — she is as comfortable among jazz improvisers as she is in the singer/songwriter world. During one of her live performances, Naylor has no problem singing smoky jazz one minute and folk-rock or adult alternative the next — and there are times when she blurs the line between the two.
Naylor, who is very jazz-friendly but far from a rigid jazz purist, brings a long list of influences to her introspective work — influences ranging from Billie Holiday, June Christy, and Nina Simone to Tracy Chapman, Natalie Merchant, Carole King, and Sheryl Crow. That is an unlikely combination of influences, certainly, but it is one that works well for Naylor (who has used all of them to fashion a personal, recognizable style of her own). Naylor has a highly diverse repertoire; on-stage, she is likely to perform a Tin Pan Alley standard right after something by the Rolling Stones or Talking Heads (in addition to performing songs of her own). Naylor is not an overly aggressive or forceful type of singer; she favors subtlety, restraint, and understatement, which are things that Holiday and Christy (one of the goddesses of jazz’s cool school) were both masters of.
Born and raised in Saratoga, CA, Naylor attended San Francisco State University after graduating from high school in the ’80s. Naylor entered that college to study marketing, but along the way she became interested in drama and acting — and after hearing the album Sarah Vaughan Sings George Gershwin in a music appreciation class, Naylor became seriously interested in vocal jazz. However, she continued to study marketing and earned a marketing degree from SFSU in 1991. After graduating, she spent six years as the marketing director for clothing designer Lat Naylor. But she studied music on the side, and from 1991-1995, she studied with the San Francisco-based jazz vocal teacher Faith Winthrop.
In 1996, Naylor’s work in clothing design required her to spend a year in New York City, where she studied vocals on the side with Shirley Calloway (mother of cabaret/traditional pop singer Ann Hampton Calloway).
Read moreTags
Jacqui Naylor: Treasures of the Heart
by Nicholas F. Mondello
Jacqui Naylor's Treasure of the Heart sends up fourteen highly unique jewels, with ten of those being original compositions from Naylor and spouse Art Khu and four classics, all offering a wide range of grooves from funk, jazz, and rock. Throughout the date, Naylor exhibits a healthy versatility with her vocal instrument and delivers a lyric interpretation that at times startles. Rodgers and Hart's well-recorded jazz standard, “I Didn't Know What Time It Was," launches things and ...
Continue ReadingJacqui Naylor: You Don't Know Jacq
by Guy Zinger
You Don't Know Jacq is all about Jacqui Naylor, exemplifying her vocal range, warm voice, interpretive qualities and style--"Acoustic Smashing," which, in essence, means jazz standards done along rock/pop rhythm lines, or vice versa. The disc features new arrangements of the most requested songs from her previous six albums, as well as new material including the first single, “Celebrate Early and Often," now being used for many a wedding across the United States. You Don't Know Jacq is ...
Continue ReadingJacqui Naylor: Live East-West: Birdland/Yoshi's
by Mark Sabbatini
In the spirit of man bites dog, this is an album whose parts are greater than its sum.
Jackie Naylor has a strong voice, good supporting players, a catchy “acoustic smashing" concept of singing the lyrics of one song to the tune of a second, and the freedom of stretching out in a double-disc live setting. But ultimately there's an uneven quality to 2005's Live East-West: Birdland/Yoshi's, with the fiery highlights diluted by too many lackluster and awkward ...
Continue ReadingJacqui Naylor: Shelter
by Javier AQ Ortiz
Jazzy, folkish, bluesy, hipster and thoroughly contemporary vocalizations characterize Jacqui Naylor’s Shelter. Her latest is string-heavy, featuring plenty of organic licks from guitars, acoustic bass and cellos. Rhythmic quirks, as on the earthy sexiness of “Miss You,” recommend a melodious recording that doesn’t end up being merely balladesque with pushy jazz insinuations. This project has an aural personality of its own, blending beauty, serenity, and low-sizzled potency. Furthermore, the percussive undercurrents from the drummers, the bassist and the pianist bring ...
Continue ReadingInnovative Jazz Vocalist/Composer Jacqui Naylor Releases 'Treasures Of The Heart,' Her 12th Album
Source:
Mouthpiece Music
Jacqui Naylor is one of the most captivating and innovative vocalists on the scene today. Her albums are not easy to characterize because they always take you on unexpected adventures with songs flavored with jazz, R&B, soul, and pop. The prolific recording artist, singer, and composer is now releasing her 12th album, Treasures of the Heart, comprising four re-imaginings of well-known jazz and pop standards and 10 original compositions penned by Naylor and her husband, pianist Art Khu, who also ...
read more
Celebrated Jazz Vocalist & Composer, Jacqui Naylor, Releases Her 11th And Long-awaited Album, 'The Long Game'
Source:
Two Sheps That Pass
To support the album, Jacqui hosts a monthly live-stream concert series, called Home2Home. The next installment is Saturday, April 10th. On February 12th, acclaimed jazz vocalist and songwriter, Jacqui Naylor made Valentine’s Day even “love”lier with the release of her eleventh album, The Long Game. The beautiful album, filled with both original and timeless love songs, highlights the singer’s magnificent songwriting and deeply rich & soulful voice on thoughtfully arranged songs. The title of the album was born from one ...
read more
Jacqui Naylor Combines Original Compositions, Acoustic Smashing and Fan Choice on 'Lucky Girl'
Source:
Groove Notes
Jacqui Naylor's latest release, “Lucky Girl" hits stores September 27th. Her fans can purchase a copy ahead of time tonight at Jazz Alley. LISTEN TO THE INTERVIEW Singer Jacqui Naylor releases her 8th album, Lucky Girl tomorrow. She is also performing tonight at Jazz Alley in Seattle as she kicks off her international tour. I spoke to Jacqui today about letting her fans choose the songs for her new album, her continued success with “acoustic smashing" and being the subject ...
read more
Jacqui Naylor Special on 1.FM - Adore Vocal Jazz
Source:
Michael Ricci
Jacqui Naylor is known for her interpretative capabilities and wide vocal range, with her signature “acoustic smashing" technique.
Jacqui is singing jazz standards over rock classics or vice versa, like Gershwins' “Summertime" over The Allman Brothers' “Whipping Post" or Rodgers & Hart's “My Funny Valentine" over AC/DC's “Back in Black."
She's an incomparable singer, delivering top-drawer originals. This Jacqui Naylor's 1-hour special will peek into her unique world.
Tune in to www.adorejazz.com to listen to this special and the best ...
read more
Jacqui Naylor Special on 1.FM - Adore Vocal Jazz
Source:
Michael Ricci
Jacqui Naylor is known for her interpretative capabilities and wide vocal range, with her signature “acoustic smashing" technique.
Jacqui is singing jazz standards over rock classics or vice versa, like Gershwins' “Summertime" over The Allman Brothers' “Whipping Post" or Rodgers & Hart's “My Funny Valentine" over AC/DC's “Back in Black."
She's an incomparable singer, delivering top-drawer originals. This Jacqui Naylor's 1-hour special will peek into her unique world.
Tune in to www.adorejazz.com to listen to this special and the best ...
read more
Jacqui Naylor Special on adorejazz.com
Source:
Michael Ricci
Jacqui Naylor is known for her interpretative capabilities and wide vocal range, with her signature “acoustic smashing" technique.
Jacqui is singing jazz standards over rock classics or vice versa, like Gershwins' “Summertime" over The Allman Brothers' “Whipping Post" or Rodgers & Hart's “My Funny Valentine" over AC/DC's “Back in Black."
She's an incomparable singer, delivering top-drawer originals. This Jacqui Naylor's 1-hour special will peek into her unique world.
Tune in to adorejazz.com to listen to this special and the best ...
read more
Singer Splices Tunes for Hybrid Jazz Sound
Source:
Michael Ricci
Some jazz singers forge a distinctive identity by finding overlooked tunes, while others put an indelible stamp on familiar standards through the force of their personality. And then there are the rarefied few who weave a new repertoire out of whole cloth, outfitting their book with material transformed by a bracing new concept.
Jacqui Naylor, a self-possessed San Francisco vocalist with a pleasingly smoky sound, belongs to the latter category. She started her career as a jazz chanteuse captivated by ...
read more
Jazz Singer Blossom Dearie Remembered
Source:
All About Jazz
Singer Jacqui Naylor will perform a special show called, “Remembering Blossom Dearie" at Yoshi's in San Francisco on Sunday, April 19th. Blossom Dearie passed away in February at the age of 82. She was jazz singer, best known for her distinct voice on the ABC-TV series, Schoolhouse Rock ("Figure 8" & “Unpack Your Adjectives"). Two shows: 2pm (matinee) and 7pm. Matinee: 2:00pm - Tickets $5 kids / $18 parents / $20 others Purchase tickets for 2pm show Evening ...
read more
Jacqui Naylor Returns to the Turning Point Cafe
Source:
Impress Media - Jennifer Niederhoffer
Vocalist and songwriter Jacqui Naylor showcases material from brand new CD at The Turning Point Cafe on Saturday, December 20, 2008. For tickets and more information,
At this concert, Naylor and her band will play tunes from her recently-released seventh recording, You Don't Know Jacq. Naylor will sing songs from this new CD as well as those most requested by fans via her web site. Visit www.jacquinaylor.com to listen to songs and write to the artist. You Don’t Know Jacq ...
read more
Jacqui Naylor Returns to the Blue Note
Source:
Impress Media - Jennifer Niederhoffer
Vocalist/songwriter showcases material from brand new CD at December show
Vocalist and songwriter JACQUI NAYLOR will perform at The Blue Note on Tuesday, December 16, 2008.
At this concert, Naylor and her band will play tunes from her recently-released seventh recording, You Don't Know Jacq. Naylor will sing songs from this new CD as well as those most requested by fans via her web site. Visit jacquinaylor.com to listen to songs and write to the artist. You Don’t Know Jacq ...
read more
"Naylor remains one of the most superbly arresting vocalists around." JazzTimes
“’Acoustic Smashing marks a turning point in Naylor’s career.” Wall Street Journal
“She brings new twists and turns to the notion of melding jazz and pop tunes.” NPR
“Naylor has chops and sensitivity to pull it off.” New York Magazine
“She excels as a sensitive song interpreter with unerring intonation.” Downbeat
Blossom Dearie
piano and vocals
Nina Simone
piano and vocals
Ella Fitzgerald
vocals
Led Zeppelin
band / ensemble / orchestra
Sarah Vaughan
vocals
Jimi Hendrix
guitar, electric
Sade
vocals
Amy Winehouse
vocalsPhotos
Music
Videos
Similar
Sarah Vaughan
vocals
Dianne Reeves
vocals
Blossom Dearie
piano and vocals
Sophie Milman
vocals
Sara Gazarek
vocals
Abbey Lincoln
vocals
Carmen McRae
vocals
Dee Dee Bridgewater
vocals
Jane Monheit
vocals
Tierney Sutton
vocals
Shirley Horn
piano
Eden Atwood
vocals
Karrin Allyson
vocals
Helen Merrill
vocals
Holly Cole
vocals
Dena DeRose
piano and vocals
Jacqui Naylor
Location: San Francisco
Instrument: Vocals
Management: Ruby Star Records
Publicist: Mouthpiece Music
