Layla has performed with musicians from all over the world. She is known for being able to sit-in with any band. She has sung with Jeff Healey, the Downchild Blues Band, Danny Marks, David Gogo, Ken Hamm, Doug Cox, Al Webster, Dave Murphy, Alec Fraser, Bill Johnson band, Jerome Godboo, Dave Rotundo band, Suzie Vinnick, Rick Fines, Paul Pigat, Michael Jerome Brown, Ken and Chris Whiteley, Pat Stewart (the Odds), Vince R. Ditrich (Spirit of the West),Marg Stowe, Carlos Del Junco, Roxanne Potvin, Treasa Levasseur, Dawn Tyler Watson, Johnny Ferreira, Paul Wainwright, Marty Sammon (keyboard player for Buddy Guy, Otis Rush) the Robbie Burns band, Pistol Pete, Pete Galanis(guitar for Hubert Sumlin), Rick King(drums for Koko Taylor),Giles Corey(guitar for Otis Rush), Daryl Wright(bass for Mavis Staples), Reid Barton (Alibi), Mike Jarvis, Timo Pratskin, Carrie Chestnut, Bob Vespaziani, Julian Fauth, Wayne Charles, Derrick "D'Mar" Martin (Little Richard, Big Jack Johnson), Jessie Williams (Big Jack Johnson),Garrett Mason, Douglas Watson, Pat Carey, Lance Anderson, the Sab Family Band, the Pie Guys, Shakura S'Aida,Trouble and Strife, Michelle Josef, Brandi Disterheft, Maureen Brown, Sarah McElcheran, Chris Raines, Phil Whipper, Paul Nixon, the Gary Kendall band, FIVE LIVE, Henrik Freischlader, Mickey Neher, Mr.Mo, Tommy Schneller, Olli Gee, Roy Herrington, Armin Alic, Sascha Kuhn and many more.
Biography- Layla Zoe
Layla Zoe has been called "the Reincarnate of Janis Joplin" and deemed Canada's "Darling of the blues."
She is a young powerful vocalist who was born in British Columbia, Canada but now calls Montreal her home after a recent move.
Layla Zoe has been singing since the tender age of four years old, including performances with her father's band at the age of fourteen. She has performed all over the world and has been wowing crowds with her vocal power since the beginning.
Layla has worked to release an album every year, and has five independent releases to date: You Will, Shades of Blue, Hoochie Coochie Woman, and Live at Errington Hall and The Firegirl. Her albums can be heard on radio all over the world and showcase many of Layla's original songs as well as classic cover tunes.
Her albums, as well as her ability to stun crowds with her power and talent, has been critically acclaimed by the media and reviewed and showcased in publications such as: Canadian Musician Magazine, the Globe and Mail (Toronto), Toronto Blues Society monthly edition, DOWNBEAT magazine (Illinois, USA), Blues Matters (UK), Crossroads (France) and many more.
Layla Zoe took home the "Female Vocalist of the Year" award at the Vancouver Island Music Awards in 2006 and won the Compo 10 International blues songwriting competition in Jaarvenpaa, Finland in 2006. She was the only woman and the only Canadian to make it to the finals of the Compo 10 contest in Finland and she humbly took home the prize.
Layla Zoe has performed with the late great Jeff Healey, the Downchild Blues Band, Danny Marks, Henrik Freischlader and countless others, who have sung high praises of Layla's ability to channel her strong emotions into her performances. She has also been recognized for her songwriting and professionalism.
Layla Zoe is being considered for a hollywood production of the Life of Janis Joplin. Layla Zoe is a force to be reckoned with, and is changing the face of the blues and roots music scene.
JEFF HEALEY:
"She has created probably the biggest buzz vocally of any singer I've heard about in years in Toronto. All of the comments, compliments and credos going around the city about her are not unfounded. She is wonderful."
RICHARD FLOHIL, First Music Promoter to bring Muddy Waters to Canada (Oct/09):
"My favourite illustrated woman - a tiny firecracker with a voice that shifts the back wall out a couple of feet every times she lets loose!"
BLUES MATTERS magazine (UK) (Jan/09):
"Perhaps this tenacious redhead has the best chance of crossing over into the mainstream. It's her songwriting and vocal clout which have attracted serious attention."
DOWN BEAT Magazine- Frank-John Hadley (Jan/08):
"Zoe's a talent to keep tabs on. Possessed of formidable lung power and control-her closest antecedent being the young Tracy Nelson."
BLUES MATTERS, (UK)- Graeme Scott(Dec/07):
"Layla is possessed with one of those fantastic Maggie Bell, Janis Joplin or Kitto voices that reach down into your soul and is able to rip your heart out."
BLUESMAGAZINE.NL, (Netherlands,2009)-
"Layla Zoe from Canada was the first big surprise on day 2, a small lady covered in tattoos but what a voice ... Her voice, one moment loud, then full of sensitivity, reminds one very much of Janis Joplin. Accompanied by Henrik Freischlader and band! A fantastic combination, magisterial even. Henrik played much more rocking, more robust than the day before. The enjoyment in their playing was palpable. The public enjoyed itself tremendously and after 2 encores they had to be ..chased' off the stage"
AHLENER ZEITUNG newspaper,(Germany,2009)-
"Layla Zoe has more than one way to draw eyes and ears to her. The show of the singer, who had specially flown in from Canada for the festival, captivated because of Zoe's amazing voice and stage presence. The blues lady with the fiery red hair flirted with the public as much as with the musicians of ..Five Live', Henrik Freischlader's Quintet that accompanied the Canadian, who had come without a band. From the exuberant performance and harmonious teamwork you would never guess that the six had only been in contact by e-mail before."
CANADIAN MUSICIAN MAGAZINE-"Musicians who care" article(Mar/Apr/07)
:
"Layla is a gifted blues singer from Nanaimo, BC on Vancouver Island; she plays with passion, has a loyal following, and most of all, she is not waiting for a break to make a difference."
GLOBE AND MAIL- Brad Wheeler (Dec/07):
"Vancouver jaw-singer Layla Zoe walked the divide of Janis Joplin and Joss Stone, showing off her tattoos and a suggestive nature that drew wolf whistles and applause from the male part of the audience. A brawny Hoochie-Coochie Woman was what she sang – and was."
NOW magazine, Toronto (Dec/07):
"BC's Layla Zoe almost stole the whole show with her long red hair, glittery blue dress and skyscraper, tattoo-adorned legs. Her seductively serpentine sway and Joplinesque energy had the crowd hypnotized."
TORONTO BLUES SOCIETY- John Valenteyn:
"Ms. Zoe left behind a very impressive CD. It shows her to be a powerful singer and a very good songwriter."
ERIC CLAPTON/(Myspace comment):
"Great blues!"
LITTLE FEAT/(Myspace comment)
:
"Enjoyed your songs."
JAZZ ELEMENTS.COM:
"Layla Zoe has won the prestigious International Blues Heritage Contest in Finland. Canada’s Darling of the Blues."
VINCE R. DITRICH/Spirit of the West/Vinsynch:
"Some singers are like sports cars, some are like pickup trucks. Layla is a 440 Six Pack
at full throttle. Fasten the 5 point restraints,
folks..."
BILL JOHNSON/the Bill Johnson Band:
"Layla convinced me she was a great musician the first time I heard her sing. It took all of 15 seconds. I remain her devoted fan. I hope the rest of the world catches on soon."
Well Buckaroos, it's Time to get your Groove on and enjoy this upcoming week! Be Thankful that we can unleash our Mojo and Dance until we Drop or fall into someone's arms and then the Holidays will really start to kick off! I just feel it all up inside of me and I'm going to let it Flow soon!! I'm going to unleash the Boogie on Bad Dog Radio this Turkey Day at High Noon MST and Party to 4pm MST and I'm going to do it Naked! Lock the doors and just have one Hell of a Time...Come and join me, Tune In and Turn It Up!! www.kafmradio.org
Thank you for adding me. I really appreciate you joining me on my author page. I will have a few songs from the soundtrack on the player soon, but will link my music page for more songs. My fiction novel with a CD soundtrack is due out in a few weeks. It will be at CD Baby, Amazon, Barnes & Nobels etc. Keep in touch.
Thanx for the tidbit of news. I talked to Steph for a long time, but I didn't ask any questions...We just talked...you know how that can be. I wasn't calling to get the first hand gossip...I was calling because I can't imagine how he feels today. I would be devastated! Keep in touch, thanx for the note again..and your beautiful blog!