I love
living in Chicago. The City has so much
to offer in music, sports, the arts, and food that there is no need to look to
the Coasts. In my mind there is no
comparison to Chicago Blues, the Goodman and Steppenwolf Theaters, the Art
Institute, or Chicago-style pizza and hot dogs.
But life-long Chicagoans know Chicago also offers some special surprises
to those who are willing to look.
Recently, I
was fortunate to experience one of these Windy City treats during a show at The
Beat Kitchen. Jazz/folk/soul songwriter
and vocalist, Layla Frankel was providing opening support for the touring Irish
singer/songwriter, Holly Macve. Frankel
and her guitar player, Aaron Day, wowed the audience with an amazing acoustical
set. The role of a supporting artist is
to set the stage with the audience in
anticipation of the headliner, and Frankel did her job well. With the able accompaniment of her guitarist
Day (who because of technical issues played much of the set with a borrowed
guitar), Frankel quickly engaged the audience with a stripped down, acoustic
set of songs from her recently released EP, Tame
the Fox. The teamwork of Frankel’s
voice and Day’s guitar brought out the raw emotion of Frankel’s music.
Born in L.A.,
Frankel was raised in Chicago. She began
singing and performing when she was four. Her father is Joel Frankel, a
renowned children’s music performer.
Frankel appeared on her father’s recordings and often joined him on
stage. With formal training in choirs
and various musical influences (including Bonnie Raitt, Amy Winehouse, The Beatles, and jazz
greats Ella Fitzgerald and Nancy Wilson), the teenaged Frankel began to
comprise songs. She quickly developed
her own musical style.
Frankel
performs live as a solo artist but is often accompanied by her full band, Layla
and the Fizz. She released her debut EP,
Tame the Fox, in April 2017.
If you get
the chance to hear this talented up and coming singer/songwriter, it will be
well worth checking her out. You will be
glad you did. To learn more about Layla
Frankel, her music, and upcoming live performances, visit www.laylafrankel.com
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