The GRAMMY-nominated pianist and vocalist talks with OKCJazz.Life's Sam Vaughn ahead of her November 7 performance at the UCO Jazz Lab.

For JUNO Award-winning pianist, vocalist, and songwriter Laila Biali, music has always been about more than performance. It's about connection, purpose, and the unexpected ways life can lead us somewhere we never imagined going.

Ahead of her November 7 concert at the UCO Jazz Lab in Edmond, Biali sat down with Oklahoma saxophonist Sam Vaughn for an engaging conversation that moved well beyond the usual discussion of albums and tour dates. The two explored everything from her recent GRAMMY nomination and the injury that changed the direction of her career to the influence of family, faith, and the special relationships that develop through music.

Vaughn, who will join Biali onstage for the Edmond performance, found plenty of common ground with the Canadian artist, despite being at very different stages of their musical careers.
 

A GRAMMY Nomination That Came at Just the Right Time
 

Biali's 2024 album Wintersongs earned a GRAMMY nomination in the Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album category, placing her alongside some of the industry's most recognizable names.

For an artist who has spent decades building a career that moves freely between jazz, pop, and classical influences, the recognition was particularly meaningful.

"That industry acknowledgement came just when I needed it," Biali told Vaughn, describing the nomination as a welcome boost of confidence in the middle of her career.

She was equally struck by what the recognition meant for other musicians. Seeing a jazz artist recognized in a category dominated by major pop figures has encouraged others to consider possibilities beyond traditional genre boundaries.

Biali has also noticed the nomination creating new opportunities in the United States, where she hopes to continue expanding her audience.

Still, she is careful to distinguish recognition from artistic worth. Awards don't necessarily make music more meaningful, she explained, but acknowledgment from fellow musicians can be a powerful encouragement.
 

The Accident That Changed Everything
 

One of the conversation's most revealing moments came when Vaughn asked about the physical injuries that altered Biali's early ambitions.

Growing up in Vancouver, she had dreamed of becoming a classical concert pianist. Inspired by the classical music that filled her childhood home, she practiced intensely and imagined a future competing internationally and studying at Juilliard.

Then, at 15, a serious car accident changed everything.

The collision injured her neck and shoulder, with pain extending into her arm and hand. Suddenly, the demanding classical repertoire she had spent years preparing became physically difficult to perform.

"I began to grieve my first love and my first dream, which was to be a concert pianist," she recalled.

For a time, Biali considered abandoning music as a career and pursuing science instead.

Jazz eventually provided an unexpected alternative, although she admits she wasn't immediately drawn to the genre.

Through the influence of Canadian pianist Renee Rosnes and recordings by Chick Corea, Keith Jarrett, and others, she discovered a musical language that connected her classical upbringing with the possibilities of improvisation.

Jarrett, in particular, helped bridge the gap.

What began as a reluctant introduction eventually became a lifelong passion, not only for the music itself but for the relationships it creates.

Unlike the often solitary world of classical piano performance, jazz offered something she hadn't fully experienced before: a musical community.

"With jazz, it's so nice. I get to get together with other musicians and there's a feeling of family."
 

Finding Purpose Beyond the Stage
 

Throughout the interview, Vaughn returned to something that had impressed him about Biali: the warmth, composure, and genuine enthusiasm she seems to maintain while balancing an extraordinarily demanding professional life.

Her answer revealed two central influences: faith and family.

Biali spoke openly about growing up in the church, questioning her beliefs during her university years, and eventually returning to faith with a more personal understanding of its importance.

She described it as an anchor that shapes not only her music but also her relationships and everyday decisions.

"I see God as love," she explained. "And so whether we're making music or talking to somebody on the street or doing an interview, it needs to all flow from this beautiful, deep source of love."

Her family has also transformed her perspective.

Biali and her husband, drummer Ben Wittman, are raising their teenage son, Josh. Both parents work professionally in music, and coordinating their schedules around family responsibilities can be challenging.

She described adjusting travel arrangements, changing flights, and occasionally bringing in other musicians so that one parent can remain at home.

Those decisions aren't always convenient, but they reflect priorities that have evolved over time.

For Biali, motherhood has not diminished her love of music. In many ways, it has deepened her appreciation for the opportunity to perform.

She told Vaughn that being on the road now carries a renewed sense of gratitude, even when the travel is exhausting.

And she offered the younger saxophonist a perspective shaped by years of experience.

"I wish that for you, Sam," she said, expressing her hope that he would always retain a sense of awe at the privilege of making music and bringing people together.
 

An Oklahoma Connection That Keeps Growing
 

Although based in Toronto, Biali has developed a genuine affection for the Oklahoma jazz community.

Her November 7 appearance will mark her third performance at the UCO Jazz Lab, and she says the familiarity of returning to Edmond has begun to make the city feel like another musical home.

"When you start touring in a place more regularly, you figure out where you like to eat, you figure out where you like to go for walks," she said.

More importantly, she has begun recognizing audience members and developing relationships with local musicians.

Those connections will be reflected in the upcoming concert.

Saxophonist Sam Vaughn will join Biali's ensemble, along with guest appearances by vocalist Molly Kelly, who performed with Biali during a previous visit. Biali also spoke warmly about collaborating with David Bowen and Rei Wang-Bowen.

For Biali, these encounters represent something essential about music's ability to transcend generations, cultures, and borders.

And she's particularly enthusiastic about having Vaughn join the group.

The last two performances at the Jazz Lab featured a trio, but this year's concert will bring an expanded musical experience.

"You're gonna elevate the whole experience for us and for the audience," Biali told Vaughn.
 

What Audiences Can Expect November 7
 

Although the GRAMMY-nominated Winter Songs has attracted considerable attention, the Edmond performance will feature a different musical program.

Biali explained that presenting Winter Songs live requires an orchestral or chamber-style setting, including string players, to capture the recording's expansive arrangements.

Instead, the UCO Jazz Lab audience can look forward to a varied selection drawing from multiple musical traditions.

"There will be re-imaginings of the Great American Songbook and a few Great Canadian Songbook tunes, a few originals for good measure," she explained, promising an eclectic mix of familiar material, fresh interpretations, and storytelling.

The Canadian selections will include songs associated with Joni Mitchell and Neil Young, two artists whose work reflects the rich musical heritage Biali is eager to celebrate.

She's also developing a Canadian songbook project that will shine a light on Canadian composers and songwriters, including Indigenous artists.

For Biali, that musical exchange between countries is particularly meaningful. As a dual citizen who has lived and worked extensively in both Canada and the United States, she considers music a powerful bridge across national and cultural differences.

"I love that music has been my passport to the world," she said.
 

The Joy of Making Music Together
 

Perhaps the most memorable aspect of the conversation wasn't any particular career accomplishment, but the shared enthusiasm between two musicians separated by more than two decades of experience.

Vaughn, still early in his professional career, approached the interview with a clear admiration for Biali's artistry and the depth of her musical work.

Biali responded with equal generosity, offering encouragement, sharing lessons from her own experience, and repeatedly returning to the importance of community.

It's a theme that seems especially fitting for the upcoming Jazz Lab performance, where an internationally recognized artist will once again share the stage with musicians from Oklahoma's thriving jazz community.

For Biali, the excitement of performing hasn't faded with experience. If anything, it has become more meaningful.

And for Oklahoma audiences, November 7 promises something beyond a collection of beautifully performed songs: an evening of musical connection, storytelling, and the kind of spontaneous collaboration that makes live jazz special.

See Laila Biali Live at the UCO Jazz Lab

Saturday, November 7, 2026 | 8:00 PM
UCO Jazz Lab | Edmond, Oklahoma

Featuring Laila Biali with special guest Sam Vaughn and vocalist Molly Kelly, David Bowen on drums and Rei Wang-Bowen on bass.

The performance will feature inventive interpretations of American and Canadian classics, original compositions, and the engaging storytelling that has become a hallmark of Biali's concerts.

Interview conducted by Sam Vaughn for OKCJazz.Life.