Recognizing and Congratulating Laurin Talese for Winning the Illustrious Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition.

WHEREAS, On November 18, 2018 Laurin Talese was announced as the winner of the 7th Annual Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition, also known as the Sassy Awards. The competition finals were hosted by the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark as part of the TD James Moody Jazz Festival; and

WHEREAS, The only competition of its kind in the world, the Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition is an international competition which gives a platform to help launch the career of a promising jazz vocalist. As the winner of this year’s Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition, Laurin Talese received a $5,000 cash prize and is guaranteed a performance slot at the prestigious 2019 Newport Jazz Festival; and

WHEREAS, Laurin Talese bested over 600 entrants, including four other finalists, from around the world. Singing “The Very Thought of You,” “Something Happens to Me,” and “Save Your Love for Me” in the finals, Talese was selected as the winner by a panel comprised of jazz luminaries Stefon Harris, Nnenna Freelon, Sheila E. Anderson, Mary Ann Topper, and Jon Faddis; and

WHEREAS, This is not the first time Laurin Talese emerged victorious in a jazz showcase, having won the Jazz category of PHL LIVE Center Stage in 2016; and

WHEREAS, Laurin Talese, though born and raised in Cleveland, has made Philadelphia her adopted hometown. She graduated from the University of the Arts with a degree in jazz vocal performance and has been a rising local star ever since. She has performed in venues such as Philadelphia’s Academy of Music and the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts as well as other esteemed venues including the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and the Apollo Theater; and

WHEREAS, Laurin Talese has shared the stage with great talents like Bilal, Gregory Porter, Patti LaBelle, Robert Glasper, and Vivian Green. She has also performed with ensembles ranging from The Cleveland Orchestra to the Mozarteum Orchestra in Salzburg, Austria; and

WHEREAS, Laurin Talese’s debut album,

Gorgeous Chaos

, put the jazz world on notice that she is an emerging star.

DownBeat

praised her voice as one which “combines breathy intimacy with sharp clarity.” The album debuted on the Billboard jazz charts and was named one of the top ten jazz albums of 2016 by the

Chicago Tribune

; and

WHEREAS, With the Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition title under her belt, Laurin Talese seems poised to take the mantle as the next great vocalist to emerge from Philadelphia. To see her continue to ascend the ranks in the jazz world is a point of pride for the Philadelphia music scene, and this Council excitedly anticipates what is still to come from this budding star; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That it hereby recognizes and congratulates Laurin Talese for winning the illustrious Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition.

FUTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to Laurin Talese.

End