Nobody really comes out of nowhere to make a name for themselves. Though the name Quiana Lynell is not a household name, she’s not an unknown entity either. It was while appearing at 2017’s New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival that her live-streamed performance caught the ear of someone who knew Terence Blanchard’s manager. One thing lead to another and Lynell is now joining Blanchard as his special guest on Saturday, the first day of the Playboy Jazz Festival at the Hollywood Bowl.
If this all sounds a bit like A Star Is Born (minus the love story), it is, perhaps, because it is. But it’s a story best told by Lynell herself as not only is she performing as a special guest with Blanchard, he was the producer of her debut album, A Little Love. She spoke with me recently by phone from her home in Louisiana.
How did you get put in touch with Terence Blanchard?
There was a volunteer that was working with WWOZ radio station that heard me that also worked with Terence’s manager. She was, “Who is this? How did I not know her?” Then I got an e-mail on my website from Terence’s manger. We met, had a little dinner and she expressed her interest in managing me. At that dinner she told me Terence had a show in Poland. She said, “I think you’d be perfect for it. It’s in June.” I had never met Terence. I had never met her. I had been meandering my way for 7-8 years at this point and I’ve been told a few things a few times. A couple weeks go by and then she sent me an e-mail asking for my passport information. I met Terence at the gig in Poland.
How did that go?
I was so nervous and I was overly prepared. You don’t want to go on Terence’s bandstand messing stuff up. This was my first time on an international gig and it is Terence Blanchard and an 80-piece orchestra. I meet Terence at rehearsal. He says, “You’re here now, you might as well have some fun. Stop being nervous and start doing your thing.” He was welcoming and assuring.
You also won the Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition. With it came a deal with Concord that lead to your album, A Little Love. When did Terence become your mentor for that project?
From that first day he’s been like a mentor, that’s just who he is. It comes from all the people who have mentored him. The history of jazz is to help perpetuate the art and the fidelity of the art. He jumped on board as my mentor. We went into the studio to work on a demo even before the competition. He was part of that before the album came up.
We’ll take a quick break to hear what Terence Blanchard* has to say about her.
TB: She has that level of connection with the music that only certain gifted people have. I think that thing that is most admirable about her is she is willing to work and learn. We just did a show in Detroit and when we finished rehearsing we went upstairs. We could hear Quiana rehearsing her music. We were all sitting outside her door. When she came out she said, “You were out here?” I told her that’s what it takes – rehearsing day by day. That all adds up over the course of your career.
Now back to Quiana…
There’s that old adage that “everything happens for a reason.” Why do you think this was the right time in your life as a singer, as a mother, to have this career momentum?
I’m mature enough. I just did my first tour and I was in Australia. It’s beautiful and I’m face-timing my kids. I can still be in contact with them and talk with them. It’s just the right time in my life is how I feel. I couldn’t have planned it any better if I tried. My mom has been with me the last five years and that has helped tremendously in getting my music career off the ground.
On your Facebook page you posted a promo video for your album and you said, “So it’s official, I’m an artist or whatever…” Has the reality of where you are today sunk in?
It definitely has. The reality is here. This is the life and it is sinking in more and more every week. I’ve really started working so I came home last week from a tour. I was gone 16 days – the longest I’ve been gone. I was home for four days and gone again. My children look at me and this is life right now. Every weekend I’ve been out and they’re rolling with it. [Her children are 16 and 11.] They are my number one supporters. They just want to mark on their calendars which trips they are taking with me.
You’ve included an Irma Thomas song on your album. She said in a 2008 interview with The Telegraph that “The secret’s always in the story of the song.” What is the challenge for you in finding your take on the secret in the song?
I’m going to go back to why now. I think the most effective storytellers and song stylists have been through a lot. I’ve been through so much before I decided to really pursue my dreams that I can relate to almost…I’ve been there. I’ve been at the lowest of the low and some of the highest of the highs and I can pull on a lot of reference when I approach a story.
You’re going to be playing the Hollywood Bowl at the Playboy Jazz Festival. That’s a little venue with about 18,000 seats. What are you looking forward to most about that gig?
18,000? I’m sorry. I was thinking…good grief. Wow! Well, I’m looking forward to the moving, the stage moves right? I’m looking forward to that because I haven’t experienced that before. I watch Nancy Wilson at Newport all the time and it’s a phenomenal set. In my heart of hearts I just want to be that type of artist that can captivate an audience of thousands of people from a stool. I’m just embracing every opportunity to share a little light and love – 18,000? I was thinking 6,000 or 10,000. Really, 18,000? I’m excited about walking across that stage. I just want it to be great.
*Check back for our interview with Terence Blanchard this week.
For tickets go here.
Photos of Quiana Lynell by Eye Wander.