Larra Skye profile picture

Larra Skye

#1 indie jazz artist @ HMV 2006!

About Me

ANALOG, BABY, YEAHHHH...
For more on how the album was recorded using analog equipment, check out the blog section on this page.
Larra's official website: www.larraskye.com
***********************
BIO
In December 2005, Larra released her debut album The World Disappears at the famed Montreal Bistro in Toronto to a sold-out crowd. Since then, her original compositions have been receiving airplay from jazz & campus stations worldwide, and the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (including Jurgen Gothe's DiscDrive program). In February 2006, The World Disappears debuted at the top spot on Toronto's CIUT 89.5 FM chart. In June 2006, HMV took The World Disappears nationwide, and Larra became the 1 bestselling independent jazz artist for the music retailer. In March 2007, Larra performed to a packed house at the Cellar Jazz Club in Vancouver to celebrate the release of The World Disappears on Festival Distrbution.
At 24, Larra has performed with some of the best in Toronto's music scene - including Dave Restivo, Jim Vivian, Perry White, Anthony Michelli, Barry Romberg and Rich Brown.
Growing up in Newmarket, Ontario, Larra learned to play guitar from the books at her parents' bookstore. Music was in the family; sister Rosanne Baker Thornley's 1993 album, Courage, was distributed by Sony Music. By 13, Larra was singing in a professional children's choir and performing her original material regularly at a local coffeehouse.
In high school, Larra played trombone in a variety of jazz ensembles and concert bands, and fronted the six-piece folk-rock outfit Mars Violet that played the 2002 Women's Voices Festival in Ottawa. In addition to providing experience as a band leader, Mars Violet was also Larra's showcase for her own original songs in French and English.
In 2002-03, Larra studied at Ryerson University's journalism school. A Canada Day backyard jam that summer led to a collaboration with songwriter/producer Gerard P. Finn (Damhnait Doyle, EMI). Several months later, their songwriting and recording partnership flourishing, Larra decided to take a one-year leave from her studies, move to Hamilton and work with Gerard.
They returned to Toronto in 2005 to complete the The World Disappears, whose other co-writers include Eric Boucher, Adrean Farrugia, and Mladen Solaja. Recorded at Reaction Studios in 2005, it features some of the most respected and sought-after jazz musicians in Canada, including: pianists Farrugia and Boucher, drummer Kevin Brow, bassist Jim Vivian, trumpeter Kevin Turcotte, saxophonist Bob Brough, and guitarists Geoff Young and Matt Stevens.
The album is currently available through Larra's independent label, AudioMaiden Music.
CANADA: To purchase a copy of The World Disappears, click below:
.. -- -- USA & INTERNATIONAL: CDBaby: Click Below! --!

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 9/7/2005
Band Website: larraskye.com
Band Members: Live band - The Larra Skye Quintet:

Eric Boucher - piano and Fender Rhodes
Rich Brown - electric bass
Perry White or Luis Deniz - saxophone
Anthony Michelli - drums

Album credits for the music featured here:

Adrean Farrugia - piano
Eric Boucher - piano (on 'Pretty Little Baby')
Jim Vivian - bass
Kevin Brow - drums
Bob Brough - tenor saxophone
Kevin Turcotte - trumpet and flugelhorn
Geoff Young - classical guitar
Matt Stevens - acoustic & electric guitars (on the song 'Everything')
Influences: What I'm diggin right now: Dianne Reeves, Al Green, Marvin Gaye, Betty Carter, Shirley Horn, Nina Simone, Janis Joplin, Fela, Ravi Shankar, Mel Torme, Candi Staton, Erikah Badu, Nickel Creek, Lhasa, Thelonius Monk, Billie, Chaka, Bird, Peter Gabriel, The Smiths, Stereolab, Nick Drake, CSN&Y, Simon and Garfunkel, Maria Muldaur, Death Cab for Cutie, Neko Case, Lucinda Williams, Elvis Costello, Aretha, Cole Porter, Hoagie Carmichael, Debussy, Joni Mitchell, David Bowie, Tower of Power, Blue Oyster Cult, E.S.T, Lauryn Hill, Ann Peebles, etc. SHEILA JORDAN. Too many to name.
Sounds Like:

It's Larra Skye. Not Lara Sky, Laura Sky, Lara Skye, Larra Sky, or Laura Skye. :)
Record Label: AudioMaiden Music
Type of Label: None

My Blog

Larra Skye in "The Ride to Conquer Cancer" this June

Embarking on a journey....On June 21, 2008, I will be leaving Toronto on my hybrid bike and traveling 200 km in 2 days -- all the way to Niagara Falls -- with a group united in the cause of fighting c...
Posted by Larra Skye on Sun, 24 Feb 2008 02:38:00 PST

Review of one of the Vancouver shows

Link to Jazz Review websiteLarra Skye Romantic, Sultry, Emotive Concert Review by: Joe Montague Venue: The Cellar Restaurant and Jazz Club (Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada) July 28, 2007 -Toronto...
Posted by Larra Skye on Mon, 06 Aug 2007 09:18:00 PST

Review of Toronto Jazz Festival show

Nothing but good things to say for the shows S&H.ca caught this year &Reviews & Photos by Andrew HoranLarra Skye Quintet The Rex Jazz & Blues Bar, June 23rdReviewed by www.sceneandheard.caThe capacity...
Posted by Larra Skye on Mon, 06 Aug 2007 09:12:00 PST

Jazzfest time..

Larra Skye Quintet @ the REX
Posted by Larra Skye on Mon, 18 Jun 2007 05:55:00 PST

EWB Benefit @ Gladstone this weekend w/ the Larra Skye Quintet!

Hello!Time for some updates. But first --THIS SUNDAY, APRIL 22ndThe Gladstone Hotel Ballroom (1214 Queen St. W. in Toronto)8 pm - 1 amA Benefit Concert for Engineers Without Bordersfeat. the Larra S...
Posted by Larra Skye on Thu, 19 Apr 2007 06:08:00 PST

Vancouver CD Release / Festival Distribution / More Toronto Dates

Halloo!This month, my debut album 'The World Disappears' (AudioMaiden Music) is being released by Festival Distribution to stores across Canada. So to celebrate, I'm having a party in Vancouver:The L...
Posted by Larra Skye on Sun, 11 Mar 2007 08:05:00 PST

'The World Disappears' now available on iTunes!

Title says it all. The album is on iTunes!Wahoo! Write a review if you like. Next time I'm going to make sure I have the album on iTunes waaaaay earlier.In other news, I've been working with the sa...
Posted by Larra Skye on Sun, 07 Jan 2007 01:28:00 PST

Happy holidays... The Rex x2 / Lula Lounge / Return to St. John's

2006...When I take the time to reflect upon what this year has meant for me, I feel blessed. There have been a lot of firsts; first jazz festival (St. John's, NF), first solo TV performance (CBC New...
Posted by Larra Skye on Thu, 14 Dec 2006 08:12:00 PST

Indigo/Chapters, IdeaNation Launch & CD Baby!

Hello everyone!Indigo/Chapters have ordered my album 'The World Disappears' for their stores, so expect to see it on shelves at bookstores near you very soon!HMV continues to sell the album and I have...
Posted by Larra Skye on Mon, 23 Oct 2006 05:19:00 PST

.9 on the HMV Jazz Chart for 2006 / Newfoundland / Vancouver View

Hi all --Just got back at the end of July from the lovely province of Newfoundland. I was performing at the St. John's Jazz Festival, and what a time it was! While I was there, I took advantage of a...
Posted by Larra Skye on Sat, 12 Aug 2006 06:19:00 PST