Nura - It's an absolute pleasure! For eleven consecutive weeks since its release it has charted in the Top 10 of Smooth Jazz across Canada and Top 5 with Wave 94.7 FM. It's receiving airplay on A/C stations as well as mainstream Jazz radio. It has just been launched in the U.S. and is maintaining a position on the 'most added' Smooth Jazz charts with "We're Not Alone" getting the most airplay across the board.

Liz - I understand you are about to go on tour. Where will that take you and will you have the guys from the album with you?

Nura - Were heading out to do a few concerts in support of the CD. Ottawa being one of the cities we'll be in, that's my hometown and I'm really excited about bringin' it on home. Montreal will be our stop after that and I absolutely love Quebec, they're so supportive of the Arts. All the guys that did the debut concert at the Capitol Theatre in Toronto will be with me. That's Randy Cooke (drums) my partner Stuart Steinhart (bass) - the only two players that were on the recording - Kevan McKenzie (percussion), Kevin Adamson (keyboards, bass & background vocals) and Marco Luciani (piano). At the debut concert we were thrilled to have members of the "Faith Chorale Choir," the horn players - Bob Livingston on Trombone, Bill McBirnie on Flute and Paul Pacanowski on bass clarinet and tenor sax, Jennifer Noble on background vocals and the rapper Raw Footage on the song "Hangin" - all from the CD.

Liz - Tell me about performing live, is it a thrill for you or a moment of terror?

Nura - Live performance is an exchange I always enjoy! The energy of playing live combined with the interaction with the musicians is very rewarding and exciting. What comes from live performance requires 'big ears' from all
players. You can't go back and do another take, it's like being naked and I like being naked. It's very real!

Liz - You said that "Ice Curved Trees" was inspired by the great ice storm that devastated parts of Eastern Canada and the North Eastern United States, in the winter of 1998. Where were you during the storm and why did it have such a profound effect on you?

Nura - Stu and I were on tour together through Eastern Ontario and Quebec just after the Ice Storm. We witnessed the incredible devastation. There were miles and miles of trees bent over and thickly coated with ice. They looked like glass, totally frozen in time. I felt like everything was put on pause as we drove through. It was an incredible experience. Soon after our tour Stu came to me with the music and said, "I've written a song called Ice Curved Trees and I want you to put lyrics to it." When I first listened to it the words just came! I was purely a vehicle on this piece. My heart very much wants to reach out and console everyone that comes together through disaster. Ironically, this song was scheduled and recorded on September 14th 2001.

Liz - What have been your other inspirations for songs?

Nura - The inspiration for all aspects of the music, lyrics and vocalize style on this CD are endless. It would take a long time to go into it all but for example I will give you a little taste of topic on one piece; "More Lemons Please" can be interpreted as a song about a relationship (a steamy one if you wish) when in fact it's about eating lobster! It's actually a sequel to another song Stu and I wrote about a lobster (now in a museum) in Saint John, New Brunswick. Most of the lyrics I write have more than one meaning in them.

Liz - You co-wrote several of the songs on your CD with guitarist Stuart Steinhart, you have created some beautiful pieces and you work well together. How did you hook up and how have you created such a successful partnership?

Nura - First of all, I would like to clarify that Stuart is a bass player and an exceptional one at that! He has an illusive ability within his sound. There are no other bass players out there doing what he does (to my knowledge). This album requires a very discerning ear and there are a lot of subtleties in the bass solo's and vocalize. Both Stu and I are exploring new territory here! I think that's what makes us work so well together. Stuart composes and
arranges all the music and I write the lyrics. His genius is a constant inspiration to me and I am thrilled to be working with him. Stu and I met about ten years ago on a gig when I was singing more traditional style Jazz. We started using our own arrangements of the standards and Latin material as well as integrating original compositions. Through that
metamorphic process the evolution of the original music required a broader variety of musicianship, taking us to where we are today.

Liz - Your vocals on "Rue Clarendon" and "Secret" are beautiful and your voice almost becomes an instrument. What do you call that type of vocalization?

Nura - Thank You! I call it "vocalize." The voice is an instrument. I consider myself as a vehicle or instrument which sound is produced. In music history the voice is the first instrument.

Liz - What is your take on the Smooth Jazz scene in Canada?

Nura - Smooth Jazz in Canada is young like the country itself. It needs a lot of nurturing and support. I believe over the next few years it will become one of the largest and most popular genres in music. CRTC has to jump onto the 'Smooth Jazz Bandwagon' and reflect a stronger supportive role in this idiom. Too many of our talented artists are heading south to be heard properly.

Liz - Besides your upcoming tour what else is on your "to do list?"

Nura - Along with the recognition we are receiving through increased radio/media exposure we are near completion on a DVD from the debut concert at the Capitol Theatre (Toronto) and it will be available for sale soon. We also have a lot of material in pre-production and have intentions of another CD down the road but we want to concentrate on the debut album first.

Liz - What is in your CD player?

Nura - At the present moment I'm back and forth between Mike Sterns "Voices" and Sheila Chandra's "Moonsung" CD.

Liz - "We're not Alone" and "Falling" are quite spiritual. How would you describe your sense of spirituality?

Nura - Wow! That's a big question. Music is an ever growing and learning process. To me it's an external manifestation of my path through life so the heart and soul is going to be transparent from time to time.

Liz - "Hangin'" is a fun song, kind of smooth jazz meets rap, meets gospel. You co-wrote it and what was the inspiration for that cut?

Nura - Exactly what is says, "Hangin." It's about being with people you love to be with, whether it's family, friends, associates, pets or whatever makes you feel good. Sitting and allowing yourself to go into a song can make you feel this way it's a hangin' out thing!

Liz - The members of the "Faith Chorale" back you up on a couple of cuts, tell me about them?

Nura - Some of the most beautiful singers I've met. They just love to sing and when they do it goes straight to your heart. I was very grateful for their contribution. They're very inspirational and very professional. They won a
Juno in 1998 with Sharon Riley for the best gospel album "Life Is" and were in the "Blues Brothers 2000" movie among many other works.

Liz - What is the best thing about being a Canadian Smooth Jazz artist?"

Nura - I get to be part of something big! It's just not realized yet.

Liz - And of course, what is the most difficult thing about being a Canadian smooth jazz artist?

Nura - It's a struggle when you're ripe and ready to go and you've passed the start line but have to wait for the Canadian Smooth Jazz scene to catch up with you. It's great having you guys supporting the scene along with the few stations doing their part!

Liz - Male or female, Canadian or not, what contemporary vocalist impresses you most and why?

Nura - The list is endless. I don't favor or tend to single out any vocalist above another. The vocalists I listen to all have different elements that draw me to them. For example: I love Michael MacDonald's tone, I love Sade's
phrasing and I idolize Barbra Streisand's range and control. I tend to lean to vocalists who have their own unique voice and don't sound like anyone else.

Liz - Who in the music world most inspires you?

Nura - I find it difficult to dissect what inspires me within the musical realm. Everything and everyone plays such an integral role. From my first musical experience which was most probably my mom singing to me to artists of all genres. For example: Latin - Dori Cayami and Gloria Estefan. Jazz - Miles Davis, Pat Metheny, Betty Carter, Fusion sides of Chick Corea and Herbie Hancock. Classical - Debussy and Mozart. Rock - Yes and Pink Floyd, right down to the sounds of the wind through the trees, waves lapping against the shore, the birds, I could go on and on.

Liz - If you are currently working on anything in the studio would you share that with us?

Nura - That's a secret!

Liz - What is your definition of success?

Nura - For me this business as well as life itself has a lot of hard knocks and falls. You have to keep a very positive and focused outlook to get through. I'd say that success means "getting up one more time."

Liz - Thank you so much Nura for sharing your time with us. I've really enjoyed listening to your CD "Nura" and it is great to have the chance to learn more about you and what's happening for you.

Nura - You're very welcome! I appreciate your interest and support and a big KUDOS to John (& Staff) for all he's accomplishing with Smooth Jazz in Canada.

Interview from July 2003