Raised in Saratoga, California, Jacqui Naylor first became interested in music through her parents’ collection of antique automated instruments and vintage jazz recordings. While learning songs from mechanical drums, music boxes and player pianos of the 1930’s, she didn’t realize her tastes were not exactly contemporary. Jacqui explains, “I didn’t think this was old music, just what I liked and listened to.”

Although she sang in musicals and talent shows during high school, Jacqui put her desire to perform aside and pursued a traditional college degree in marketing at San Francisco State University. But after listening to a recording of Sarah Vaughn singing Gershwin in a music appreciation class, she recognized that music was her true passion. In 1991 she began studying with renowned San Francisco vocal coach Faith Winthrop.

Simultaneously, Jacqui worked full-time as the director of marketing for clothing designer Lat Naylor. She spent her spare time honing her vocal skills through lessons and by singing as a soloist with the Sacred Heart Gospel Choir. When in 1996 her job required she spend a year in New York, she continued her training with Shirley Calloway. In 1997 Jacqui returned to San Francisco with one thing on her mind: to make singing her full-time career.

It didn’t take long for the jazz community to embrace Jacqui Naylor. Phil Elwood of the San Francisco Examiner described her distinct sound as “Billie Holiday’s inflections and a touch of June Christy.” But Jacqui’s gospel-influence is just as recognizable, especially in jazz interpretations of her own generation’s music and her originals. It’s this combination of past, present, and future that explains her ability to attract both old-time aficionados and new jazz enthusiasts. As Cabaret Magazine puts it, “She can make you sway gently with a blues-flavored melody, heat up a room with a strong R&B sound and then cool it right down with a smoothness that slides gently into your ear.”

Naylor began this year’s concert series with a pair of sold-out shows at Oakland’s Yoshi’s and is touring the United States for her new album Shelter. She has performed both nationally and internationally, including a three-month tour in Japan and concerts in the finest jazz clubs across America. In addition to Yoshi’s, she has headlined at New York’s Café Carlyle, Birdland, Joe’s Pub and Getz Music Hall, Washington DC’s Blues Alley, Philadelphia’s Zanzibar Blue, New Orleans’ Snug Harbor, Seattle’s Jazz Alley, San Francisco’s Great American Music Hall and Southern California’s Jazz Bakery, Steamers Café and Catalina Bar and Grill. She has also enjoyed several weeklong runs at San Francisco’s renowned Plush Room.

The artist has also headlined at many festivals including San Francisco’s Pride Parade Mainstage, New York’s Cabaret Convention at Town Hall, Seattle’s Bumbershoot Festival, San Francisco’s North Beach Festival, the Newport Beach Jazz Festival and the San Jose Jazz Festival.

Jacqui Naylor received critical acclaim for her 1999 self-titled debut CD and for her follow-up CD in 2001 entitled “Live at the Plush Room.” Her new CD, Shelter, was released this year nationally through Ryko Distribution on the artist’s Ruby Records label. It includes original works as well as some popular classics and displays Jacqui’s ongoing quest for ways to evolve her passions, talents, and music. Of this latest endeavor, JazzTimes proclaims, “In the never-ending ‘next big thing’ sweepstakes, bet on Jacqui Naylor to be a frontrunner.”