Biography
Anna Laura Quinn is a New Orleans-based jazz vocalist, arranger, and bandleader known for her sophisticated blend of American Songbook standards, French and Brazilian music, and contemporary interpretations delivered with what DownBeat described as "the inherent delight of [her] vocal timbre." Raised in San Francisco where she grew up listening to vocal jazz at home, Quinn was initially educated as a visual artist in New York City before moving to New Orleans in 2010, where the city's rich musical tradition profoundly shaped her artistic development.
Quinn earned her Master of Music in Jazz Studies from the University of New Orleans in 2021, studying alongside and performing with internationally renowned guest artists including Terence Blanchard, Kurt Elling, Ellis Marsalis, and Dr. Lonnie Smith. She made her debut at the 50th annual New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival with the UNO Jazz All-Stars in 2019. In February 2022, she released her first full-length album "Open the Door" on Outside In Music, which she produced and arranged entirely herself. The album received critical acclaim from JazzTimes, with critic Andrew Gilbert praising her work for "artfully threading the jazz needle" and "establishing her own winsome identity as a savvy vocalist and arranger with an appealing sound, unfailing taste, and expansive palette of influences."
Quinn is a dynamic presence on the New Orleans music scene, performing regularly at venerable jazz venues like Snug Harbor, Dos Jefes Uptown Cigar Bar, and the New Orleans Jazz Museum, as well as beloved barrooms including Saturn Bar, Vaughan's, and BJ's Lounge. In 2020, she founded the Unmentionables, a band that plays what she calls "New Orleans Getdown Music." Her artistic approach emphasizes improvisational essence, emotional sincerity, and humor, bringing what critics have called "new vitality to classic tunes" while maintaining deep respect for jazz tradition.
Fun Facts
- Quinn was originally educated as a visual artist in New York City before fully committing to her jazz vocal career, and continues to integrate her passion for visual art with her musical endeavors
- Her debut album 'Open the Door' was recorded in two distinct phases—initial sessions in February and March 2020, just before the pandemic, with three additional arrangements completed between March and July 2021, creating a unique microcosm of artistic growth during a transformative period
- She released her debut EP 'I Feel the Sudden Urge to Sing!' in 2018 and celebrated with a self-produced house concert in San Francisco and an art show combined with a concert at the Mudlark Public Theatre in New Orleans
- Quinn's arrangement of Betty Carter's 'Open the Door' uniquely combines the song with inspiration from Ethiopian jazz pioneer Mulatu Astatke, demonstrating her expansive and creative approach to arranging standards
Musical Connections
Mentors/Influences
- Ellis Marsalis - Performed alongside during master's studies at UNO; his composition 'Cry Again' (written with Sarah Vaughan in mind) featured on her debut album (Open the Door album) [2019-2021]
- Abbey Lincoln - Stylistic influence; Quinn opens her debut album with Lincoln's 'Talking to the Sun' (Open the Door album) [2022]
- Betty Carter - Influence on Quinn's interpretative approach; title track of debut album is a Carter composition (Open the Door album) [2022]
- Mulatu Astatke - Ethio-jazz legend whose style inspired Quinn's arrangement of 'Open the Door' (Open the Door album arrangement) [2022]
Key Collaborators
- Ed Barrett - Veteran New Orleans guitarist featured prominently on debut album, including notable duet on 'Cry Again' (Open the Door album) [2020-2022]
- Kate Campbell-Strauss - Baritone saxophonist who performed duet on 'The Single Petal of a Rose' (Open the Door album) [2020-2022]
- Michael Zisman - San Francisco mandolinist; Quinn made regular appearances with his Americano Social Club (Americano Social Club performances) [Pre-2018]
- The Unmentionables - Band founded by Quinn playing 'New Orleans Getdown Music' (Regular performances around New Orleans) [2020-present]
Connection Network
Discography
Albums
| Title | Release Date | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Just… Quinn & Barrett | 2025-07-11 | Album |
| Open the Door | 2022-02-18 | Album |
| Delta Bound | 2022-03-18 | Album |
| Delta Bound | 2022-03-18 | Album |
| Open the Door | 2022-02-18 | Album |
Top Tracks
- Everybody Wants To Rule The World (Everybody Wants to Rule the World)
- Nuages (Delta Bound)
- Talking to the Sun (Open the Door)
- Comes Love (Open the Door)
- Love For Sale (Open the Door)
- Walking After Midnight (Walking After Midnight)
- Le dormeur du val (Delta Bound)
- Le dormeur du val (Delta Bound)
- Speak Low (Open the Door)
- Very Good Advice (Open the Door)
External Links
References
Heard on WWOZ
Anna Laura Quinn has been played 4 times on WWOZ 90.7 FM, New Orleans' jazz and heritage station.
| Date | Time | Title | Show | Spotify |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 8, 2026 | 23:47 | Everybody Wants to Rule the World | Kitchen Sinkw/ Jennifer Brady | |
| Oct 13, 2025 | 01:08 | Speak Lowfrom Open the Door | The Dean's Listw/ Dean Ellis | |
| Oct 13, 2025 | 00:07 | Walking After Midnight | The Dean's Listw/ Dean Ellis | |
| Sep 30, 2025 | 06:27 | Everybody Wants to Rule the Worldfrom Just...Quinn & Barrett | The Morning Setw/ Fox Duhon or Mark LaMaire |