SHORT BIOGRAPHY

alimilner.com or myspace.com/alimilner

Ali Milner, a 20-year-old from Canada is making her mark on the indie/jazz charts delivering pure sound and amazing vocal depth, with a modern edge for a classic genre that has been described as shades of Sam Cooke and Nora Jones rolled into one. Despite her young age, she is an experienced artist who has been recording and performing live since the age of 14. For her latest album, I Dare You, Ali collaborated with some of Canada's best, including Sherry St. Germain, Davor Vulama, Aileen De La Cruz, Shaun Verreault (lead singer, Wide Mouth Mason) and Jim Vallance (Bryan Adams’ writing partner). In the first week of May 2010 Ali and her band gave several performances at the infamous City Showcase, London’s leading festival for new music known for premiering such well known artists as as Razorlight, Scouting For Girls, Newton Faulkner, Keane, Amy Winehouse, N-Dubz, Akala, Lady Sovereign and Sway. Ali recently performed during the Vancouver/Whistler 2010 Olympic Games, at the Westjet Street Party during the 2009 Junos in Vancouver, and Sarah McLachlan's Lilith Fair, at the invitation of McLachlan’s manager Terry McBride, of Nettwerk.

I Dare You is a testament to Ali’s musical purity. In the studio, Ali and the musicians worked together to flesh out the songs and record them live from the floor to tape, capturing the essence of the music. The album was launched with a live performance that was recorded for a national broadcast on CBC Radio 2’s “Canada Live” which aired in February 2010.  As one reviewer notes of this performance, "Milner takes the audience on an impressive journey through boogie-woogie, soulful ballads, . . . rock 'n' roll, R&B, show tunes, old school - she does it all." Ubyssey

BIOGRAPHY

alimilner.com
or myspace.com/alimilner

Ali Milner, a 20-year-old from Canada is making her mark on the indie/jazz charts delivering pure sound and amazing vocal depth, with a modern edge for a classic genre that has been described as shades of Sam Cooke and Nora Jones rolled into one. Despite her young age, she is an experienced artist who has been recording and performing live since the age of 14. For her latest album, I Dare You, Ali collaborated with some of Canada's best, including
Sherry St. Germain, Davor Vulama, Aileen De La Cruz, Shaun Verreault (lead singer, Wide Mouth Mason) and Jim Vallance (Bryan Adams’ writing partner). In the first week of May 2010 Ali and her band were at the infamous City Showcase, London’s leading festival for new music known for premiering such well known artists as as Razorlight, Scouting For Girls, Newton Faulkner, Keane, Amy Winehouse, N-Dubz, Akala, Lady Sovereign and Sway. Ali recently performed during the Vancouver/Whistler 2010 Olympic Games, at the Westjet Street Party during the 2009 Junos in Vancouver, and is preparing to participate in Sarah McLachlan's upcoming tour, Lilith Fair, at the invitation of McLachlan’s manager Terry McBride, of Nettwerk.

According to Bob Segarini of FYI Music, who recently saw her live “. . . she was completely focused, hitting every nuance, note, and emotional brush stroke of the music and lyric. She didn’t need an audience, she was there for the music. This young woman means every note she plays, every word she sings. This young woman is real. This young woman is special.”

I Dare You is a testament to Ali’s musical purity. In the studio, Ali and the musicians worked together to flesh out the songs and record them live from the floor to tape, capturing the essence of the music. The album was launched with a live performance that was recorded for a national broadcast on CBC Radio 2’s “Canada Live” which aired in February 2010. As one reviewer notes of this performance, "Milner takes the audience on an impressive journey through boogie-woogie, soulful ballads, . . . rock 'n' roll, R&B, show tunes, old school - she does it all." Ubyssey

What others have to say:

“Strong visuals and a confident versatility makes Milner stand out among the many women performers around here. Milner has a nice light touch that simply dances over a latin-flavoured pop song such as "Break Away," which could have been a hit for The Drifters back in the early '60s, can be playfully coy in "Don't Forget to Call Me,"
visits Motown with "Gonna Dance" and touches on reggae with "I Wanna Be Loved By You." Opening song "Crystal Clear" has maturity and rings with an authority that suggests it could be an instant classic. With discreet use of strings and brass, I Dare You, is full and fully-formed. Watch her.” Vancouver
Province

“The final track “Can’t Change This Girl” was born to be her calling card because it crystalizes Milner’s classy vocals and the sophisticated songwriting that is bound to become her signature style...
All in all the album serves as a great throw back to the classic sounds of big band charmers like the Rat Pack that sounds equally influenced by modern artists like Norah Jones or Allison Krauss. The songs on I Dare You are held together with soulful melodies wrapped up in Milner’s ravishing vocals that will leave anyone searching for Canada’s next diva breathless.” Fazer Magazine

“Ali Milner has to be, by far, one of the most talented young artists I've ever listened to....Ali's vocal work is powerful. Shocking to those who don’t know who she is...Overall, this album is fantastic! This one will be played for a while, and will more than likely be one of those albums that I come back to over and over again.” Blankjebus

Just the Facts:

• Lilith Fair, Vancouver

• Vancouver Coastal Jazz and Blues Festival

• London City Showcase, 2010

• Several Olympic gigs; Whistler Live!, Athlete's Village, Experience BC! Robson Square in Vancouver, Canada Whistler House, Paralympic Closing Ceremnies and more, Feb/March 2010

• Canada AM, December 2009

• Ambassador's residence in Tokyo for Olympic Countdown, 2009

• Canada House in Trafalgar Square in London, England for the Canadian Tourism Commission (CTC) for an international ski media event 2009 

• The Live Sessions at the Chan Centre for the Performing Arts 2009, recorded for a CBC Radio 2’s “Canada Live” broadcast, Feb 5^th, 7 pm

• 2009 Western Canadian Music Awards Festival

• Vancouver Junos 2009, Westjet Street Party

• Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) 2008, Canadian record producers association’s Canadian Music Café for music supervisors for film and TV

• Canadian Tourism Commission (CTC) 2008, Tourism fairs in Denver and Cancun

• Four Seasons Hotels Top North American Corporate Client Party 2008, in Scottsdale, Arizona

• 2008 Music Festivals: Sunshine Coast Musicfest and the 2nd Annual Rockanagan, Kelowna

• 2008 Temecula Valley Film Festival and Musicfest near Los Angeles 

• TIFF 2007, two repeat performances at the Drake and a standing invitation to return 

• TIFF 2006, for a FIDO movie premier after-party at the Drake Hotel, 2006

• China 2006 with Premier Gordon Campbell, Guangdong Cultural Festival before 60,000 people, televised to 90,000,000

• Olympic and Paralympic Games flag raising in Whistler Village  

• At age 13, Ali sang for HRH Prince Andrew of England, who hosted the North American Children’s Hospital Benefit at B.C. Place in Vancouver

Ali performed regularly at the Four Seasons Resort, Fifty Two 80 Bistro & Bar in Whistler during three ski seasons from 2006 to 2008. . She performs for many charitable benefits, and private and corporate functions in Whistler and Vancouver for audiences ranging from 15 to 1,000. In Toronto, she has played the Drake Hotel, the Hard Rock Café, the Cobourg Bar, the Central, The Free Times Cafe and the Cameron House. 

Training:

Ali began building her music foundation with the internationally acclaimed Vancouver Children’s Choir singing as a lead voice in the elite Cantata section. She studies piano with Bob Murphy, a
Juno-nominated Vancouver jazz pianist. Summer 2008 saw Ali in Boston for 6 weeks at the Berklee College of Music advancing her keyboard skills.