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Critically acclaimed New York City based jazz vocalist Yasmine Iliya has been shining new light onto classic jazz standards and Brazilian bossa nova. A native New Yorker of Palestinian-Lebanese-Greek origin, her singing in Spanish, Portuguese, French and English has a sultry and inviting sound. Along with pianist James Clark of Brooklyn, NY, Yasmine's rotating line-up of acclaimed musicians includes Aaron Ewing (drums), Sami Lee (bass), Ben Bynum (drums), and Steve Kaell (bass).
Trained in classical voice, Yasmine has been invited to sing in the Manhattan Choral Ensemble, directed by Tom Cunningham. She has studied under Diane Richardson (Berklee College), Marlon Saunders (NYC Recording Artist), Linda Contino (chair of NYSSMA Vocal Jazz), Scott Aruda (Tufts University), and James John (Aaron Copland School of Music). A graduate of Tufts University, Yasmine sang with the school's small jazz ensemble. Yasmine is currently working at receiving her master’s degree from New York University’s Department of Music and Performing Arts Professions.
Inspiration includes Diana Krall, Dianne Reeves, Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, Carmen McRae, Frank Sinatra, Tierney Sutton, the New York Voices, Sade, Bebel Gilberto, Antonio Carols Jobim, Miles Davis, Thelonius Monk, and many more musicians of the past and present.
Yasmine Iliya and James Clark recorded their first vocal-piano duo album, “Softly Sing”, in July 2007. Her previous album, “Wish I Knew”, was recorded with her trio in June 2005. She has been performing in and around Manhattan at Detour Jazz Club, Kavehaz, Sidewalk Cafe, Piper's Kilt, Watercolor Cafe, Pete's Candy Store, 169 Bar, Greenwich Village Bistro, and Mannahatta Restaurant and Lounge. She also regularly performs for private functions and non-profit fundraisers.