CHANDA RULE

With feet rooted in gospel, a heart filled with soul, and a voice touched with jazz, singer and songwriter
Chanda Rule has been weaving stories through song, humming melodies, and bending words since her
childhood. Gracefully mesmerizing audiences nationally and internationally, Chanda's genre-defying
voice has graced a variety of musical projects: from her latest album "Sapphire Dreams" recorded with
the legendary pianist Kirk Lightsey, "Feeling Good: A Tribute to Nina Simone" where she was featured
with sax powerhouse Donny McCaslin, to appearing as a featured vocalist on Ö1 Jazznacht, ORF's
Dancing Stars, and sharing her song and sound with digital performance art projects and folkloric
dance companies. Featured in Cicily Janus' "The New Face of Jazz" (Billboard Books), Chanda has
also performed as an opening act for India.Arie, Kamasi Washington, Amel Larrieux, Angela Bofill,
Regina Belle & The Whispers and has graced the stage as a vocalist and songwriter with a variety of
artists.
A published writer and speaker who also uses her music for community building and liturgy, Chanda’s
Langston Hughes inspired concert series, “I Too Speak of a River,” was granted the Harlem Stage Fund
for New Works, and “Listening to Roots and Voicing Branches,” a multimedia theater piece she penned
and performed with recording artist Somi was presented in New York’s Apollo Salon Featured New
Works Series and Lincoln Center.

Chanda Rule’s Sapphire Dreams (Babel/PAO) is a lush compilation of original tunes and creative spins
on old favorites. Her blend of imaginative jazz and soul weaves a story of love: from songs honoring
Oshun, the famed Yoruba Goddess of Love, to Seeds, a response to Billie Holiday’s Strange Fruit in the
form of what she calls “prayer song.” Jazz standards like Skylark and Angel Eyes take on new forms
that showcase her gospel and R&B roots. Joined by the legendary pianist Kirk Lightsey, Sapphire
Dreams delivers an intense performance, exciting and casually elegant at the same time.