Today we’d like to introduce you to Tianna Hall.
Hi Tianna, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I grew up performing in musical theater and later went on to study opera, though neither ever felt like a perfect fit. One night, while performing in a cabaret showcase, I was approached by local jazz pianist and composer Paul English. He told me I had a natural phrasing for jazz and suggested I consider pursuing it, handing me his card before he left.
At the time, I foolishly brushed it off and didn’t think much of it—until I got home and Googled him. Oops.
Once I realized who he was and the incredible community of musicians he had built in Houston, I immediately reached back out. He pointed me in the right direction and gave me my very first jazz gig at a now-closed restaurant called Tommy’s on Westheimer in Westchase. I performed that first job alongside pianist Jose Miguel Yamal—bless his heart—and that was all she wrote. I was completely hooked.
Within a few months, I was gigging full time, and I’ve now spent the last 22 years performing professionally as a jazz vocalist.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It’s certainly a stressful career path – though I’m sure anyone who is self-employed can relate to that. There have been plenty of times when I wasn’t sure if the bookings for the next month were going to come through, but somehow the calls always did.
COVID was, without a doubt, the scariest period of all. With restaurants and bars closed, there was suddenly no work – and no income.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I specialize in music from the Sinatra era – though obviously from a woman’s perspective. Many of my biggest musical influences are men: Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, and Mel Tormé, to name a few. But I’ve also been deeply influenced by artists like Ella Fitzgerald, Julie London, and Nancy Wilson. Honestly, I could write an endlessly long list of performers whose recordings helped shape me as a vocalist.
I’m incredibly proud of the body of work I’ve created over the years with my friends and fellow musicians. I’ve released eight full-length albums, all available on iTunes.
More than anything, I think my versatility as a vocalist is what sets me apart. That’s the quality I consider my greatest strength.
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
The greatest lesson I’ve learned is to treat everyone with the same level of respect that I expect in return. I value respect deeply, so I extend it freely to others unless they give me a reason not to.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.tiannahall.com
- Instagram: Tiannahalljazz
- Facebook: Tiannahalljazz
- Youtube: Tiannahall
