Event

Emily Braden Live at the Linen

Live at the Linen presents Christmas at the Linen Building with Emily Braden at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 22. The Linen Building is located at 1402 W. Grove St. in Downtown Boise's Linen District. Tickets are $15 in advance or $18 at the door. Advance tickets are available at brownpapertickets.com or The Record Exchange, 1105 W. Idaho St., Boise. All ages, full bar (ID required).

Backed by the Emily Braden Trio (Andrew Cortens, piano; Jay Multanen, bass; Greg Belzeski, drums), the jazz vocalist and Boise native will perform soulful standards, holiday favorites and smokin' originals from her debut album Soul Walk. Dancing is encouraged at this lively holiday music event.

Soul Walk was released in 2009. The album, which was recorded in New York City and features top jazz musicians and Braden's original compositions, will be available for purchase at the concert.

Years of hard work have allowed Emily Braden (emilybraden.net) to develop a truly unique style. With her powerful range and soulful sound, the 29-year-old explores gospel wails, confident blues, hard funk, feverish vocal improvisations and heartfelt, subtle ballads.

Braden's career as a versatile and engaging soloist is rooted in an early passion for powerhouse vocalists such as Ella Fitzgerald and Aretha Franklin. She recalls hours spent as a youth memorizing classic vocal recordings and scat solos.

Originally from Boise, Braden moved to Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, in 2002 to begin a four-year mentorship with the legendary jazz musician Louise Rose. Braden's instrument-like improvisations and affinity for the blues gained the attention of world music artist and Juno Award nominee Harry Manx, with whom Braden has recorded and toured across Canada.

Braden currently lives in Harlem and performs at jazz, soul and world music venues with New York City's finest musicians.