SeattleNoise: Kelly Harland

WHO: Seattle-based vocalist (and Los Angeles native) Kelly Harland, who began her singing career at 16 in front of an audience of 3,000 at the Hollywood Bowl after winning a contest for young California musicians, earning her a chance to perform two songs with a big band conducted by Nelson Riddle. Harland is among the top studio and background vocalists in Seattle, singing on hundreds of commercials. She also has recorded for Epic and A&M Records. Harland is married to Seattle jazz musician Chuck Deardorf.

		Rosanne Olson
	Kelly Harland

SOUND: Harland, a master of many vocal styles, has a warm yet sensuous sound. She is a seasoned interpreter of standards who has performed with a number of jazz artists, among them Don Lanphere and James Williams.

NEWS: The new edition of Harland's 2002 book about her son Will, "A Will of His Own: Reflections on Parenting a Child With Autism" (Woodbine House), is available at Amazon and Jkp.com. The book's foreword was written by British actress and writer Jane Asher. Harland, an advocate for kids with autism, lectures on the school circuit to teachers, parents, and clinicians.

QUOTE: "The most important thing to me is sharing the creative gift," Harland says on her Web site. "If music lifts us up, if words are what put the feeling across, it doesn't matter. I just want to communicate. I live by the E.M. Forster line, 'Only connect.' "

RELEASES: Past albums include "Twelve Times Romance" and "American Songs." Her latest is "Long Ago and Far Away: Kelly Harland Sings Jerome Kern," produced by Deardorf and featuring pianist and arranger Bill Mays.

WHERE TO LISTEN: Kellyharland.com

NEXT SHOW: Harland celebrates the release of "Long Ago and Far Away" with a show Monday night at 7:30 (doors open at 6) at Jazz Alley, 2033 Sixth Ave. Accompanying her are Mays on piano and Deardorf on bass. Tickets: $20.50. Reservations: 206-441-9729 or Jazzalley.com.

-- Gene Stout