Laura Izibor's soul singularity stems not just from her somewhat unlikely beginnings in Dublin, Ireland, but from an unwillingness to resign herself to any one style or era. A singer, songwriter, and shimmeringly skilled pianist, Izibor can summon up a breezier Billie Holiday on one track, Al Green in full love sermon mode on the next, a strutting Jill Scott and/or defiant Beyonce on yet another, and so on. Her versatility, ivory grace, and vocal charm made for a disarming live persona which made her a top opener choice of R&B tastemakers like John Legend and the Roots, and wooed the critics even long before her 2009 debut.