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Publication: Minnesota Daily, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis MN.
As an 11-year-old, Sophia Shorai saw jazz-infused musical comedy "Babes in Arms" and was awestruck.
The jazz-pop artist, who's a University of Minnesota alumna, has been performing throughout the Twin Cities for about 10 years and released five albums. On Thursday, she will perform at the Dakota Jazz Club.
Right after high school, Shorai visited local bars and asked staff for a spot in their performing lineup. Most said yes.
And her music career began.
James Buckley, who often accompanies Shorai on bass guitar, said he remembers her early days.
"At the time, she was like super-duper young and nerdy looking, [she was this] very unassuming-looking younger girl that could sing her ass off, and I was just blown away because it was just her and the guitarist," Buckley said.
Shorai seeks out lesser-known jazz standards to use in her shows while mixing in her original jazz-pop work.
Drummer Greg Schutte met Shorai in the early days of her career and, like Buckley, loved her performance. "She...