A Haitian-American who sings in French, Haitian Creole and English, Leyla McCalla plays cello, tenor banjo and guitar. Born to Haitian immigrant parents in New York City, she was the cellist with the Grammy-winning string-band Carolina Chocolate Drops (who played SMF in 2008) before pursuing her own career. Deeply influenced by traditional Creole, Cajun and Haitian music, her music is at once earthy, elegant, soulful and witty, and for this engagement she brings her trio for their Savannah debut.