It was the kind of award, and meeting, that can change a life's trajectory. In 2011, Chiara Izzi won the Shure Montreux Jazz Voice Competition for singers under 35 at the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland. Quincy Jones was the head judge that year, so Izzi had an opportunity to speak with the legendary musician. He offered the young Italian vocalist words of encouragement.

"From that moment on, my career really started to take a different direction," Izzi told The Eagle during a recent phone interview. The honor allowed the Campobasso native to record her debut album, "Motifs," an 11-track record that includes vocals in English, Italian, Spanish and Portuguese.