D.C. jazz singer Lori Williams is one busy woman. She rehearses for her gig at Blues Alley on Saturday night, she readies her son for kindergarten, takes her daughter back to college, pursues a jazz studies degree and prepares for another school year as the director of choirs at Wilson Senior High School.

"The running can be difficult at times, but the excitement of it all, especially for an event like Saturday, gets the adrenaline [running] and then you just have to be on the go all of the time," Williams said.

Her show at Blues Alley will feature songs from her debut album, "Healing Within," released in the fall of 2010, and her current release, "Eclipse of the Soul."

More than the opportunity to once again put her music out there, Williams is thrilled to be performing with background vocalists and musicians she considers a family of jazz artists.

She will be backed by singers Delmarie Hines, Troy Edler and gospel artist Robert E. Person. Drummer Mark Prince, bassist Michael Bowie and saxophonist Skip Pruitt join Allyn Johnson (currently director of the Jazz Studies program and jazz ensembles at the University of the District of Columbia) on piano.

Williams does not care to categorize her vocal style or be boxed in to one specific genre of music.

"When I'm performing, it's definitely coming from deeper than spirit and soul," explained Williams, who says that singers Dianne Reeves and Nancy Wilson have had a great influence on her. "But I love all types of music, from country to classical to gospel, all across the board. And I believe that all those genres can [translate] into jazz."

Williams' live performances are also teaching moments for her students, especially when she plays venues like Blues Alley.

"I feed off the audience so much in a setting like Blues Alley; it's very intimate -- you see everybody, and you can't escape," she said. "I talk to the students about how you're exposed on stage, [how] you want people to see your genuine qualities and understand you're really giving something that's very personal."