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Vocalist, Leader
Short Press Version:
Chicago native Lesley Byers has been a part of the national jazz scene for twelve years, playing top venues and receiving high acclaim from critics, musicians and fans. Her music has been called, 'Rosemary Clooney meets Bette Midler,' with a repertoire including smooth and swingin' jazz classics and standards sprinkled with a little hometown blues. All About Jazz wrote, "...a more straight-ahead brand of jazz that's as well-crafted as it is pleasurable." Cadence Magazine wrote, "...Byers has a timeless vocal sound, alternately seductive and innocent. She could easily be slotted next to Chris Connor, June Christy or Rosemary Clooney. Her energy and coolness are impeccable. Class and hipness work in equal measure here with marvelous results."
Over the years, Byers has performed on some of Chicago's most famous stages...Taste of Chicago, Navy Pier, Grant Park and the House of Blues, as well as stages across the nation...from Los Angeles to Boston, New York City to Seattle, Minneapolis to St. Louis. With audiences of over 5000 at the 2003 Jazz in the Park concert series in Milwaukee to 150 jazz lovers at Chicago's Green Dolphin Street jazz club to 1000 swing dancers at NYC's Irving Plaza...Byers has been dazzling audiences of all ages throughout the country. Even jazz fans in Japan were astounded as Byers toured the Kansai area including Osaka's premiere club, Jazz On Top.
In her hometown, Byers performs regularly throughout the city and suburbs at clubs, festivals and special events. Byers' sound reflects the old school style of delivering standards. She is deeply rooted in the ways of the masters and always true to the melody as written; this separates her from the rest.
Here's a longer version if you just didn't get enough!
Byers has been singing professionally for over 20 years, but it's been the last 10 that she's been really swingin'. Beginning her career in musical theatre and gigs with the occasional jobbing and wedding band, Byers then started fronting and managing her own 7-piece jump blues and swing band in 1996. After 5 years of riding the 'Jump, Jive and Wail' craze, she needed a new musical challenge. Lesley switched gears in the year 2000 to undertake a more enticing and exciting genre of music, that's when the sassy, swingin' sextet Lesley Byers & The Jazz Cats was born.
For the past 6 years, Byers has been performing throughout the country from Boston to DC, Manhattan to LA, Minneapolis to Seattle, St. Louis to Columbus - from Irving Plaza in NYC, to Milwaukee's Jazz in the Park concert series, to Chicago's own Grant Park, fronting a smooth, sassy and swingin' jazz ensemble has proven to be Byers' forte. She is known for her live performances but her recordings are getting much praise. All About Jazz wrote "one can readily sense her remarkable vitality and enthusiasm for what she does, and there's no doubt that Byers knows how to sell a lyric."
Byers and her band earned rave reviews for her 3rd CD release, (1st jazz), A Slick Chick, in 2001 which received 11 nominations for the 2002 International Swing Awards and had 2 cuts chosen for the soundtrack of the independent film, Dancing with Gaia. In 2003, Byers released, Twisted, her breakout CD, which received critical acclaim, spectacular reviews and worldwide radio airplay. Cadence Jazz Magazine marveled, "...Lesley Byers has a timeless vocal sound, alternately seductive and innocent. She could easily be slotted next to Chris Connor, June Christy or Rosemary Clooney. Her energy and coolness are impeccable. Class and hipness work in equal measure here with marvelous results." 2004 saw the release of Byers' super-fun holiday CD, Cool Yule.
In 2005, Byers released, Undecided, which featured her with a trio. Going for a less structured feel of arrangements, this studio set saw Byers and the Boys go in with very little rehearsal. Byers wanted to get a truly organic feel. Once again, reviews were amazing. "...as for Byers & her vocalise, she exudes a delicate tone with an interesting yet floating feeling particularly on ballads & I feel that she will emerge as one of our most promising young jazz singers of our era." George Carroll, eJazzNews 1/06
In 2003, Byers began guest singing with Milwaukee's outstanding 17-piece big band, Swing Nouveau. She also lends her vocal stylings to their 2005 CD, More. Her love of big band music is truly heard here. She can also be seen sitting in with a variety of top Chicago bands and musicians.
In 2006, Byers recorded 'Sessions,' a guitar/vocal duo with phenom Chicago guitarist Kyle Asche. Byers often performs with smaller combos of duo and trios.
Byers has studied with Karyn Sarring from The Vocal Studio and world-renown jazz vocalist and instructor, Janice Borla.
Byers is currently the Director of Youth Music Ministry at the First Presbyterian Church of Lake Forest working with the Junior High and High School Ministry bands. Her love of working with children saw the development of a non-threatening 'American Idol' school program to help children (grades 3-12) learn about performance, vocal technique, stage presence, and song and key selection. Byers has also developed several jazz introduction and 'History of Jazz' programs for Middle, Jr., and High School age students. Byers sat on the Advisory Board of the Highland Park Players community theatre group from 2002 - 2005. She currently sits on the Advisory Board for the City of Chicago's Harold Washington Colleges' music program. Byers states, "...there are fantastic music schools/programs out there, but it seems that the business of music is not being addressed. I'm hoping to help change that."
With a degree in Journalism and PR and after working in non-profit fundraising and special event planning for many years, Byers now concentrates all her energy to her music.
Interested in Lesley's musical experiences before diving into jazz? Read on to Lesley's Other Adventures!
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