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Lesley Byers & the Jazz CatsFast FactsLocation: Chicago, IL BioLesley Byers & The Jazz Cats are an inspiring Chicago-based, national-touring group that embodies the art of jazz at its finest. Their type of 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. This exciting ensemble has tight arrangements and a high-energy performance that truly lights up an event.
Over the years, Lesley Byers and The Jazz Cats have 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...high schools, senior centers, park districts, Lesley Byers & The Jazz Cats have been delighting audiences of all ages throughout the country.
Lesley Byers and TJC's offer a variety of band sizes and instrumentation to meet the needs of any event. They can also structure theme-typed shows such as, A Night of Cole Porter or The Best of Ella Fitzgerald. From cool laid-back jazz to hot steamy swing, this group is sure to please. "If not for the 2003 copyright date, you'd think that Lesley Byers & The Jazz Cats, Twisted, was some newly discovered session from the 1950's. It has the intimate, casual feel of that period with a fine singer backed by a hip small combo. 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. She can work a Jazz theme like 'Twisted' with the best of them and, when she has to play the 'girl singer' role on a standard like 'How High The Moon,' she has the natural class and sunniness of a '50's chanteuse. The Jazz Cats are a very tasty combo who cover the Swing to Bop continuum very well. Class and hipness work in equal measure here with marvelous results." - Jerome Wilson, Cadence Magazine |
      
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