Leslie Beukelman
Biography Back to Top
This woman has such a natural way about her singing. Her pitch, her range, her sound, her interpretation is extraordinary.”
-Maria Schneider, Grammy Award Winner
“Exquisite vocalist, Leslie Beukelman, mastered genres as vast as soul, melodic jazz, scat, rock and atonal experimentation.” -Lucia Mauro, Chicago Tribune
“This concert is made all the more enjoyable by the quartet of live musicians, especially songstress Leslie Beukelman, mastering everything from pop to scat.” -Sid Smith, Chicago Tribune
Located in the city of Chicago, vocalist Leslie Beukelman is captivating listeners with her unique style and versatility. Involved in groups from free jazz (Carplet) to modern jazz (Greg Ward Sextet, Ian Torres Big Band), to standard jazz (Leslie Beukelman Trio, Chicago Skyliners Big Band) to a cappella (Stripped), to progressive rock (Information Superhighway), Leslie explores her fresh sound on her debut solo album, “Here I Am.” This album showcases Leslie’s voice on her lively dynamic arrangements of old and new standards, as well as her compositions.
Originally from Sandwich, IL, Leslie started her musical endeavors at a young age, singing, playing piano, and playing trumpet. Gaining performance experience in music and theatre through school, the community theatre, and the Yorkville Big Band, Leslie graduated from Sandwich High School in 2000 and moved to Chicago to pursue musical theatre at the Chicago College of Performing Arts (CCPA) at Roosevelt University. During her first year in the program, she was drawn to the weekly jazz concerts and knew that her true passion and drive was to perform in front of a band where she could express herself through her own music and interpretation. Leslie changed her major and excelled in the jazz program, graduating in 2005 with a Bachelor’s of Music degree with honors, focusing in jazz studies/ jazz voice performance. She has taken improvisation and voice lessons from both instrumentalists and voice teachers, including Jackie Allen and Patricia Barber (Blue Note recording artists), Tito Carillo, Tom Garling (Maynard Ferguson Band), Mike Smith (Frank Sinatra Band), Rob Parton, Mike Molloy and Andrew Distel. Accomplishments from her time at Roosevelt include performing as the vocalist for the CCPA Jazz Orchestra, earning two outstanding soloist awards at the Elmhurst College Jazz Festival, performing as a member of the CCPA’s two-time Downbeat award-winning vocal jazz group, The New Deal, performing at the 2003 IAJE Conference in Toronto, Canada, and earning the top combo award in 2005 at the IAJE Regional Conference in Chicago with the Savoy Combo. She is also a three-time Union League Club/Civic and Arts Foundation Jazz Improvisation Scholarship winner.
Now a freelance musician, Leslie is flourishing and exploring music. She recently finished her first solo album, “Here I Am,” with her quintet and is preparing to record another record featuring her arrangements of old and new standards alongside her original compositions, creating a new sound that mixes jazz, folk and pop. Leslie is also the vocalist in the Chicago-based quartet, Information Superhighway, who released their first full-length album, “First Morning” in 2006 and is currently working on their next project. Combining elements of jazz, rock, and folk, this progressive jazz-indie rock band performs their original music in rock venues around the city. Leslie sings alto in Chicago’s award-winning 5 voice a cappella group Stripped, focusing on improvisation and using the voice as an instrument in music with no boundaries. Leslie’s voice is featured in New York alto saxophonist Greg Ward’s group, the Greg Ward Sextet. This ensemble, made up of voice, cello, saxophone and a stellar rhythm section, performs Greg’s original music. Leslie is active in the free jazz scene singing in the trio Carplet (alto saxophone, vibes, and voice) and with Tomorrow Music Orchestra, a large ensemble mixed with jazz and classical instrumentalists. Leslie is also a new addition to the Ian Torres Big Band, featuring trumpeter, Ian Torres’ original music and arrangements.
In many different configurations, Leslie has been seen performing at the Green Mill, the Jazz Showcase, the Velvet Lounge, the Signature Room on the 95th, Pops for Champagne, Schubas, and Martyrs’. She can also be heard performing in the Chicago-land area and on WDCB 90.9 FM with Bill O’Connell’s Chicago Skyliner’s Big Band.
Repertoire Back to Top
I specialize in jazz duo, trio, quartet and quintet music. However, I am available to sing many styles of music from jazz to country to rock to R&B.
Please contact me for specific song information.
Availability Back to Top
My schedule is flexible.
Please contact me for booking.
