Biography

A BRIEF PROFILE

Lesley Picchietti Byers began singing just as soon as she was able to speak. By age 5, she was performing T.V. jingles for her family, with RC Cola as her favorite. Jr. High and High School theatre and choral groups led to the Drake University choir, where she graduated with a degree in Journalism and PR. It was during these years that she began performing with wedding and dance bands. After graduation and returning to Chicago for a job with Leo Burnett advertising, Byers began working in dinner theatre and singing at venues throughout the city. Over the next several years, she climbed the corporate ladder while continuing to perform ‘on the side,’ averaging five gigs a week. In 1997, Byers said goodbye to her ‘day job’ to pursue a full-time music career and has never looked back.

PORTRAIT OF A VOCALIST

Byers has worked steadily over the last decade performing on some of Chicago's most famous stages...Taste of Chicago, Navy Pier, Velvet Lounge, Pops for Champagne, Grant Park and the House of Blues. She has also toured the nation over and over again, from Los Angeles to Boston, New York 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. Byers and her band have been featured on a commercial for Charter One Bank and Chicago’s Channel 11, WTTW’s original program, ‘Check, Please.’

In her hometown, Byers performs regularly throughout the city and suburbs at clubs, festivals and special events. She can often be seen performing as a sideman with many other bands as well. 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. Byers is known for sharing her stage with some of the best jazz players in Chicago. You never know who will be backing her, but you know it’s gonna be great!

Byers is the Director of the 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. She 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."


AS A RECORDING ARTIST

Byers first effort as a jazz artist, (3rd recording as leader) A Slick Chick, released in 2001, was widely popular and even garnered interest with the critics. “Byers and her quintet of capable sidemen from the Windy City offer a more straight-ahead brand of Jazz that's as well-crafted as it is pleasurable,” stated Jack Bowers of All About Jazz. It received 11 nominations for the 2002 International Swing Awards and had 2 cuts chosen for the soundtrack of the independent film, Dancing with Gaia. 2003 saw the release of, Twisted, Byers breakout CD, which received critical acclaim, spectacular reviews and worldwide radio airplay. "...the result is a sweet, yet fiery, hot sauce - a kind of juicy, pleasant sound, which is what most listeners want to hear. A real tightness of the band is coupled with Byers own excellent sense of phrasing." Tim Gault, Chicago Jazz Magazine.
Byers released the super-fun, Cool Yule, in ’03 and had folks swingin’ throughout the holidays. In 2005, Byers released, Undecided, which featured her with a trio instead of a quintet. Going for a less structured feel of arrangements, this studio set saw Byers and her 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. This same year, Byers lent her vocal stylings to Milwaukee big band, Swing Nouveau, on their release, More. In 2007, she recorded Sessions, a guitar/vocal duo demo (in the vain of Ella and Joe Pass) with Chicago guitarist phenom, Kyle Asche.

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DISCOGRAPHY AS LEADER
A Slick Chick
Twisted
Cool Yule
Undecided
Sessions (not formally released)

LESLEY BYERS CONTACT/BOOKING/TOURING
Phone: 847-736-1621
email: LesleyPByers@aol.com
web: www.lesleybyers.com
LPB Entertainment, Inc.
Red Lip Records