LEWIS

Leslie Lewis & Gerard Hagen

After living in Los Angeles for many years, jazz vocalist Leslie Leslie and her husband pianist Gerard Hagen followed a dream and relocated to Paris. They have collectively recorded eight CD's. Their first disc, “Of Two Minds”, was released in Japan on the SSJ label and received 5 stars in Japan’s prestigious Swing Journal magazine. Their tours have taken them to Europe, Asia, Africa and throughout the U.S. including venues in London, Paris, Tokyo, New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. Leslie has been a featured vocalist with the Cleveland Jazz Orchestra, the Pacific Symphony, Jazz Tap Ensemble and she has performed with members of the Duke Ellington Orchestra. Gerard is active as a performer, arranger, producer and he currently teaches at International Music Educators of Paris College of Music. In collaboration with four musicians in Paris they formed the Funky Ella Band in 2021. Their first disc "I Put A Spell On You" (Ahead Records) was featured on Radio FIP in France. In 2022 the group performed at Jazz A Vienne and the La Baule Jazz Festival. www.funkyella.com

For more information: www.surfcovejazz.com

JAZZ TIMES MAGAZINE - "Leslie Lewis is all a good jazz singer should be. Her beautiful tone and classy phrasing evoke the sound of the classic jazz singers like Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughan. Leslie Lewis' vocals are complimented perfectly by her husband, Gerard Hagen.”

“she can claim a well deserved corner of the jazz vocal map for herself”

— C. Michael Bailey- ALL ABOUT JAZZ

“Hagen has a special way with the piano that sets him apart from today's young lions. He is gently respectful of melody, avoiding pianistic gymnastics and chord bashing.”
— Dave Nathan- ALL MUSIC GUIDE

“A complete pleasure: Leslie Lewis' deep, grainy Jazz voice with husband Gerard’s arrangements providing the inventive settings that frame her nuanced phrasing of some well chosen lyrics. ” -Alan Bargebuhr- CADENCE MAGAZINE