Newport, RI Singer-Songwriter, Leslie Miller

Link to a video of my 5/18/08 jazz performance on my myspace.com page: 8.46 min. video

"My Life is but a Tapestry of..."?

Photo taken by my son Taylor Henry, 12/05

"IT'S ALL ABOUT THE SONG!"

I'm a jazz singer who took a break and focused on my original songs for a while! Now I'm back to focusing on my jazz vocals and have enrolled in RI College's Jazz Studies Program. Studying jazz is giving me a much better foundation as a vocalist and songwriter. Whether we're talking about a jazz standard or one of my originals, "it's all about the song"! I strive to feel and convey the original intent of the composer when I sing jazz or blues standards, and as for my originals, they are gifts that come to me and take me where they want to go...I simply have to listen and follow their lead! I've been told my original songs are melodic, upbeat, and easy to relate to. I hope you find a little gift for yourself in the samplings below...if you like what you hear feel free to share it or recommend me for a gig. I've loved performing at jazz clubs, weddings, special events, coffee houses, concert halls, and festivals and would appreciate any referrals or suggestions you have for places where either my jazz vocals or originals would be well-received.

I've posted my favorite performance pictures first and then come the song samples immediately after, of both my originals and jazz vocals. Thanks for stopping by!

First PR Shot, 1994 & Billy Goods in Newport, 2000

Opening Act for the 1st Newport Production of the Vagina Monologues, Jane Pickens Theatre, 2002

Marriage of an Act, Bill and Leslie Miller's Wedding, Salvation Cafe, Newport, RI, January 1, 2005

Artists with MS Art Exhibit Opening, Tsetse Gallery, Providence, RI, 2006

My Husband Bill and I Playing My Original Songs at RICARES' Sober St. Patty's Day Celebration at Felicia's Cafe in East Greenwich on March 16th, 2008

My Most Recent Pics from "An Adult Song and Dance Revue" at RI College on May 18, 2008:

"MY ORIGINAL SONGS ARE GIFTS GIVEN ME." I hope you enjoy them. As a writer, I can't but help but have a passion for jazz. The standards are shining examples of the best song-writing I could ever aspire to. Some of my jazz and blues singing influences have been Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Carmen McCrae, Sarah Vaughan, Peggy Lee, Tony Bennett, Nancy Wilson, Della Reese, Diana Krall, Natalie Cole, Etta James, Maureen McGovern, Patti Austin, my Jazz Vocals professor at Rhode Island College Shawnn Monteiro, and more recently, I've really enjoyed Karrin Allyson. My favorite composers are the Gershwin brothers, Cole Porter, Irving Berlin, Harold Arlen, Rodgers and Hart, to name only a handful out of many I love and cover!

I'm fine-tuning my jazz talents while I'm at RI College and as mentioned above, I'm studying for a minor in Jazz Studies as well as my major in Political Science. I'm so lucky to have Shawnn Monteiro as my jazz vocals professor! You can visit her site by clicking here, and I hope you'll catch one of her local shows (her calendar is on her site...she can be seen at the Atlantic Beach Club and Sardello's in Newport, and the Hi Hat in Providence among a few places, when she's not teaching or performing in Europe). Shawnn has encouraged me by the saying, "if you stumble, make it a part of your dance"!

My songs are here for your enjoyment and I'd love your feedback on them as well as the jazz standards I've recorded in years past that I've included below as well. I hope to publish some newer and better ones in the near future as I continue studying under Shawnn.) UPDATE: *See "An Adult Song and Dance Revue" a little further on below:

Discography: 2000: "My Own Style " ("Bonnie's Dad" below is on this CD)

Biography: Born on May 9, 1990 in Somerville, MA. Moved to RI in 1978 and married my children's father Bob Henry in 1981. Bob sadly passed away in 1990 and the kids and I moved to Newport in 1991 where we've lived ever since. I married my present husband Bill Miller on January 1, 1990. I'm presently disabled with Multiple Sclerosis, but attending RI College part-time to earn my Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, as well as a minor in Jazz Studies (as mentioned above). I also volunteer as an addictions-recovery advocate when I can (I've personally been in long-term recovery from drug addiction since April 13, 2004) and hope to continue to regain strength and either get involved in a career in public service and/or perform my music on an expanded basis after I finish my degree in a few years...it will be exciting to see how my life unfolds!

ORIGINAL SONGS:

Click Here for My Electronic Press Kit (EPK) on Sonicbids.com

JAZZ SELECTIONS:

* An Adult Song and Dance Revue, RI College, May 18, 2008:

I had a great performance in "An Adult Song and Dance Revue" at Rhode Island College on May 18th. Elaine Colanari produced it and had her dance students perform wonderful routines with myself and fellow RIC music student Kevin Martin accompanied by the Ron Bianchi Trio singing jazz standards in between. I was able to take some footage from the DVD that was made of the show and make a jazz demo. I was told that my performance showed how much Shawnn Monteiro's guidance has helped me reclaim my style and regain confidence in my performance skills. Click here to watch the 8.46minute demo on my myspace.com page: Introducing Leslie Miller

A Few Selection from Years Past (click on the title to hear them):

¯ "Mean to Me" (Turk & Ahlert)

piano: Bobby Foster; bass: a great player named Sterling; vocals: Leslie Miller (formerly Leslie Henry); recorded live at a rehearsal with members of the Newport Navy Jazz Band, Newport, RI, c. 1999

¯ "Since I Fell for You" (Buddy Johnson)

piano: Ron Sanfilippo; vocals: Leslie Miller (formerly Leslie Henry); recorded live on the "Saucy Sylvia Radio Show, Newport, RI, c. 1999

¯ "Wild About That Thing" (Bessie Smith)

piano: Jack Radcliffe; clarinet: the late Mr. Al Oliveira; upright bass: Bobby Demers; recorded at Stable Sound, Portsmouth, RI, c. 2000

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This page was last updated 07/29/08

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