Leslie Vincent & the Vibes

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Michelle Bennett

Leslie Vincent on a couch.

Leslie Vincent

Minneapolis-based singer Leslie Vincent injects some laid-back soul into the 10 jazz numbers on her summer 2023 album, About Last Night. The album features both fun originals in the vocal jazz tradition like “Psychedelics With You” and creative arrangements breathing new life into standards such as “Laura” and “Stars Fell on Alabama.” Accompanied by The Vibes, Vincent should be a perfect match for the North Street Cabaret.

media release: Jazz vocalist and songwriter Leslie Vincent released her sophomore album, About Last Night, in August 2023. Mixing the lyrical sensitivity of Madeleine Peyroux with the powerhouse vocals of Amy Winehouse, she puts together a collection of songs that chart the course of a night – from the playful sensuality of dressing up and going out to the highs of falling in love followed by late night regrets and ending with the beginning of a brand new day to start all over again.

Although she got her start in musical theater, Vincent has made her mark as an innovative interpreter of the Great American Songbook as well as material from her pop sheroes Carole King, Linda Ronstadt, Dusty Springfield and Grace Slick. All these influences come together on this new album with an eclectic range of material–from jazz standards (“Stars Fell on Alabama,” “No Moon At All”) to contemporary tunes (“How You Loved Me on Mars”), Broadway numbers (“If I Were a Bell” from Guys and Dolls) to Irving Berlin (“What’ll I Do”). The standouts, though, are her own originals, bringing a contemporary perspective to classic jazz sounds. Kicking off with her swinging tune “Psychedelics with You,” she sets the tone for an album that is a rich emotional rollercoaster that reflects the sudden turns of falling in and out of love with all the humor and soul that comes from someone who has truly lived. This is most evident on her song “Icetown Blues,” a song Vincent wrote ostensibly about living in Minneapolis.

“Obviously it’s an ode to our neverending winter,” Vincent says. “But it’s also a love song to my wife. Before I met her I was scared of opening up and terrified of commitment. I wanted to combine the idea of my own personal thaw to the melting of winter.”

These emotional stories are the heart of the album and are kept front and center with masterful production by Vincent and engineer John Miller (The Jackson 5, Sonny Knight & The Lakers, Black Market Brass). Recorded at Future Condo Studios and mastered by Bruce Templeton (Joyann Parker, Dessa), the album features frequent collaborators pianist Ted Godbout, bassist Matt McIntyre, drummer Ben Ehrlich and trumpet player Mitch Van Laar. Together they form a tight, minimalist jazz combo with a dynamic sound, letting Vincent’s vocals shine.

Together with her ace band, Leslie Vincent she proves she can sing anything with passion and authority–whether interpreting a 1930s love song or singing about psychedelics in a Midwest town.

About Leslie Vincent

Leslie Vincent is a prolific songwriter and jazz vocalist. Equally at home singing the Great American Songbook, musical theater, and contemporary rock and pop, she has quickly become one of the most notable voices to emerge in the vibrant Minneapolis music scene, being hailed for her joy-filled performances and  her “fun, human, beautiful interpretations” (Levi Weinhagen).

Born into a military family, Vincent spent childhood moving along the East Coast and United Kingdom, where she spent her spare time singing along to Frank Sinatra and the Les Mis soundtrack. The one constant was music.

“Moving around allowed me to develop my resilience, curiosity, and creativity from a young age,” Vincent says. “Wherever I went, music and theater were my foundation and my best friends.” 

With a Bachelor of Music in Musical Theater, she relocated from Washington D.C., to Minneapolis to take part in its thriving theater scene. But after meeting noted jazz pianist  George Mauer, she dove headfirst into a musical career. Playing with him introduced her to the nuances, beauty and infinite potential of jazz. 

Since then, Vincent has become an accomplished bandleader, playing 50+ shows a year across the Midwest, using her theatrical chops to bring drama, comedy and poise to the stage.

“Comedy is so important to my work,” says Vincent. “ I love using storytelling and jokes to bring out the universality of these century-old pieces.” 

In 2020, she released her debut album These Foolish Things, which garnered much critical attention from fans and music critics in the Twin Cities, especially from Jazz88 FM, where she’s become a regular in-studio guest. She’s recorded with the band Viewers Like You and performed alongside Twin Cities legends including jeremy messersmith, Joyann Parker, and Patty Peterson. Now getting ready to release her new album About Last Night, Vincent is poised for the national spotlight, mixing jazz standards, vintage blues, and her own fresh originals.

When not singing, Vincent is at home with her wife and dog, dreaming up future musical endeavors.

For more about Leslie Vincent’s many projects, visit lesliedellavincent.com.