Sassy and classy
vocalist Diana Leigh has been performing in a variety of formats for over 25 years. She has a purity of tone, a swinging sense of phrasing, and a sparkling stage presence. Her background includes blues, rock, folk, country, reggae, and a’capella, but her heart is
in the jazz standards of the 20’s through the 50’s. She has studied with voice teachers Gordon Cook and Marty Heresniak.
Born in Manhattan to a jazz trumpeter and a classical French horn player, Diana grew up in the musical hotbed of Woodstock, NY, where music was “a way of life.” She was also involved in theater during those formative years. Moving to Ithaca in the late 1980’s, Diana has been in a number of groups over the years including The Little Big Band, The Blue Blazers, Sugar Moon, The Riveters, and The UnderTones.
Diana and her dance band ‘Crazy Rhythm’ have appeared regionally for over a decade, delighting audiences in Baltimore, DC, Philadelphia, Boston, and Hartford, as well as all over New York State. This is most definitely a “dancer’s band” because it is led by a veteran swing dancer! Diana has been dancing for over fifteen years. For six years she was a member of The ExtravaDancers, a semi-professional swing dance performance troupe. She also taught jitterbug for a few years, and has been active in the Ithaca Swing Dance Network for over two decades, helping to bring dance events alive in the region. All this dance experience means that the band’s repertoire is tailor-made for dancing: song length, tempi, mix of tunes.... She knows what dancers need and want, and she delivers!
Diana also works frequently in duo, trio, and quartet settings, enjoying the variety and intimacy these smaller combos allow. She has also appeared with the Ithaca big-band, the Ageless Jazz Band.
Many illustrious musicians have backed Diana, among them George Reed, Bernie Upson, Neal Massa, John Hyde, and Rich Syracuse, to name just a few. She is currently based in Ithaca, NY.
531 Linn Street, Ithaca, NY 14850
Photo by Tom Hoebbel
Sweet, sultry, crystalline.... I get happy listening to you! ~ David G., fan
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