Jazz vocalist, entertainer, and native New Yorker, LESLEY MITCHELL-CLARKE was born into a show business family. Her father is the late veteran jazz bassist and Emmy Award-winning comedy writer and producer, Gordon “Whitey” Mitchell, and her late Uncle was the jazz bass legend, Red Mitchell.
Since the age of sixteen, she has worked as a busy singer/dancer/actor, and traveled internationally with musical theatre productions, as well as with a number of name acts. She also toured The Orient extensively with her own L.A.-based musical group, “Main Squeeze”, often appearing at “The Latin Quarter” in Tokyo. In New York City, she frequently performed at the upscale Upper East Side boite, “The Sign of the Dove” and the West Village jazz club, “Visiones”, and also worked with Judy Silvano and Joe Lovano in their experimental jazz vocal group, “The Voices of Juniper”.
Following a sizeable intermission, Lesley has recently returned to the boards, and has been bringing her entertaining mix of humour, show biz tales, and tasty vocal jazz to the city’s fine jazz venues, including The 120 Diner, The Rex Hotel Jazz & Blues Bar, and now, the Home Smith Bar. With her love of spontaneity, she often serves as Mistress of Ceremonies at prominent jazz events and festivals, including jazz concerts at Oliver Vadas’ “West End Jazz Series”, The TD Niagara Jazz Festival, and The Kensington Market Jazz Festival.
Tonight, LESLEY MITCHELL-CLARKE will be joined at the Old Mill’s Home Smith Bar by the “Mello-Tonins”: JOHN SHERWOOD on piano, KIERAN OVERS on bass, and Special Guest TOM SZCZESNIAK on accordion.