bio

Boston based vocalist Leah Souza is an experienced performer and appears regularly with her quintet, quartet, trio and duo at jazz venues throughout Boston and New England. She performs her stylish interpretations of jazz at festivals, fairs, concerts, upscale restaurants, hotel lounges and jazz clubs. Leah brings together the influences of Jazz, Blues & R&B in her own unique style. Her interpretation of Horace Silver's "Song For My Father" was critically acclaimed and has received airplay on many radio stations across the country including stations in California, New York, New Jersey, Florida and Massachusetts. The song featuring Leah on vocals was recorded on Johnny Souza's "Meet Me in the City" CD featuring Johnny Souza, Ray Santisi, Barry Smith and Gene Roma. She is currently in the studio recording material for her own debut CD which features Michael Shea on piano, David Landoni on bass, Johnny Souza on trumpet, Rick Klane on drums and special guests John Baboian on guitar and Steve Silverstein on drums.

Leah began singing at a very early age. She started performing at functions and outdoor concerts when she was thirteen. At 16, she was the lead vocalist of a seven piece band that was selected in a national talent search to perform in California. In high school she was the jazz bands featured vocalist and played the tenor saxophone in multiple bands.

Leah has studied with jazz songstress Rebecca Parris. For several years she regularly attended a Jazz All-Stars show at "Ricky T's Jazz Club" on the South Shore where she listened to the top jazz musicians in New England on a weekly basis and soon began sitting in with the different All-Star bands. This allowed her to develop as a musician and meet many wonderful and often legendary performers. Now a respected performer in her own right Leah Souza appears regularly at venues with many of those same musicians.She has performed along side many of New Englands top musicians including Michael Shea, John Harrison, Ray Santisi, Ben Cook, Al Vega, Paul McWilliams, Steve Chamrin, Chris Taylor, Dave Zox, Dave Landoni, Mark Pucci, Peter Kontrimas, John Turner, Bronek Suchanek, Steve Skop, Barry Smith, Volker Nahrman, Rick Klane, Gary Johnson, Steve Silverstein, John Badessa, Greg Abate, Gene Roma, Alexei Tsiganov, Ted Casher, Dick Johnson, Gray Sargent, Jerry Ceeco, Kenny Wenzel, Terry Anthony, John Repucci, Marshall Wood, and Tony Lada.

Each of Leah's bands are specifically geared to each venue where she performs, whether it be a lively exciting show with her quintet and quartet or a more subtle relaxed performance with her trio or simply singing romantic ballads and jazz standards as a duo with her piano player; Leah's shows are well received at each venue featuring her music! She has performed at venues in Boston and throughout New England that feature top rated jazz acts including:

Ryles Jazz Club - Cambridge, MA
Foxwoods Resort & Casino - Mashantucket, CT
Avenue One Lounge - Hyatt Regency Boston Financial District - Boston, MA
Azure - The Lenox Hotel - Boston, MA
Intrique - The Boston Harbor Hotel - Boston, MA
Radisson Plymouth Harbor Hotel - Plymouth, MA
Boston's Downtown Crossing "Jazz in July" Series 2007
Boston's Downtown Crossing "Jazz in July" Series 2006
Boston's Downtown Crossing "Jazz in July" Series 2005
Boston's Downtown Crossing "Jazz in July" Series 2004
"The Boston Harbor Jazz Series" 2005 - Boston Harbor Hotel - Boston, MA
Barnstable Fair 2005 - E. Falmouth, MA
Pembroke Jazz, Rhythm and Blues Festival - Pembroke, MA
Green Harbor Rhythm & Blues Festival - Marshfield, MA
"Plymouth Rock's!" at Memorial Hall - Plymouth, MA
"The Mall at Chestnut Hill's Jazz Series 2003"
"The Mall at Chestnut Hill's Jazz Series 2002"
Linden Place Mansion - Bristol RI
UMASS Campus Center - Boston, MA
Musician's Performance Trust Fund Waterfront Concert 2006 - Plymouth, MA
Musician's Performance Trust Fund Waterfront Concert 2005 - Plymouth, MA
*The Supper Club - Boston, MA
The Good Life - Boston, MA
Bullfinch's - Sudbury, MA
Stoneforge at Bert's Cove - Plymouth, MA
Tosca - Hingham, MA
Capriccio - Providence, RI
Ricky T's Jazz Club - Plymouth, MA
Greenvale Vineyards - Portsmouth, RI
Remington's - Boston, MA
Phattboys - Harvard Square Boston, MA
Phattboys - Stoughton, MA
Joe & Maria's Restaurant & Lounge - Norwood, MA
The Paddock Restaurant - Hyannis, MA
Ricardo's Cafe Trattoria - Lowell, MA
Acton Jazz Cafe - Acton, MA
The Waterfront Festival 2004 - Plymouth, MA
The Waterfront Festival 2003 - Plymouth, MA

Les Zygomates Wine Bar & Bistro - Boston, MA
Ristorante Divino - New Bedford, MA
Cilantro - Salem, MA
Manhattan's Restaurant & Martini Bar - Milford, MA
The Fireplace Restaurant - Brookline, MA
The Purple Eggplant - Abington, MA
Handlebar Harry's - Plymouth, MA
Sean O'Tooles Irish Pub - Plymouth, MA
Mr. Dooley's Boston Tavern - Boston, MA
Club Caravan - Revere, MA (guest band)
The 19th Hole at South Shore Country Club - Hingham, MA
Borders Cafe - Boston, MA
Borders Cafe - Kingston, MA
Borders Cafe - Hyannis, MA
Border's Cafe - Braintree, MA
"Hot August Nights" Concert Series - Plymouth, MA
The Galleria - Taunton, MA
MusicFest '98 - N. Plymouth, MA
MusicFest '99 - N. Plymouth, MA
Pembroke Arts Festival - Pembroke,MA
The Wharf Tavern - Warren, Rhode Island (guest vocalist)
Grand Opening -Target Independence Mall, Kingston
Grand Opening - Seattle's Best Coffee Cafe, Hyannis, MA

Grand Cru Wine Bar - Hyannis, MA
The Nimrod Restaurant & Jazz Lounge - Falmouth, MA
"Jazz live at Chans" - Woonsocket, Rhode Island (guest vocalist)
Portuguese Festival 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007 - Plymouth, MA
"A Taste of Taunton" Festival at The Holiday Inn 2005, 2007 - Taunton, MA Rockafellas - Salem, MA
The Crow's Nest - Plymouth, MA
Bluewater Restaurant - Green Harbor, MA
The Jerry Lewis Labor Day Telethon for MDA - Plymouth, MA
Casa Veccia - Salem, NH (guest vocalist)
Bistro at Cataldi's - Hanson, MA
"The Terrace Lounge" at The Copley Marriott - Boston, MA (guest vocalist)