Leah Kline Music-Theatrics Productions /Amsterdam

www.leahkline.com / +31 616604770

Biography

Léah Kline is an accomplished stage performer who has enjoyed the privilege of performing in virtually every field of entertainment. Equally at ease before an audience of 2,000 as with one of 30, she has entertained audiences in Europe, Asia, and the US. As a singer, Leah Kline has appeared enough albums to sample the eclectic vocal color and taste in music : original material to straight-ahead jazz. She has earned favorable attention from fellow musicians and jazz fans alike for her sense of timing, natural stage presence, and phrasing of songs paying great respect to the meaning and story of the lyrics. “there is a little Liza Minnelli in her!” ~Rene Steenhorst (telegraaf) . "Just what I always knew about Leah Kline. She's a great singer who brings a jazz sensibility and adventure to everything she sings" Scott Yanow (LA jazz critic)

She was born in Japan when her father was stationed there in the military, but grew up in the United States. Kline played piano, congas, and hand bells as a child. She studied dance at the highly competitive North Carolina School of the Arts. She moved to Los Angeles, performing in a wide variety of situations: feature films, musicals & stage. A fall off a balcony disabled her for a period, and a six-month tour on a ship convinced her to become a jazz singer. Kline became part of the Los Angeles jazz community. In 2000 she moved to Amsterdam. Since then, she has performed in “There's No Business Like Show Business” (a musical based on the life of Irving Berlin), was part of a “tribute to Ann Burton”, worked with the Glen Miller Orchestras, appeared in “42nd Street” and “Musicals in Ahoy”, toured with her own “JazzCabaret” shows through Nederland, and performs as a jazz singer throughout Europe as a guest or with her own group, with her original repertoire or standards. She has co-hosted a radio show The Jazz Corner, Amstelveen, published music articles, and taught at the “Theater School” in Amsterdam. Kline has thus far appeared on 7 CDs: a theatrical standards album based on her Jazz Cabaret Shows performed in LA and Holland (Play ground), her original lyrics and poetry composed with pianist Dirk Balthaus on Juzz Flirtin. ,a blues Cd from German boogie pianist Christian Bleiming (Boogie in my Heart), 2 cds of recognition, a swing cd with the Benny Goodman influenced Bernard Berkhout Swing Orchestra, “Let’s Dance”, and more prominently on cd with vintage dance band ZooT! 2015 is the release of her 2nd album of original material This Precious Life, music collaboration with composer/bassist Cord Heineking. Léah placed as finalist in the Dutch Jazz Vocalist Competition in 2005 and is listed as one of the Top Jazz Singers in the book The Jazz Singers - the Ultimate Guide, by LA jazz critic, Scott Yanow. Léah enjoys yoga philosophy, writing and performing her own prose and lyrics as well as collaborating with non -native speakers and singers on their song text or song copy. (see music collaborations below)

“ She has a supple voice, phrases with ease, and can sing ballads beautifully.” ~ (KRO gids) NL “She has a sparkling, crystal-clear jazz voice with excellent timing.” ~ De Telegraaf (NL) “Léah Kline is marvelously poetic and brazen in the creation of her charming lyrics” ~ Dewezet (DE)..... “ Her narrating qualities are impressive and inviting.” "In a subtle manner she understands to seduce the listener, to captivate and naturally claim the attention." ~ Frank Huser Jazz Flits (NL) "..... Key-words: suspense, refinement and liveliness" ... ~Ntb Musicworld magazine “ Léah is a dynamic singer!” ~ LA Jazz, news (US)

Background

Amsterdam

CDs

Press

Leah Kline Music-Theatrics Productions /Amsterdam

www.leahkline.com / +31 616604770

Biography

2003 Concertgebouw- A’dam (Ann Burton Tribute masterclass /concert) 2004 debut CD Léah Kline ~ Play ground

Leah Kline in Concert: small theaters in Holland 2004 – 06 Nardis Jazz Club Istanbul 2004 Jazz Festival Beirut 2004 & 2005

2005 CD and Competiton Finalisten van NL Jazz Vocalisten Concours 2007 CD Release (original songs). : Léah Kline ~ Juzz Flirtin

Tour : Holland/ Germany/Austria Tour 2007 - 08 North Sea Jazz Festival (around town) Rotterdam 2009

2008 CD Release Bands worthy of wider recognition BUMA (feat.JuzzFlirtin)

2009 CD Release Boogie in My Heart - Christian Bleiming feat. Léah Kline Tours in Germany 2005-12

2009 Book Release Listed in The Jazz Singers ~ the Ultimate Guide 2011 CD Release Let’s Swing Dr. Bernard & his swing Orchestra

Tour Jazz festivals & clubs, 2009-11 2010-11 Tour World Famous Glenn Miller Orchestra (Wil Salden)

Germany & Poland 2012 Tour Bulgaria 2012 (Léah Kline Quintet)

Jazz at the Sea – Lozenets ,Spirit of Bourgas; Jazz Festival Bansko ~recorded also for National TV.

2014 CD Release Keep on Jumpin’ ZooT vintage dance band, Jazz Festivals in NL. 2015 Summer CD release ~ originals ; Léah Kline – This Precious Life 2016 projected CD release with tenor saxophonist Scott Hamilton & pianist Francesca Tandoi.

Short List: Collaborations

Composing ,Lyric writing, Arranging Collaborations: Anne Chris, Dirk Balthaus, Cord Heineking, Dennis Kivit, Ed Boekee, Daan Herweg, (Caro Emerald ( song book copy), Ivan van Hetten,

Pianist- USA: John Rangel, Tamir Hendelman ( Jeff Hamilton trio) Europe :Rob van Kreeveld, Hans Vroomans, Dirk Balthaus, Christian Doepke, Ed Boekee, Christian Bleiming, Bart van lier, Leo Bouwmeester, Mike Del Ferro, Dirk van der Linden, Bass: Cord Heineking, Jasper Somsen, Edwin Corzilius, Guitarist: Wolfgang Martini, Jeen Rabs, Mateusz Pulawski Horn: Effraim Trujillo, Bert Boeren, Robert Veen, Bernard Berkhout, Ferdinand Povel, Kurt Weiss, Frits Kaatee, Candy and Hans Dulfer, Drums: Frits Landesbergen, Hans Beun, Anton Burger, Big Bands: Konrad Kosselleck Big Band, Dr. Bernard Swing Band, ZooT- vintage dance band, Glenn Miller Orchestras ( Holland and France), West Coast Big Band, Frits Bayens

Timeline