Leslie Vincent and Tommy Ward Dazzle at Crooners Supper Club with a Night of Timeless American Classics.

July 19th, 2024—Crooners Supper Club, Minneapolis, MN
Brant Miller

Minneapolis, MN — On July 19, Leslie Vincent and Tommy Ward graced the main stage at the famed Crooners Supper Club, bringing an aura of timeless elegance and undeniable charisma. The duo delivered a spellbinding performance, transporting the audience to the golden age of jazz. Vincent’s soulful voice was like velvet, enveloping the room in warmth, while Ward’s charming, Sinatra-esque stage presence captivated the audience.

The show was completely sold out, with many trying to purchase extra seats at the door, highlighting the clear interest from the community in these relatively burgeoning artists. This performance was a follow-up to their successful Christmas show, “A Vintage Vegas Christmas,” at The Southern Theater in downtown Minneapolis last December.

The just-over-90-minute show was a masterful blend of swing and samba, paying homage to legendary American composers like Cole Porter, Johnny Mercer, and Duke Ellington. With a powerhouse band behind them, including standout solos from Tommy Barbarella on piano and Chandler Judkins (the evening’s musical director) on trumpet, the music was vibrant and rich. The chemistry between Vincent and Ward was electric, their playful banter and seamless duets engaging the audience from start to finish.

Vincent left a lasting impression with three stunning costume changes — a simple blue dress, a powerful white dress, and a blue sequin dress that caught the light with every move. At one point, Ward playfully quipped, “I should start doing some costume changes, but I should just come out in a different black suit with a slight variation.” True to his word, he later emerged, announcing with a grin, “I don’t know if you can tell, but this is a different black suit.”

Highlights of the evening included Vincent’s unique and captivating arrangement of Duke Ellington’s “Take the ‘A’ Train” and the duo’s spirited rendition of “That Old Black Magic” by Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer. The night was a testament to the enduring power of jazz, leaving the audience in a euphoric state, buzzing with the magic of the music.