Les DeMerle, Neighbor

Les DeMerle & Bonnie Eisele - Bio

On A Roll….

Onstage, Eisele and DeMerle are a hot combination. Her powerful voice and natural feel for rhythm

come across in an explosive stage performance. His energy is absolutely contagious.

--Florida Times-Union

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Les DeMerle, world-renowned drummer, clinician, bandleader, Founder and Artistic Director of The

Amelia Island Jazz Festival toured and recorded with the Harry James Big Band from 1970 to 1982.

One of those recordings, The King James Version, won a Grammy Award. Les toured for three years

and recorded with Wayne Newton, also toured and recorded with the Manhattan Transfer, and has

appeared with many other musical greats including David Sanborn, Lou Rawls, Sammy Davis, Jr.,

Frank Sinatra, Mel Tormé and Joe Williams. In addition, Les and Bonnie have shared the stage with

numerous stars including Diana Krall, George Benson, Al Jarreau, Tito Puente, The Neville Brothers,

Grover Washington, Jr., Ramsey Lewis, Houston Person, Bria Skonberg, Nestor Torres, Roseanna

Vitro, Jamil Sharif and Delfeayo Marsalis.

Lovely and talented vocalist extraordinaire Bonnie Eisele’s diverse performing experience includes

theatrical tours in the U.S. and Europe with the Chicago Free Street Theater, studio recording on TV

and radio commercials; musical shows at the Chicago Playboy Club, Chicagofest, Drury Lane Theater,

and Miami’s Fountainebleau; many jazz clubs, festivals and cruises with the Les DeMerle Band and a

Rotary Foundation graduate fellowship studying music and dance in Brazil. In addition to singing

many styles including Latin, swing, standards, and jazz, Bonnie speaks and sings fluently in

Portuguese - the language of Brazil, French and Spanish in her international repertoire.

Les DeMerle and Bonnie Eisele, a high-energy act with electric visual impact and dynamic

arrangements is exciting audiences everywhere. They powerfully perform many styles of jazz ranging

from swing and standard ballads, Blues, Latin (including Brazilian), rhythm & blues, Cajun grooves,

Broadway Show favorites and more. Depending on venue and the concept, the pair can perform in

various sizes ranging from a trio to a full seventeen-piece big band as evidenced on their recorded

projects available on CD: Jazz Party, Havin’ A Ball (Music Unlimited Productions), You’re The Bop! A

Jazz Tribute To Cole Porter (Summit Records), Hittin’ The Blue Notes, Volumes One and Two, The

Jazz Spirit Of Christmas, Cookin’ At The Corner, Volumes One and Two, Gypsy Rendezvous, Volumes

One and Two, Feelin’ Good, Comin’ Home Baby and their newest release, Hot Night In Venice (Origin

Records).

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“Les DeMerle is the best all-around drummer I’ve ever had, and that’s saying a lot when you

remember that Buddy Rich and Louis Bellson manned that post before him.”

--Harry James, World famous trumpeter and bandleader

“Extraordinary’ best defines the talents of Bonnie Eisele who just illuminates… with her powerful

voice…in some ways reminiscent of Keely Smith with a faint touch of Billie Holiday.”

--EJazzNews.com

Les DeMerle and Bonnie Eisele excite. They are truly a class act!

--Wayne Newton, Las Vegas Superstar