Jimmy Leslie

Jimmy Leslie is a renaissance man on the Bay Area music scene wearing

several musical hats with a signature style. Leslie is the acoustic

editor at Guitar Player and a freak freehand guitar stylist. He’s also a

soaring singer and a natural storyteller. Only one cat sings in a

soaring tenor with such grace and power while ripping acoustic-electric

in a percussive modern fingerstyle that makes heads spin.

Spirit Hustler is the moniker for Leslie’s original modern/classic rock

project. The debut vinyl LP evokes raves from the player community

including Ben Harper, Sonny Landreth, and Luther Dickinson who says:

“Wow, this is a masterpiece. Perfect, honest psychedelic vocals and the

lyrics to match. A real modern San Francisco album.”

Leslie’s solo records Surfin’ the Swamp and Dance Until Forever feature

players from Galactic and the Honey Island Swamp Band, respectively.

They combine the dreamy/funky charms of sister cities San Francisco and

New Orleans.

In his role as Guitar Player’s Frets Editor and GP Presents coordinator,

he’s worked with everyone from Carlos Santana to Jack White, Paco de

Lucia to Buddy Guy. Leslie also creates entertainment content for

Latitudes & Attitudes focused on the soundtrack to the cruising

lifestyle.

Leslie co-founded the Star City Music Festival and the Guitarfish Music

Festival, with the latter taking its title from Leslie’s eco-musical,

Guitarfish Adventures. Jimmy is a regular feature at the High Sierra

Music Festival with Guitarmageddon, and he is a primary player at

Burning Man’s premier music camp, Reverbia. Leslie regularly plays

during Jazz Fest in New Orleans, including a regular David Lindley

tribute with Papa Mali and Wally Ingram. He’s shared stages with Tab

Benoit and Cyril Neville. Leslie has toured internationally with Shana

Morrison including gigs at Ireland’s O2 opening for her father, Van

Morrison.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=waYjJfoT9XU

www.jimmyleslie.com