Talk:Jacques Lesure

== Proposed Expanded Draft for Article Update

Hello Wikipedia editors,

I am Jacques Lesure, the subject of this article. I’m requesting an update to improve accuracy, reflect current roles, and provide better citation support. The following draft is written in a neutral tone with references noted for sourcing. Thank you in advance for reviewing.

Proposed Article Draft

Jacques Lesure (born December 19, 1962) is an American jazz guitarist, educator, and recording artist. Known for his melodic phrasing and deep sense of swing, Lesure has worked with a wide range of jazz and gospel musicians. He is based in Los Angeles, California.

== Early Life and Gospel Roots ==

Lesure was born in Detroit, Michigan. He began playing guitar at the age of ten in church, where he was immersed in gospel traditions. His early professional experiences included performing with The Clark Sisters and Commissioned. His passion for jazz developed in his teens, and he transitioned to jazz professionally in the early 1980s.

== Musical Influences ==

Lesure’s guitar style is influenced by jazz greats such as Wes Montgomery, Kenny Burrell, George Benson, and Grant Green.

== Jazz Career ==

Lesure has been a fixture in the Los Angeles jazz scene since the early 2000s. He regularly performs at venues such as the Lighthouse Café in Hermosa Beach and Lavender Blue Lounge in Inglewood. Over the years, he has shared the stage with Wynton Marsalis, Pharoah Sanders, Jimmy Smith, Stanley Turrentine, Gregory Porter, and George Benson.

He is featured as a guitarist in the Academy Award-winning film La La Land (2016).

== Recording Career ==

Lesure has released several albums on WJ3 Records, including:

- When She Smiles (2013)

- Camaraderie (2015) – received a 4-star review in DownBeat Magazine and reached the JazzWeek Top 50

- For the Love of You (2017)

- A Crenshaw Christmas (2020)

He is also a featured performer on the collaborative album L.A. Source Codes (2021).

== Teaching and Community Engagement ==

Lesure is a Lecturer in Jazz Guitar at the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music. He currently serves as Chairman of the Inglewood Arts Commission.

He is the founder of the nonprofit Kindred Rhythms, which promotes global cultural connection through music, wellness, and education. Lesure previously served as Musical Director for the Living Legends Foundation and as President of the African American Jazz Caucus.

Lesure also serves as an adjudicator and mentor in national music education programs.

== Honors and Memberships ==

- Honorary member, GH Jazz Collective (Ghana)

- Honorary member, Nairobi Jazz Orchestra (Kenya)

== Style and Reception ==

Lesure’s playing blends classic soul jazz with modern improvisational fluency. Critics have praised his work for its lyrical tone and strong roots in the jazz tradition.

== Discography ==

- When She Smiles (2013, WJ3 Records)

- Camaraderie (2015, WJ3 Records)

- For the Love of You (2017, WJ3 Records)

- A Crenshaw Christmas (2020, WJ3 Records)

== Film Appearance ==

- La La Land (2016) – featured guitarist

Citations and Sources

Suggested references to include:

- UCLA Profile: https://schoolofmusic.ucla.edu/people/jacques-lesure/

- Jazz Guitar Today Interview: https://jazzguitartoday.com/2021/09/exclusive-interview-jazz-guitarist-jacques-lesure/

- All About Jazz: https://www.allaboutjazz.com/musicians/jacques-lesure/

- Inglewood Arts Commission (cite JacquesLesure.com)

- Kindred Rhythms (Instagram or website)

- DownBeat Magazine review of “Camaraderie” (if PDF or link is available)

- Film Credit: La La Land (2016)

UCLA Faculty Profile:

<ref name="UCLA">{{cite web |title=Jacques Lesure |url=https://schoolofmusic.ucla.edu/people/jacques-lesure/ |website=UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music |access-date=2025-07-17}}</ref>

Jazz Guitar Today Interview:

<ref name="JazzGuitarToday">{{cite web |last=Mims |first=Brad |title=Exclusive Interview: Jazz Guitarist Jacques Lesure |url=https://jazzguitartoday.com/2021/09/exclusive-interview-jazz-guitarist-jacques-lesure/ |website=Jazz Guitar Today |date=September 14, 2021 |access-date=2025-07-17}}</ref>

All About Jazz Artist Profile:

<ref name="AAJ">{{cite web |title=Jacques Lesure |url=https://www.allaboutjazz.com/musicians/jacques-lesure |website=All About Jazz |access-date=2025-07-17}}</ref>

Inglewood Arts Commission Mention (via JacquesLesure.com):

<ref name="Inglewood">{{cite web |title=About Jacques Lesure |url=https://jacqueslesure.com/about |website=JacquesLesure.com |access-date=2025-07-17}}</ref>

Kindred Rhythms Instagram (Placeholder):

<ref name="KindredRhythms">{{cite web |title=Kindred Rhythms |url=https://www.instagram.com/the_guitarlosopher/ |website=Instagram |access-date=2025-07-17}}</ref>

La La Land Film Credit (IMDb):

<ref name="LaLaLand">{{cite web |title=La La Land (2016) - Full Cast & Crew |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3783958/fullcredits |website=IMDb |access-date=2025-07-17}}</ref> Jazzgitbox (talk) 02:22, 18 July 2025 (UTC)

Hi there @Jazzgitbox,

Please read Wikipedia:Autobiography. Aydoh8^{[what have I done now?]} 02:26, 18 July 2025 (UTC)

Thank you. I am just trying to add some new info. I appreciate your assistance. Jazzgitbox (talk) 03:01, 18 July 2025 (UTC)