Live performers at the Conrad hotel’s swanky Diplomat Bar have just gotta find it a challenge. A massive circular bar divides the two-story-high space in half and blocks a clear view of the stage for many of the patrons. Audiences are an incongruous “bar-at-the-end-of the-universe” hodgepodge of music-lovers keen to listen, oh-so hi-so locals chatting at the top of their lungs and out-of-town businessmen more focused on the omnipresent array of beautiful women perched at the far end of the bar than they are on the music. (Did someone just request Love for Sale by Cole Porter AGAIN?) Enter singer, songwriter Arlee Leonard, a unique talent with a four-octave range, and a soulful presence that somehow brings a harmonious balance to the room—easily filling every corner without overpowering the center. Listening to her voice, it becomes clear that she could blow the roof off the place if she wanted to—but only at the right moments.

What can people expect when they come to see Arlee?
A nice mélange of jazz styles. I always like to mix it up. I sing straight ahead standards, more modern jazz, Brazilian classics, blues and ballads. I’ll put in some pop classics and jazz them up a little bit. I’ll do some original stuff—just all stuff that I love.

Where would you like to see your career ten years from now?
Ideally in 10 years I would be a recognized recording artist performing around the world with my own group. I would be a published author. I would be a Grammy winning singer, why not? (laughs). Maybe I would even be in love and settle down with a great partner in the middle of all of that! With home, thank you very much—a real home!

Your parents are performers and well-known on the New Orleans blues scene. Have you been able to get involved with the Hurricane Katrina relief efforts?
My parents started their own hurricane relief tour raising money for three organizations that help New Orleans musicians: the Tipitina’s Foundation, The Preservation Hall Foundation and the New Orleans Musicians’ Clinic. A percentage of the sales from my CD, Wild Honey, went for hurricane relief.

What do you see for the future of New Orleans? How do you see things panning out there?
Keeping the soul of New Orleans is important to me. I have a project that I am working on called The Soul of New Orleans. It is so intense for me, I don’t know if it will be a CD or a stage show. But I know I want to do my part to shine a light on, or bring the focus back to New Orleans.