Veteran David Leonhardt releases "Bach to the Blues"

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You may know that David Leonhardt has 38 years of professional experience with many of the top names in jazz from Benny Carter to Stan Getz. You may not know: he played for twenty five years with David "Fathead" Newman recording and arranging 5 CDs ; spent four years as musical director for jazz vocalist Jon Hendricks touring the world; spent twelve years freelancing in New York City, Broadway to the Today Show, jazz clubs to dance halls, Bar Mitzvahs and weddings to cabaret clubs and Lincoln Center, jingles to jazz records; since the 80's has baked up a host legendary master tap dancers and is musical director for The Shelley Oliver Tap Dancers; has decades of experiences as a jazz educator in universities, colleges, clinics and workshops with ten years of presenting "Jazz For Kids" to literally tens of thousands of children; his first jazz experience was playing piano as a teenager with jazz educator Jamey Aebersold in concerts, clubs and schools in Louisville, KY; his first road experience with a southern rock band touring Dixie age 16; his first professional engagement at the age of 14 in a teenage rock band. As a leader David Leonhardt's 40 years of professional experience includes, recordings, T.V. and radio, concerts and festivals throughout North and South America, Europe, the Middle and Far East with some of the biggest names in jazz. He has over twenty CDs as a leader and is widely known as a creative improviser and educator.

Alvester Garnett is a rising star of the jazz drums. He has performed or recorded with Betty Carter, Abbey Lincoln, Cyrus Chestnut, Regina Carter, James Carter, Teddy Edwards, Stefon Harris, Roy Hargrove, Benny Golson, Al Grey, Wynton Marsalis, Lou Donaldson, Lonnie Smith, Jackie Terrason, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Kevin Mahogany, Clark Terry, Pharoh Sanders, Jimmy Witherspoon, Milt Hinton, Greg Osby and Ellis Marsalis.

Matthew Parrish is a leading young jazz bassist and has performed or recorded with Clark Terry, Regina Carter, Wynton Marsalis, Ravi Coltrane, Mickey Roker, Bobby Durham, Shirley Scott, Marion McPartland, Al Grey, Stefon Harris, and Greg Osby.

Bach To The Blues—Improvisations on Classical Themes
In a creative improvisational approach to classical themes The David Leonhardt Trio interprets the Great Composers like you've never heard them before. From Beethoven to Aaron Copeland, Bach to Chopin, and Shubert to Erik Satie this fantastic group of jazz improvisers takes the audience on a melodic and rhythmic exploration of these timeless musical themes. Critics and audiences alike are raving about "Bach To The Blues".

Improvisation historically had been part of the classical music tradition but has been lost in modern times. For years David Leonhardt has performed improvisations on classical music as part of his concerts. This CD is a culmination of that experimentation and study with the trio. True to the spirit of great improvisers like Bach and Chopin this recording uses a jazz attitude to explores musical landscapes only suggested by the original compositions.

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