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| Leon Anderson's 'Live at Snug Harbor' is out April 4, 2025 via Outside In Music A recording, for many, acts as a timestamp of a moment or an imprint of the sound of a particular place. For career drummer and educator Leon Anderson, his debut recording Live at Snug Harbor is a patiently curated summary of twenty years of life and twenty years of a career in music. With influences spanning from the steadfast greats such as Wayne Shorter to the heroes of Anderson's generation, such as Roy Hargrove and Joshua Redman, and to Anderson's own peers and contemporaries, Live at Snug Harbor is a tribute to life, music, and the city of New Orleans over the past two decades. The album's title, while immediately descriptive, is an ode to one of the most important testing grounds in Anderson's career: New Orleans's premier jazz club, Snug Harbor. When Anderson began working in New Orleans, even though he had degrees in both percussion and music education, his acquisition of jazz was largely organic, through performing, listening, and working alongside his peers and heroes. When Anderson began to perform more frequently in New Orleans, it became his goal to perform at Snug Harbor, and this goal was realized under the vision of Ellis Marsalis and Victor Goines, both of whom hired Anderson to be their respective bands' house drummer. Marsalis's band held a regular Friday residency at Snug Harbor and soon enough, with various artists, Anderson found himself performing at Snug Harbor four to five times a week. This venue, then, represents not only the realization of Anderson's dreams as a young musician, but also stands as a testimony to Anderson's career. Now, twenty years later as Anderson recorded his debut record, it became a fitting full circle for the live album to capture the spirit of the moment in the very venue where everything once began. Musically, Anderson is a product of eclecticism and the culture around him. Anderson's university background has a strong emphasis in classical percussion and that stream of professional methodology, yet the music that has most often influenced him is that which is steeped in hard bop, groove, and blues, whether historic or contemporary. Drawing on drummer influences like Art Blakey, Elvin Jones, Philly Joe Jones, Kenny Clarke, and Brian Blade, among others, Anderson has created a unique sound that melds a heavy emphasis on groove with the pristine precision of the classical approach. Anderson's dedication to the craft and breadth of musical interest is illustrated by the variation found within the tracks on the album. The track "P.J.'s" started as a melody that simply came to mind after Anderson watched an animated television show that, while humorous, caused him to stop and reflect. The melody, and its accompanying harmony which was inspired by the mid-1960s Wayne Shorter era of the Jazz Messengers, reflects the show's more complex undertones. "Essence of the Soldier" was written in memory of Anderson's father, Leon Anderson, Sr., who was the drummer's first introduction to music. Anderson, Sr. served in the military as a Chief Warrant Officer and conductor of the 156th Army Band. Anderson describes his father as "a soldier in many capacities: for the Church, for our country, and for music education." The theme of family inspiring Anderson's music continues through the album on "Understanding" and "Lil' Froggy's Blues". The former was composed for Anderson's wife, and sonically narrates the challenges and victories of navigating a relationship. "Lil' Froggy's Blues" was written almost 25 years ago when Anderson's firstborn son was a toddler. The melody came to mind when Anderson watched his son learn stages of walking. Rather than crawling, his son would hop around, and the mirth and mannerisms of that venture inspired the sound of this piece. The personnel on Live at Snug Harbor are, in many ways, representative of Anderson's musical journey. Trumpeter John Michael Bradford is a born-and-raised New Orleans musician whose intimate knowledge and mastery of the styles and legacies of trumpet playing within New Orleans adds immense depth to the authenticity and genuineness of this record. Saxophonist Ricardo Pascal was originally one of Anderson's students at Florida State University. Pascal's career led him to work alongside many of the top names in the New Orleans scene, further enriching the sound heard on Live at Snug Harbor. Pianist Oscar Rossignoli, originally from Honduras, is profoundly well versed in jazz and classical performance and has made a name for himself in New Orleans circles as a result. Interestingly, Rossignoli and Anderson share a common link in that Rossignoli studied piano under the tutelage of Anderson's teacher from when he was in graduate school. Bassist Rodney Jordan has been playing music alongside Anderson for over 20 years. The two originally met at a performance in Atlanta, GA. "I knew immediately after playing with Jordan that he would be someone I'd love to have join our faculty at Florida State, " Anderson recounts. "So I convinced him to consider college teaching, and sure enough we were able to create a position for a full-time bass teacher." Anderson and Jordan share many of the same musical influences, often rooted in funk. This commonality, combined with longevity of performing together, allows them to achieve a level of musical collaboration and coordination that is almost mythic in nature. With Live at Snug Harbor, Anderson proves that a lifetime of music has paid its dues. Showcasing a depth of musical mastery and tasteful sensibility that is steeped in the culture and legacy of New Orleans and gilded with a deep-seated love for groove and the art of performance, Live at Snug Harbor is a celebration of a career that has come full circle. Live at Snug Harbor releases April 4, 2025 on Outside in Music. MORE ABOUT LEON ANDERSON: With an extensive background in classical music and jazz, Leon Anderson, Jr. is a well-known performer, clinician, composer, and educator. Anderson has held a position of Professor of Jazz Studies at Florida State University since 1998. An active performer, he honed his skills as a jazz drummer in the city of New Orleans with mentors Ellis Marsalis and Victor Goines. In addition to numerous concert dates, and recordings, he has toured and performed with the likes of Wycliffe Gordon, Marcus Roberts, Allan Harris, Tommy Flannigan, Art Farmer, Donald Brown, Nathen Page, Terence Blanchard, James Moody, Melvin Jones, Kevin Bales, Etienne Charles (and many others). Leon Anderson continues to perform as a professional drummer nationally and internationally at festivals, concert halls, and jazz venues. He is also a sought-after clinician and guest artist at schools and colleges. Additionally, he represents Sabian cymbals, Vic Firth sticks, and Remo drum heads. write your comments about the article :: © 2025 Jazz News :: home page |