July 12 An Evening of Gershwin by The David Leonhardt Jazz Group Little Theatre at Centenary College Hackettstown NJ 8:00pm
July 19 David Leonhardt Jazz Group in Concert Wildflower Music Festival A perfect setting for jazz! The Wildflower Music Festival is a marvelous journey into the realm of music set against the majesty of natural beauty. Dorflinger-Suydam Wildlife Sanctuary, White Mills PA http://www.dorflinger.org/wildflower_music/index.htm
August 5 The David Leonhardt Trio Release of their new cd “Explorations”! A new eclectic collection of jazzed up arrangements showcase the improvisational abilities of Leonhardt’s trio in a creative journey set to songs by James Taylor, Eric Clapton, Elton John, George Harrison as well as Horace Silver, Jerome Kern and a handful of memorable originals by Leonhardt.
iTunes link to David Leonhardt CD Explorations http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?id=281870817&s=143441
August 11-15 “Shoredance”- Dance Intensive by Shelley Oliver Tap dancers and The David Leonhardt Jazz Group. A five day tap and jazz dance intensive by this group of tap professionals giving students a chance to perform with a world class jazz trio!
Algonquin Arts 60 Abe Voorhees Drive
Manasquan, NJ 08736 Call 732-528-9211 http://www.algonquinarts.com/
August 16 The David Leonhardt Jazz Group w/ Shelley Oliver Tap Dancers in concert. Four dancers Five Musicians. Algonquin ArtsTheatre 60 Abe Voorhees Drive
Manasquan, NJ 08736 Call 732-528-9211 http://www.algonquinarts.com/
August 22 The David Leonhardt Trio Deer Head Inn. Celebrating the release of their new cd “Explorations” This fantastic trio in a historic home for jazz in the Poconos for over 40 years. 7:00 PM $12 music charge. 5 Main Street Delaware Water Gap,PA 18327 570.424.2000 http://www.deerheadinn.com/
August 24 David Leonhardt Jazz Group in Concert Renfrew Park Waynesboro, Pa 2:00-4:00 with special guest artist saxophone legend Houston Person http://www.houstonperson.com/. Free outdoor concert! 1010 East Main Street Waynesboro, PA 17268 717-762-4723 http://www.renfrewinstitute.org/
August 26 The David Leonhardt Trio Westfield Jazz Festival. Playing songs from their new release “Explorations”. Westfield, NJ 7:00 pm
September 3 The David Leonhardt Trio Iridium Jazz Club New York City. Celebrating the release of their new cd “Explorations”
September 17-18 The David Leonhardt Trio “Jazz For Kids” The trio presents their popular children’s show for three days of in area schools. Kinston, NC.
September 18 The David Leonhardt Trio in concert. A performance in conjunction with the opening of the visual arts exhibit "Jam Session" Kinston Community Council for the Arts- Kinston, NC. Playing songs from their new release “Explorations” http://www.kinstoncca.com/
September 26 Jazz and Tap For Kids! Their popular children's show that entertains, educates and inspires!
Smyrna Opera House. Main and South Streets, Smyrna, DE 302-653-4236 http://www.smyrnaoperahouse.org/
September 26
The David Leonhardt Jazz Group w/ Shelley Oliver Tap Dancers in concert. Wilson College 1015 Philadelphia Ave Chambersburg, PA 17201
(717) 264-4141 http://www.wilson.edu/wilson/asp/home.asp
September 27 The David Leonhardt Jazz Group w/ Shelley Oliver Tap Dancers in concert. Smyrna Opera House. Main and South Streets, Smyrna, DE 302-653-4236 http://www.smyrnaoperahouse.org/
October 3 The David Leonhardt Jazz Group w/The Shelley Oliver Tap Dancers Warren County Concert Association Struthers Library Theater, 302 Third Avenue West, Warren pa. Call (607) 936-4647 http://www.wcda.com/Life_Arts.php
610-252-9892
90 Stage coach Drive
Easton, Pa 18042
Explorations (Big Bang) is the latest effort from the David Leonhardt Trio, with Leonhardt's piano work as remarkable as ever. Along with drummer Alvester Garnett and bassist Matthew Parrish, the album is trio jazz in its finest form, with "Whispers Of Contentment/Shouts Of Joys" being the perfect way to welcome the listener in as Leonhardt and Parrish both get to solo while Garnett remains the anchor throughout. Leonhardt's playing is so fluid that you want to listen to him for much longer than the CD provides, and Garnett has a groove about him that is undeniable, he knows how to do the fills and gets into every nook and cranny but without ever playing too much like Elvin Jones or an Art Blakey. Parrish warms up each song beautifully, whether it's straight up jazz or a blues number like "Late Night Blues", where you can imagine a woman coming into the room with nothing on but a smile.
Explorations explores not only Leonhardt's material, but a diverse range of material chosen to cover, such as Elton John's "Your Song", The Beatles' "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" (a nice performance, especially since the guitar is absent), Cream's "Sunshine Of Your Love", and James Taylor's "Fire And Rain", all done with respect to the originals. At times these musicians give the songs a fresh of fresh air, especially the AM-worn "Fire And Rain", proving that a good song is still a good song that just needs the cobwebs cleaned from its crevices. Leonhardt's own "Winter Waltz" would make Dave Brubeck smile as it has the kind of feel the jazz maestro is known for, with the brightness and feel that fans have come to know and love
What also makes it work is that the album was engineered by Parrish and produced by Leonhardt, so you're truly hearing a jazz album from the ground up, as meant to be heard by the musicians.
THE Run Off Groove
http://therunoffgroove.blogspot.com/search?q=leonhardt
David Leonhardt Trio - EXPLORATIONS: Simply superb piano from David, bassist Matthew Parrish and crisp/clear drums by Alvester Garnett on this gem of a CD. There are several originals, all packed with talent that shines from all 3 players, but in this case, the most notable tracks are David's arrangements of tunes like George Harrison's "While My Guitar Gently Weeps", & Clapton's "Sunshine Of Your Love"! He breathes new life into those tracks & elevates them back into their proper place... far above Muzak, & in the Universal realm... I can tell you without qualification that you've NEVER heard interpretations as spirited as these! The recording is excellent; you're able to hear every little nuance, especially on tunes like the opener, "Whispers of Contentment - Shouts of Joy ", definitely my favorite on the album; though in semi-ballad mode, power emanates between Leonhardt's phrasings here! A great jazz album with a new approach to standards that merits our MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! Get more information (& watch live performances) at p.s. Street date is 5 August, 2008, so get your order in early! Rotcod Zzaj
Dick Metcalf, aka Rotcod Zzaj
95-1107 Hookupu Street
Mililani, HI 96789
DAVID LEONHARDT TRIO/Explorations: Intentional or not? Forget that Leonhardt does a bunch of originals you don’t know and that the covers are from the 60s and 70s. Get past that and this sounds like a spiritual tribute to the original Ramsey Lewis Trio in their pre-”In Crowd” era. Deceptively sounding like cocktail jazz, this is cool, hip stuff that is sly, musical as well as lyrical, and zesty, snappy and tasty throughout. A great hurrah for classic era piano trio jazz. 9577 (Big Bang)
David Leonhardt: Yesterdays
David Leonhardt is an accomplished and lyrical pianist, and though he tackles some interesting choices on this album, he seems most comfortable and most vibrant on the tried and true standards. On this Jerome Kern classic, he and his able trio swing with an easy, dancing and playful swagger. Garnett lets loose with an explosion of cymbals and some penetrating rim shots adeptly placed. Parrish plucks in and around the time, and Leonhardt has a light airy touch that traverses the keyboard with a dance-like quality. His explorations are tasteful and driving, and his rhythm section responds accordingly as he builds to a climax. He ends in a crescendo of chords punctuated with a nice roll by Garnett at the end. A solid piece of straight-ahead piano trio work.
Metro Spirit Augusta Ga
Issue #19.47 :: 06/18/2008 - 06/24/2008
The David Leonhardt Trio
Famous tunes get the jazz treatment in "Explorations"
BY RICH MCCRACKEN II
The David Leonhardt Trio
"Explorations"
Big Bang Records
The David Leonhardt Trio's jazz interpretations of some of the famous tunes on their "Explorations" CD are exceptional.
David Leonhardt has 35 years experience as a professional musician. He has played with Stan Getz, The Benny Carter Orchestra and Kenny Washington, to name a few. Drummer Alvester Garnett has played with Wynton Marsalis, Clark Terry and Milt Hinton. Bassist Matthew Parrish has performed or recorded with Marsalis, Terry, Ravi Coltrane and others.
"Explorations" puts a new twist on classic songs. The song "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" is a rock classic by George Harrison. This interpretation by the David Leonhardt Trio follows the classic structure but adapts the tune for jazz.
"Sunshine of Your Love" is another classic rock tune. This one was written by Jack Bruce of Cream. This interpretation is one of the most unusual I have heard.
"Fire and Rain" by James Taylor has been redone into almost a progressive jazz arrangement. Overall, the David Leonhardt Trio has a great sound. "Explorations" is highly recommended for fans of jazz and progressive jazz music.
AlLMUSIC.com
CD Review: http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:djfqxztjldte
by Michael G. Nastos
David Leonhardt has always been a jazz pianist first, while enamored with the realm of contemporary popular songs. This duality is reflected in this set of standards, originals, and rearrangements of well known hit tunes. While one wonders if there is a real need to do numbers out of the repertoire of The Beatles, Elton John, Cream and James Taylor, Leonhardt and his trio do them with a modified flair and at times thoughtful repast. The extraordinary bassist Matthew Parrish and hot drummer Alvester Garnett help Leonhardt greatly in lifting all of these tracks to a higher interpretive level. The originals of the pianist are, to say the least, interesting. "Whispers Of Contentment - Shouts Of Joy" is a definitive spirit song, lovely in its Zen like invention. "The Dawn Over Morocco" sports impending heavy dramatic modality leading to a brighter day, the title track is a free bop true to its title, and "Winter Waltz" a quicker ice skating number reminiscent of a Vince Guaraldi Charlie Brown tune. "Late Night Blues" is pretty straight laced, and "Iberian Lament" organic, pretty and pensive. The trio does a splendid sprinting version of the Jerome Kern standard "Yesterdays" moving quickly from sideline to sideline, and a gorgeous, near perfect interpretation of Horace Silver's "Peace." Then there's the block chords and light Brazilian take of "While My Guitar Gently Weeps," a waltz to 4/4 saccharine "Your Song," hard bopping and scattershot but barely recognizable "Sunshine Of Your Love," and off melody phrases but otherwise true to form "Fire & Rain." As honest, balanced and flexible a musician as there is in jazz, Leonhardt and this truly excellent trio needs to be heard by a general populist mainstream audience, and likely stretch these tracks out in more intimate live performances.