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Alan Leatherman
As Alan started performing around his native city of Houston as a high school student, his talent couldn't be ignored winning accolades and awards in local clubs, festivals, and talent shows. He was recognized on the collegiate level as well, as he was pursued by some of the best music institutions in the country after becoming a NFAA Awardee (National Foundation for Advancement in Arts).
Alan studied at Juilliard and then at New York University as a Master candidate in Vocal Performance. It was short time after this period that he met Rick Germanson, a NYC pianist who has built a solid career as a leader and side man to many of the industries' elites. Rick quickly became Alan's primary accompanist and collaborator, each bringing their own unique musical influences to create a sound that interjects soul, funk, and blues to a solid center of jazz.
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Alan Leatherman: Detour Ahead
by Doug Collette
Two tracks into Alan Leatherman's Detour Ahead and the phrase sweet soul music" comes to mind. But this isn't the rarified realm of Sam Cooke or Otis Redding with ballads. Rather, Leatherman resides--and comfortably so--in the role of classic torch singer Careful phrasing, perfect breath control and deep emotion earmark the title song, Blame it on My Youth" and Detour Ahead's nine other cuts. Recorded with a trio featuring pianist Rick Germanson, bassist Gerald Cannon and drummer Steve ...
read more"Two tracks into Alan Leatherman's Detour Ahead and the phrase "sweet soul music" comes to mind. But this isn't the rarified realm of Sam Cooke or Otis Redding with ballads. Rather, Leatherman resides—and comfortably so—in the role of classic torch singer" - Doug Collette, All About Jazz
"Mostly though, his pure, clean, honest, organic, elegant vocals are in service to the song. He doesn’t stretch out the syllables like those obnoxious cartoon-character singers on American Idol. His voice is totally devoid of melisma. In other words, he doesn’t make the word “love,” for instance, into five syllables. He sings it sweet, unadorned, declarative, deceptively simplistic. He makes these timeless lyrics mean something again." - Mike Greenblatt, The Aquarian
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Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson