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Alex Leonard

All Music Guide calls Alex Leonard, “an important mainstay of the Big Apple” and Show Business writes, “superb piano playing… a class act”.

Featured in venues from Manhattan to Las Vegas, Europe and Japan, Alex has performed on stages such as Lincoln Center’s Rose Hall, The Bruno Walter Auditorium, Joe’s Pub, Below 54, The Cutting Room and as 'artist in residence' at The Metropolitan Room in NYC.

A two time MAC Award nominee, Alex has performed in the Cabaret Series at the National Arts Club hosted by Donald Smith. His recordings have received national airplay and reviews from publications such as Jazz Now, Cabaret Scenes, Cadence and All About Jazz. He has been a featured guest on many programs including Bloomberg Radio’s The Business of Show Business.

Awards

Two time MAC award nominee


Tags

284
Album Review

Alex Leonard: Merry Cool Christmas

Read "Merry Cool Christmas" reviewed by C. Michael Bailey


...A wonderfully weird Christmas Confection.

Merry Cool Christmas is the most intriguing release of the 2002 holiday season. It encompasses a broad horizon of musical styles and moods. “Silent Night" (a daring choice to begin a disc) as a quiet piano trio ballad, showing off pianist and leader Alex Leonard’s soft and thoughtful touch. As a microcosm of the rest of the record “Silent Night" illustrates a trio empathy reminiscent of Bill Evan’s famous 1961 trio recordings. This empathy permeates ...

212
Album Review

Alex Leonard: Down in the Depths: Interpretations of Cole Porter

Read "Down in the Depths: Interpretations of Cole Porter" reviewed by Dave Nathan


One might well ask “why another tribute album to Cole Porter?". The fact that there is room for so many such recorded accolades is an perpetual acknowledgment of the genius of composers like Porter. Their music is such that it can be susceptible to, and survive, any number of interpretations by any number of interpreters. Joined by some of New York's finest studio and session musicians, now comes Staten Island, NY native and cabaret entertainer Alex Leonard with his nod ...

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"...Leonard is an important mainstay of the Big Apple, as his 2001 debut release Down in the Depths can attest to." - Bradley Torreano, All Music Guide

"... a class act. If you love jazz and Cole Porter, this CD will start your year off right." "...superb piano playing". "Alex Leonard and a group of terrific musicians have some serious jazz chops..." - David Hurst, Show Business

"The kind of smooth, urbane voice that fits Porter to a tee... Leonard is a swinging, sexy pianist..." - Jerome Wilson, Cadence Magazine

"His piano playing is top draw, betraying thoughts of Bill Evans, Erroll Garner, and Hank Jones." - Dave Nathan, All About Jazz

Primary Instrument

Piano

Credentials/Background

BFA, MA (MALS Award for Outstanding Scholarly Achievement) Piano and voice

Clinic/Workshop Information

Participated in clinics with Joe Morello, Jim Chapin and Danny Gottlieb in tri-state area studios and schools.

Music

Videos

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