Leon De Vose II

Born, reared educated in Newark, NJ

My father, master percussionist Leon De Vose, Sr., began teaching me how to play congas when I was tall enough to reach the head. Daddy was the lead drummer for a local African dance ensemble, Whenever he played, I would listen for his distinctive playing style, absorbing his technique. I have yet to meet a drummer with better hands than he.

Saxophone came, almost by accident, at 13. The late Dr. William "Billy" Phipps was my teacher. I had wanted to play sax since I was 10. Because of asthma, playing sax only happened with the reluctant acquiescence of my now late Mom, Delores. I have never had a problem with asthma in any way connected to playing. This would be the last of two "arguments" I would "win" with Mommie.

Over the next few years, I would be blessed to include the late Jesse Morrison, Jesse Anderson and the late Howard "Duke" Anderson as teachers. I would also spend a year or so working with the Louines Louines African Dance group.

From 1981 to 2006 contemporary Christian-themed music would be my almost exclusive performance genre. However, a series of developments prompted a change in direction:

A series of demoralizing experiences with church and other Christian-themed ensembles.

A long-supported local Christian radio outlet changed their genre from one representative of the local demographics to one more representative of Iowa's demographics.

Around 2002, I started composing.

In 2007, at the insistence of my bride since 1981, Delretha, I bought the 1936 Conn 6M "Naked Lady" alto sax once owned by the late Swing era saxophonist T.O. Swangin, from his widow in the course of my real estate business. She charged me no more than half of what she could get for this fully playable classic She said she believed it would be what her husband would want, and that it would do me well. I cannot speak for the former, but so far her latter comment has proved prescient.

I drove away leaving both this and my soprano sax (a 2004 birthday gift from Delretha) on a curb after a rehearsal. They were returned within three days.

All of this led to a refocus on my first vocational love. I resumed my collegiate studies at Rutgers, composed over 100 works of various genres, predominantly Jazz, and was conferred the Bachelor of Arts in music on May 22, 2013. In September, 2013, I will begin graduate studies in the Rutgers Graduate School (Newark) Jazz History & Research M.A. Program, which should be complete in 2015.

Stay tuned!

Gear

ALTO SAX:1936 Conn 6M "Naked Lady" SOPRANO SAX: No Name Selmer knock-off CONGAS: Toca Player Red Quito & Conga BONGOS: DP red VARIOUS other bells, whistles (literally) and other instruments.