BIO

David Leonhardt’s passion is to bring  the jazz and creative music  experience to as many people in the world as he can in a way that allows them to be transported to a higher plain of thought and emotion.

David Leonhardt is a veteran jazz pianist and composer with over 50 years of professional experience and 25 CDs under his own names well as countless others as a sideman.   He has appeared internationally throughout North and South America, Europe, the Middle and Far East with some of the biggest names in jazz. The  Los Angeles Times says  "David Leonhardt is an intense and swinging artist alert to every mood."  While Jazz Times says “Leonhardt’s deft and airy piano touch, always romantic and brightly swinging”   

He has performed or recorded with Jon Hendricks, David "Fathead" Newman, Buddy Defranco, Dave Liebman, Buddy Tate, Diane Reeves, Bobby McFerrin, Stan Getz, Slide Hampton, Eddie Henderson, Robin Eubanks, Ray Drummond, Lewis Nash, Hank Crawford, Claudio Roditi, The Benny Carter Orchestra, Jimmy Cobb, Lou Donaldson, Ron Carter, Herbie Mann, Wynard Harper, Jamey Aebersold, Phil Woods, Tom Harrell, Gary Bartz, Mickey Roker, Bobby Durham, Kenny Washington

David Leonhardt bio –Career Highlights  

  Twenty year with saxophonist David “Fathead” Newman: arranging and playing on four CDs, international tours. 1988-2008 

  Four year as musical director for jazz vocalist Jon Hendricks: international tours,  jazz festivals, radio and TV broadcasts. 1983-1987 

  President and founder of Big Bang Records with 25 CDs as a leader.  1993 to present. 

  Fifteen years leading The David Leonhardt Jazz Group a concert ensemble with hundreds of  performances: theaters, Universities, Colleges, festivals, arts organizations US, Canada and Europe. 1993-2008 

  Twelve years freelance experience in New York City. Broadway to the Today Show,  jazz clubs to dance halls,  Bar Mitzvahs and weddings to cabaret clubs  and Lincoln Center,  jingles to jazz records. 1980-1992 

  Twenty years  performing with legendary Tap Dancers. Musical director for Manhattan Tap and The Shelley Oliver Tap Dancers including National and European tours, television and DVDs.   1987 to  2008 

  Decades of experiences as a jazz educator in universities, colleges, clinics and  workshops.  Ten years of presenting “Jazz For Kids” an interactive children’s program. 

  First jazz experience playing piano as a teenager with jazz educator Jamey Aebersold in concerts, clubs and school presentations in Louisville, KY. 1974-1980 

 

Venues David and his band have played

David Leonhardt and his and have played successfully at:

Smithsonian American Art Museum, Longwood Gardens, The James A. Michener Art Museum, 171 Cedar Arts Center, Palace Theatre- Arts Enter Cape Charles, Algonquin Arts, Muhlenberg College, Bristol Valley Theater, Strong Museum, Westfield Jazz Festival, Adams County Arts Council, Weinberg Center for the Arts, Cape May Jazz Festival, Rose Lehrman Arts Center, Southern Tier Celebrates, Morris Museum Bickford Theater, Clay Center for the Arts And Sciences, Glenville State College, Smoot Theatre, West Virginia Wesleyan College, Highland Arts Unlimited, Beckley Concert Association, Montgomery County Community College, College Misericordia, Berlin Jazz Festival, Sunnyside Jazz festival, Caroline Public Library, Deer Head Inn, New York Natural History Museum, St. Peters Luthern Church, Randolph County Community Arts Center,  Dance Place, Geneva Concert Association, Genesee Community College, Greater Hazelton Concert Series, Lower Makefield Society For The Performing Arts, Pennsylvania Academy OF Music, Prince Theatre, Pennsylvania Consort Society, Aesthetic Education Institute, Tug Valley Arts Council, Fredericksburg Festival Of The Arts, Bloomington University, Reston Center Stage, East Stroudsburg University, Sussex County Community College, Albany Riverfront Festival, Frostburg State University, Poccahontas County Opera House, Black Rock Center For The Arts, West Virginia State University Capitol Center, Cumberland County College, Fredonia Opera House, Messiah College, Iridium Jazz Club, Central Pennsylvania Festival Of The Arts, Trinidad Jazz Festival, Wilson College, Smyrna Opera House, Butler County Community College, Bucks County Community College, Lynn Roberts Symphony Hall Allentown, Appel Farm Arts and Music Center, Cecil Community College, Eichelberger Performing Arts Center, YMCA of Easton, A Place For Jazz, Cecil Community College, Snow Shoe Mountain Resort, The Warf Rat at Camden Yards, Jazz Factory Louisville,  Moravian College, New Bern Jazz and Blues Festival, Cincinnati Taps Inc. Fairfield Community Arts Center, Mason District Park Ampehitheater, Royal Lake Park, Musikfest, St Louis Tap Festival,  Reitz Theater, Chamber music series of Greater Johnstown, JCC Metro West,  Little Theater at Centenary College, Carson Middle School, Gateway High School, Palace Theatre, Warren County Concert Association, Wild Flower Music Festival, Lehigh University, Cooperstown Concert Series, JazzMobile, Renfrew Institute, Kinston Community Council For The Arts, Bucknell University Weis Center, Garrett Lakes Arts Festival, Waverly Community House, Bordentown Concert Association, Allentown Symphony Hall, Flushing Town Hall Queens New York, Cultural Arts Center at Glen Allen, Bucks County Performing Arts Center, ArtsLink, Inc., Montgomery County Cultural Center, Cumberland Valley School of Music, Raymond Walters College University Of Cincinnati, Tioga County Council On The Arts, The Merrick-Bellmore Community Concert Association, University at Buffalo UB on the Green Outdoor Performance Series

Bio