About J. Leitham
Jennifer Jane Leitham has been referred to by noted jazz critic Leonard Feather as the "left-handed virtuoso of the upright bass." In addition to her successful performance career, Jennifer has made over 70 recordings with some of the giants of jazz music. In addition, she has recorded 5 highly acclaimed CDs of her own.
In 1987, after recording the Grammy nominated A Vintage Year with George Shearing and Mel Tormé, Jennifer began her long association with Mel that continued right up to the time of Mel's unfortunate stroke in August of 1996. Some of the highlights of Jennifer's tenure with Mel included recording 10 CDs for Mel, playing nine performances at Carnegie Hall, nine performances at The Hollywood Bowl, numerous television appearances, and performing with almost every major symphony in North America.
In addition to Mel, Jennifer has worked with many distinguished artists including Woody Herman, Gerry Mulligan, Peggy Lee, Joe Pass, Cleo Laine, Louis Bellson, Pete Rugolo, Bill Watrous, and numerous others. She has also been a member of the Tonight Show All-Stars, The Woody Herman Thundering Herd, Benny Carter Quintet, Bob Cooper Quartet, and more. Jennifer currently tours with Doc Severinsen, performing with major symphony orchestras and his Big Band.
Jennifer has been invited to perform as a featured artist or group member at almost every major jazz festival in North America and many overseas. She is also enthusiastically received as a presenter at workshops and clinics around the country, including the International Society of Bassists convention this past year.
Jennifer's own highly regarded CD's include Leitham Up, The Southpaw, Lefty Leaps In, Live ! , and most recently, Two for the Road, a duo performance with guitar virtuoso Jimmy Bruno.
Words of high praise for Jennifer Jane Leitham and these recordings come from many of today's jazz critics and publications :
"prodigious technique and improvisatory prowess promptly erase any emotion except awe." [J. Robert Bragonier-52nd St. Jazz].
"As an improviser, Leitham has few peers." [Bill Kolhaase-LA Times]
"a unique level.......to effortlessly improvise with imagination, incredible skill and even a bit of humor." [Jim Ferguson, Jazz Times]
" swinging high-energy performances and remarkable technique....."
[John T. Bitter-musicHound Jazz]
A recent live review:
The Topeka Capital-Journal
Chuck Berg
October 2003 - Bassist Wows Topeka Jazz Workshop:
As she leaned over her double bass with a beatific smile, it was clear that Los Angeles-based bassist Jennifer Leitham was in seventh heaven thrumming a set of inspired variations atop Vince Guaraldi's indelible "Cast Your Fate to the Wind."
For those who have followed Leitham's career, it was good to see the prime-time player in such fine form and spirits. Indeed, with a recent and successful change in gender, the bassist formerly known as John Leitham has literally and figuratively found herself.
Acknowledging her new persona, the attractive Leitham, with a wink and a smile, paid tribute to her surgeon, the aptly named Dr. Altar, in a smoldering original, "The Altered Blues." Set against a slowly undulating beguine-like pulse, Leitham's ostinato throbbed with intensity.
Leitham's virtuosic technique and improvisatory elan "sang" throughout Sunday afternoon in the good company of Shelly Berg, one of the hottest pianists on the hyperactive L.A. scene, and Tommy Ruskin, the ebullient drummer from Kansas City.
Leitham's trio navigated a challenging program that rewarded listeners with genuine sounds of surprise. On Les McCann's "Beaux J. Booboo," for example, the trio's funky undertow gave rise to blues-drenched solos that sent the "congregation," assembled at the Downtown Ramada's Grand Ballroom, to ecstatic heights.
Berg's exuberant outing on the McCann classic was particularly impressive. Building his solo from spiraling mixes of darting right-hand lines, dramatically cascading rolls, and two-handed chordal thunder-claps, Berg literally was bouncing up and down as he hammered his musical points home.
Another highlight came in the form of Leitham's solo turn on the old Latin-tinged standard, "Besame Mucho." Reflecting her youthful study of classical guitar, Leitham's flamenco-like strums and dazzling runs were nothing short of amazing.
On top of that, there were passages where she played both melody and harmony, the latter achieved by the use of double-, triple-, and even quadruple-stops which allowed her to sound two, three and four notes simultaneously, a rare feat for a bassist.
For sheer pyrotechnics, one would be hard pressed to top Leitham's rousing version of Oscar Pettiford's "Tricotism," an acrobatic bebop line demanding the players' undivided attention. Here, Leitham and Berg strolled with boppish bravado in a celebration of the joys of positive swing.
At the end of the afternoon, the crowd stood to cheer its approval. It was a lovefest from start to finish, and a reminder of why Leitham has been regularly sought out by such accomplished artists as Mel Torme and George Shearing, and now, as the leader of her own gilt-edged trio.
Brava!
Jennifer's web address is:
http://www.jenniferleitham.com
Performing on her Hofner bass model 596V, Jennifer is an artist/clinician for Hofner String Instruments. Jennifer has said: "What makes the Hofner Beatle Bass different from other electric basses is its acoustic characteristics. It actually moves air similar to a string bass. It's a living, breathing musical instrument."
About her Hofner upright bass she comments, "It carries enough bottom to play in an orchestra yet it still punches out pizzicato solos like a great jazz instrument."
More information about Jimmy Bruno can be found at:
http://www.jimmybruno.com
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