About David Leonhardt

 

 

David Leonhardt, pianist and band leader, is a highly skilled and versatile musician. His decades of professional experience have included T.V. and radio, concerts and festivals, night clubs and private parties. He has recorded over a twenty five CDs as leader and guest artist including two popular series Jazz For Dancers and Tap Music For Tap Dancers. He has appeared internationally throughout North and South America, Europe, the Middle and Far East. Both he and his ensemble are an in-demand commodity in the sophisticated party scene in New York, Philadelphia and through out the Mid-Atlantic region. 

 

            

Starting his professional career at fourteen, David played in a highly successful teen rock band playing dances, proms, and nightclubs. He went on to play keyboard for a year in a roadhouse bar country and western band in the heart of Dixie, then  on the road with an R and B rock band. David’s love of jazz and Big Band music won out and a decade of work as a freelance pianist in New York City put David Leonhardt in the hottest night spots and performance venues. From Broadway to The Today Show, from The Rainbow Room to The Algonquin, David could be found at the piano making a name for himself. He next established himself as an international performing artist when he toured for ten years giving concerts through out the U.S., Europe, Japan, China, and South America.  

At present Mr. Leonhardt is having a ball leading The David Leonhardt Party Band performing at weddings, private parties, corporate events and public concerts. Over a thousand parties as a band leader has honed David Leonhardt’s skills in dance music, song selection, tempos and just how to make a party fun and get everyone up on the floor!  

David Leonhardt is a nationally noted music educator and has been on the faculty at Lehigh University and Lafayette College. He is a published author with several music method books to his credit and a columnist for “Piano Today” magazine. He teaches clinics and master classes nationally and is on the roster of Pennsylvania Artist on Tour. 

Career Highlights

  Twenty year association with saxophonist David “Fathead” Newman including: arranging and playing on four CDs, international tours, jazz festivals, radio broadcasts and New York and international jazz clubs (1987 to present)

  Four year as musical director for jazz vocalist Jon Hendricks including: international tours,  jazz festivals, radio and TV broadcasts, New York and international jazz clubs (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  successful performances in theaters, Universities, Colleges, festivals, arts organizations through out the US, Canada and Europe.   

  Twelve years freelance experience in New York city as a jazz pianist. Performing in a  wide range of professional settings from Broadway to the Today Show, from jazz clubs to dance halls, from Bar Mitzvahs and weddings to cabaret clubs  and Lincoln Center, from jingles to jazz records.  (1980-1992)

  Twenty years experience performing with legendary Tap dancers and young upcoming tap stars as musical director for  both Manhattan Tap and The Shelley Oliver Tap Dancers including National and European tours, television and DVDs.  ( 1987 to present)   

 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 in concerts, schools,  and museums, from The Smithsonian to one room school houses in the hills of West Virginia.   

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

  First professional engagement at the age of 14 in a teenage rock band.  First road experience with a southern rock band touring Dixie age 16. (1970-1976).    David Leonhardt has always made his living as a professional musician since the age of fourteen!   

 

 The Early Years  

  David Leonhardt started piano lessons as an eight year old in a small town in Kentucky from the neighborhood teacher.  At fourteen his interest in music led him to forming a local rock and roll garage band and the start of his professional career.  Quickly becoming a popular local band they played gigs from rollerinks to high school dances to southern road house saloons. As a teenager his interest in jazz led him to the University of Louisville where he studied theory, piano, and string bass.  At sixteen a mentorship with noted jazz educator Jamey Aebersold started him on the road to a jazz life. With Mr. Aebersold he gave concerts, educational presentations to children, and studied at the feet of a master teacher. At seventeen David Leonhardt left home and began performing steadily in Louisville, Kentucky.  He played organ in a country western band, piano in a southern rock band, and string bass in a jazz trio. He played electric keyboard in a modern jazz quintet and toured the south. At twenty Mr. Leonhardt became the house pianist at local jazz club in Louisville where he sharpened his skills backing such diverse jazz talents as Buddy Defranco, Dave Liebman, and Buddy Tate.   

The New York Years

After moving to New York City in his twenties, Mr. Leonhardt played for two years in the heart of Greenwich Village at The Surf Maid, where the thriving music scene of the Eighties influenced him and established his reputation as a jazz pianist on the rise.  He soon after became recognized as an international performing artist, touring for four years as musical director for jazz legend Jon Hendricks. This opportunity to play at the top festivals, concert stages, and night clubs in the world with the best jazz musicians  seasoned Mr. Leonhardt and led to the start of his own recording career. Ten years as a member of the "Fathead" Newman Quintet furthered his reputation and made his name familiar on the New York jazz scene. During this period he freelanced with accompanied singers, played TV shows, did radio broadcasts, recorded jingles and jazz records, and began his career as a record producer.  He became a regular performer at the jazz clubs including The Village Vanguard, The Blue Note, Sweet Basil, Birdland, and The Village Gate.   

         Mr. Leonhardt became  a favored vocal accompanist in New York and backed up such luminaries as Diane Reeves, Annie Ross , Bobby McFarren, Michele Hendricks, and the vocalists from Manhattan Transfer.  He also became musical director for the tap dance group Manhattan Tap, a seminal dance troupe that helped spark the resurgence of interest in tap dancing. Mr. Leonhardt performed with the foremost names in tap and became a favorite with the old time legends of tap dancing.  He has written arrangements for The Art Blakey Big Band and was guest conductor and arranger for The Benny Carter Orchestra for a Japanese tour.

 An Artist On His Own  

After moving to Pennsylvania in 1933, David Leonhardt founded Big Bang Records and released his first CD "Departure" to great critical acclaim as well as his popular CD "Reflections."  He formed The David Leonhardt Jazz Group and began touring and giving concerts world wide. He has since produced twenty CDs as a leader and recorded a series of Tap Music for Tap Dancers CDs.  The David Leonhardt Jazz Group has made successful appearances at the International Arts Festival of Shenzen in China, the Winnipeg Jazz Festival, The French Maison de Dance in Lyon, as well festivals and concerts throughout the United States.  His all-star group has been heard at Lincoln Center, The Apollo Theater, The Blue Note, Birdland, and Sweet Basil.    

Mr. Leonhardt is on the roster of The Pennsylvania Arts On Tour for over ten years.  

Mr. Leonhardt has produced, arranged, and performed on numerous recordings  with jazz stars Stan Getz, Herbie Mann, Ron Carter, Slide Hampton, Jon Hendricks, Gary Bartz, Tom Harrel, Robin Eubanks, Ray Drummond, and Lewis Nash.