Neil Leonard
Now available on Bandcamp, the CD Bahia Calling was recorded in a single day during Neil Leonard and Thiago Trad’s first musical encounter in Salvador de Bahia, Brazil. Without rehearsal, they embarked on an improvised dialogue, exploring how their musical backgrounds—rooted in the Global North and South—complemented one another as they ventured into the unknown. Recorded during Leonard’s seven-week residency at the Sacatar Institute, on the island of Itaparica, situated at the heart of one of the most culturally vibrant ports in the Americas. The CD features photography by Leonard and design by the great Chantal Zakari.
The CD is the culmination of a wonderful collaboration with Robin Rimbaud (aka Scanner), whose artistry I have admired for years. As The Wire Magazine generously wrote: “It hits the kind of open ended all-consuming groove to be found in The Necks, Tortoise or Miles Davis in modal mode: pulsating, circling jazz patterns, bass bubbling through ring modulation and envelope filters, sax and slide guitar.” The masterful interplay of the rhythm section comprising David Tronzo, Mike Rivard, and Dean Johnston is featured throughout. The Bandcamp edition also includes an exclusive duet with myself and the amazing Richard Devine.
The electroacoustic composition Sonance for the Precession was commissioned by Williams College Museum of Art (WCMA). The durational work explored ancient ideas connecting the precession, or movement, of the equinox with the harmonic series. Working closely with producer/engineer Joe Branciforte, Leonard remixed Sonance for the Precession specially for LP and stereo listening. The result is a stunning long form composition that brings the sense of contemplation, cosmic motion and intimate timbral nuance of the installation to your living room, headphones and/or car stereo.
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12" vinyl disk and download.
Neil Leonard - composition, alto saxophone, electronics, field recordings
The compositions were created during a Robert Rauschenberg Foundation Residency in Captiva, Florida in 2016 with field recordings from Cuba made in 2016 for the installation "Matanzas Sound Map" created for documenta 14. Released June, 2017.
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12" vinyl disk and download.
Live recording of concert by Amnon Wolman and Neil Leonard at Experimental Intermedia Foundation, NYC, December 2016.
Released September 9, 2017
Amnon Wolman: composition, live electronics.
Neil Leonard: saxophone
John Ashbery: A Man of Words, Fear of Death (used with permission.)
Mil Maneras (2014) - Mesmerizing grooves, ethereal electronic sounds and virtuoso guitar performances by Oren Fader..
For Kounellis (2014) - Meditative, evocative electronic music created for a performance on Mount Vesuvius, Naples featuring samples from Kounellis' sculptures, local voices and soprano saxophone.
Timaeus (2001) - "If anyone can 'in-soulmate' the computer in a manner which integrates it beautifully and subtly with the heart and soul of the human artist, that person is Neil Leonard, and this CD is the realization of this worthy goal." - George Russell
My CD, Marcel's Window (2011) on iTunes. The band is stellar and the compositions were written for premieres in the Paul Robeson Home and the Philadelphia Art Museum.
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Neil Leonard - woodwinds/compositions
Tom Lawton - piano (Dave Douglas, Don Byron)
Lee Smith - bass (Mongo Santamaria, Cedar Walton, Roberta Flack)
Craig McIver - drums (Max Roach M-Boom, Odean Pope