“Saxophonist Brad Leali was among the most soulful and exciting I’ve heard recently.†- New York Times - “Alto saxophonist Brad Leali has a bright amiable way of playing!†- New York Times - “His solos are sparkling and Cannonball Adderley influenced.†- Evening Standard (London, England). A native of Denver, Colorado, Brad began playing saxophone in junior high school. It was while listening to his father's recordings of jazz masters such as Miles Davis and Cannonball Adderley that he became intrigued with jazz. After receiving his Bachelor of Arts in music education from the University of North Texas, he was hired as the lead alto saxophonist for the Harry Connick Jr. Orchestra and was appointed musical director five months later. In 1995, Brad joined the Count Basie Orchestra under the leadership of Grover Mitchell as a featured alto saxophone soloist. In 1999, the Count Basie Orchestra won a Grammy award for their CD, "Count Plays Duke." On this recording, Brad was also nominated for a Grammy for his solo work on the classic Billy Strayhorn composition, "The Star-Crossed Lovers." He has performed nationally and internationally. A well-rounded musician, Mr. Leali has performed with such stellar musicians as Freddie Hubbard, Clark Terry, Joe Williams, Jimmy Cobb, Nancy Wilson, Frank Foster, Jon Hendricks, Roy Hargrove, The Mingus Big Band, Jack McDuff, George Duke, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Jimmy Smith, Robert Downey, Jr., Fantasia, Billy Joel, Kid Rock, Yolanda Adams, and Brian McKnight, among others. He departed from the Basie Band in the year 2000 to focus on his career as a soloist. Since then, he has had the opportunity to perform a wide range of music with many other great musicians. As one of the top jazz musicians in New York City, Brad is a staple in all of the legendary jazz venues, such as the Village Vanguard, Blue Note, Jazz Standard, Iridium, and Birdland. He has also enjoyed success as part of the Kennedy Center Honors program. Brad has appeared on televised events, including the Today show (Peter Cincotti), Jay Leno, Arsenio Hall, BET, several local news stations, and the Harry Connick Jr. Christmas Special, as well as several other programs. He has enjoyed the honor of performing at New York’s widely known Lincoln Center in the orchestra of the song stylist Nancy Wilson and the great jazz legend Benny Golson, and if that is not enough, Brad has also recorded his own 18-piece jazz orchestra. This CD, entitled “Maria Juanez", features Brad's compositional skills and has been highly praised by many critics. In 2005, Brad completed his studies at Rutgers University and received his Master’s degree in music. While continuing to travel across the globe with his own quartet, he now serves as head of the jazz program at Texas Tech University. ........ Mr. Leali’s philosophy on music is very simple and straight forward: "I want everyone to dig my music - not just the musicians. I want to bring soul into the music like Stanley Turrentine, Cannonball Adderley, Lee Morgan, David "Fathead" Newman, Freddie Hubbard, and Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis. I want people to feel my music in their soul."
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