Music Style Jazz Fusion

Musical Influences Frank Rosolino, Carl Fontana, Dave Weckl, Michael Brecker, Mike Stern, Miles Davis

Similar Artists JJ Johnson, Carl Fontana, Frank Rosolino

Artist History Eric Leonard is a freelance trombonist/composer/arranger in the Oklahoma City area with over 12 years experience performing jazz, big band and symphonic styles. Currently, Eric serves as adjunct faculty member at both the University of Central Oklahoma (since 1997) and Oklahoma Christian University (since 1998) teaching both symphonic repertoire and jazz improvisation. Growing up in Oklahoma City, Eric attended the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond graduating with a Bachelor of Music Performance in December of 1993. He studied jazz improvisation with trombonist Paul Brewer, trumpeter Lee Rucker and symphonic/legit trombone with Dr. Kent Kidwell. Already a member of Lee Ruckers 2nd UCO Jazz Band while still in High School, Eric went on to play in the 1st UCO Jazz Band directed by Dr. Kent Kidwell from 1989-1993. Most notably, Eric served as trombonist with The Lawrence Welk Orchestra on The Lawrence Welk Show in Branson, Missouri for 3 years from 1994 through 1996 and can be seen on 3 nationally televised shows currently airing on PBS. In addition to the Lawrence Welk Orchestra and stars, Eric has performed on trombone with the Oklahoma City Philharmonic Orchestra, The Manhatten Transfer, The Temptations, Lesley Gore and various other road show acts.Eric became a trombone player after listening to Steve Weist play with Maynard Ferguson in 1983. Early influences of Frank Rosolino and Miles Davis in the mid 1980s led Eric to discover many other artists like Mike Stern and Dave Weckl that heavily influenced new ideas for original compositions (while on the Lawrence Welk Show!). Equally at home in the studio, Eric’s debut album entitled In Some Other World was released in 1995 and was a collaborative effort with long-time friend Brian Gorrell on saxophone and keyboards. Eric has just completed and will be releasing his 2nd CD and first solo project in April 2002. Entitled Breakin the Rules, this CD features 10 all original jazz fusion compositions by Eric Leonard. He hopes this recording will be one more brick in the wall to propel the trombone into a genre of music that today has been clearly dominated by the saxophone.

Group Members Eric Leonard, Trombone-- Mike Turner, Keyboards-- Steve Pruitt, Drums-- Mike Myers, Bass-- Lee Rucker, Trumpet-- Mitch Bell, Guitar

Instruments Trombone

Albums Breakin' the Rules, In Some Other World

Location Oklahoma City, OK - USA

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