Bradley Leighton Brings Fire and Flair on his Music For Life Tour

(Ojai, CA April 26, 2010) – “You may have never heard the flute played like this until you’ve heard Bradley Leighton,” wrote Susan Frances of JazzReview.com. “He turns the flute into whatever instrument he wants it to be.”

A remarkable performer, Bradley Leighton kicks off his summer “Music For Life” tour schedule with fire and flair by being one of the featured artists at the Carlyle Club for the Pacific Coast Jazz label’s All Stars Concert on June 11th. The event hosts a hot line up of musicians that include: Art Sherrod Jr, Ronny Smith, Al Williams III and a special guest appearance by Washington D.C. recording artists, Saltman Knowles. With all of these talented, swinging and funky musicians on one stage it is a guaranteed good time for all. Then on June 13th Leighton is the featured artist at the Takoma Park Jazz Festival along with five-time Downbeat Best New Artist winner, Jeremy Pelt and the D.C. All-Stars, led by Chuck Redd. For the first time this year, the Takoma Park Jazz Festival will present a free master class with Pelt, Leighton and Redd on their respective instruments.

As a Yamaha Performing Artist and flute coach, Bradley is known for his dedication to education in the arts and has developed his own workshop program, “Music For Life,” that inspires all ages to embrace the study of improvisation. Other stops along the way on the tour include the Museum of African American History in Detroit, Wilbert’s Music in Cleveland, the Omaha Summer Arts Festival in Omaha, the Coronado Library in California and the final stop on August 7th at the Gulf Coast Ethnic and Heritage Festival in Mobile, AL. For more information about the “Music For Life Tour” go to, http://www.BradleyLeighton.com or http://www.PacificCoastJazz.com.

“Music For Life Tour” performance schedule:

June 11 - 8:00 p.m. Pacific Coast Jazz All Stars Concert at The Carlyle Club, Alexandria, VA, http://www.thecarlyleclub.com
June 13 -1:00 p.m. The Takoma Park Jazz Festival, Takoma Park, MD, http://www.tpjazzfest.org/index.html
June 17 - 6:00 p.m. The Museum of African American History, Detroit, MI, http://www.maah-detroit.org/
June 18 - 10:00 p.m. Wilbert's Music, Cleveland, OH, http://www.wilbertsmusic.com/
June 20 -7:00 p.m. Vonn Jazz, Colombus, OH http://www.vonnjazz.com/
June 26 - 5:00 p.m. Omaha Summer Arts Festival, Omaha, NE, http://www.summerarts.org/2010prefestival/
July 16 - 7:00 p.m. Coronado Library, Coronado, CA, http://www.coronado.ca.us/
August 7 - 4:00 p.m. Gulf Coast Ethnic & Heritage Festival, Mobile, AL, http://www.gcehjazzfest.com/

About Bradley Leighton
Bradley Leighton has a unique and powerful sound bringing a fire and flair not usually heard nor expected from a flutist. Jim Santella of the LA Jazz Scene wrote, “he exhibits the musical virtuosity that has carried his career around the world.” His style of swing evolved from listening to the big, hi-octane bands of Kenton, Herman and Ferguson in the 60's-70's while his funkiness derives from years of listening to Tower of Power, Earth, Wind & Fire, the Brecker Brothers and countless other soul/R&B acts. With four highly respected recordings under the Pacific Coast Jazz label and numerous features on other artist’s CDs, Bradley has established himself as one of the worlds premier flute players.

His recording projects Just Doin’ Our Thang (2005,) Back To The Funk (2006) and his most recent CD, Soul Collective (2009,) were nominated “Best Jazz Album of the Year” by the San Diego Music Awards Academy and continue to receive national radio airplay and promotion. Bradley has performed across the US and internationally as both sideman and bandleader for over twenty-five years. Leighton has opened for the Greater Hartford Jazz Festival (featuring artists Joyce Cooling and Gerald Albright) and has headlined for the Gainesville Jazz Festival, Tacoma Wine and Jazz Festival, Rancho Mirage Art Affaire. He continuously performs at recognized clubs like Brooklyn Jazz Café in Dallas, Scat Jazz Lounge in Houston, Humphrey’s, Anthology and Dizzy’s in San Diego along with a multitude of clubs and festivals across the United States. This summer he’ll be performing at the Omaha Summer Arts Festival, the Takoma Park, MD Jazz Festival, Wilbert’s in Cleveland, the Museum of African American History in Detroit and The Carlyle Club in Virginia as part of his “Music For Life Tour.”

A Yamaha Performing Artist since January 2006, Leighton is dedicated to sharing his knowledge and enthusiasm of music as a clinician and educator. Besides teaching private lessons and being a flute coach at the Music Magnet School, Oak Park Elementary in San Diego, Bradley leads workshops and clinics for musicians of all skill levels, including, "Jazz Improvisation for the Classically Trained Flutist," and "Music For Life - Improvisation for the Adult Amateur Musician.” Bradley is a member of the Board of the San Diego Flute Guild and a participating member of the National Flute Association as well as the leader of the Rancho Penasquitos Flute Choir and the Penasquitos Jazz Flute Choir. He also devotes his time to performing for a number of philanthropic organizations in San Diego.

For more information: www.BradleyLeighton.com or www.PacificCoastJazz.com.

A Special Musical Tribute For Mother’s Day: From A Mother’s Heart CD

www.youtube.com/watch?v=LkIT19xTNrY

From A Mother’s Heart compilation CD has been called “a unique tribute to mothers” and “a thoughtful gift that offers more love and sentiment in eleven tracks than any greeting card.”

From A Mother’s Heart CD is rich with stories and musical imagery honoring each artist’s mother or their appreciation for mother earth through mostly original compositions. The CD includes a respected roster of musical artists like jazz icon Sheila Jordan, whose musical relationship with Charlie Parker inspired her to innovate jazz vocals and saxophonist Don Braden, who worked with jazz legendary greats such as Wynton Marsalis, Freddie Hubbard and Roy Haynes. Other artists that contributed to the project are guitarist John Stowell, vocalists Judi Silvano, Barbara Sfraga, Ellen Johnson, Ann Belmont. pianist/vocalist Mala Waldron (daughter of the late great Mal Waldron) and Peggy Duquesnel along with world music group Brasil Brazil, featuring Ana Gazzola and Sonia Santos.

The songs on this compilation are from the genres of jazz, world music, singer/songwriter, pop and there is even a guitar soundscape with poetry. From the joyous composition, "Ellie." to the intimate poem of ancient ancestors in dedication to the earth in "For My Chacoan Ancestors" the CD begins and ends with a deep understanding of the spirit of each mother's heart. Intimate ballads with tender lyrics as in "Song For My Mother", "With Every Kiss", and "You Know Me By Heart" intertwined with the humor of a mother's little girl in "Dat Dere" amidst the orchestrated and full arrangements of haunting messages in "Children's Playgrounds", Bougainvillea", “I Do Remember You” and the wordless "Song For Mother (She Is Made Of Love).” Each one has an individual message; some using lyrics while others capture the essence of their mothers through pure instrumental tones.

From A Mother’s Heart project encourages purchases through digital downloads to help promote a green environment and is available through iTunes, CDBaby and Amazon. There is a pdf download about the project that gives each artist's dedication to their mother and a printable CD cover to make a gift of the CD for your mother at: www.FromAMothersHeart.com. This is truly a one of a kind, special project to honor motherhood, women, family and mother earth,” spoke recording artist and producer Ellen Johnson, “we hope these songs will be joyfully shared with your mother or help heal the loss of your mother.”

For more information visit www.FromAMothersHeart.com or see the video on YouTube at: www.youtube.com/watch?v=LkIT19xTNrY.

All About Jazz Grand Opening Specialty Store

AllAboutJazz has partnered with Mosaic Records to launch a Jazz specialty store: shop.allaboutjazz.com.

While you have choices about where to purchase music, we do hope that you support sites that specialize in jazz. AAJ intends to earn your support at Shop.AllAboutJazz through their dedication and service to Jazz fans.

They have combed through the tens of thousands of jazz products and have picked the best available material focused on jazz. While they do have much on the site to choose from, they will be adding different labels, musicians and various products as the site evolves.

They intend to send regular updates on new product offerings, sales and other opportunities from their store, and will also highlight activities at the AllAboutJazz.com including download of the day, featured interviews and other Jazz related news.

We support and send them our congratulations!