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Follow on Google News | Jazz Musician Jennifer Leitham Releases New Album: MOOD(S)WINGSJennifer Leitham Featured in Vanity Fair’s “Trans America” Special Edition
By: Sinistral Records Leitham is featured in the 2015 Vanity Fair Special Edition “Trans America” (on newsstands through November 16th) as one of the top 20 pioneers in the transgender community. Leitham says, “It is an honor to be recognized by Vanity Fair as a pioneer in the transgender community, and I do my best to be a positive role model for others. But it is my music for which I’d like to be known. I live to perform, playing my bass, singing, composing and touching the audience’s heartstrings. I would be happiest touring the country in a bus playing one-nighters along the way.” As Vanity Fair points out, American author and music critic Will Friedwald (Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Village Voice) has extolled of Leitham, “She is one of the few practitioners of her instrument, of any gender, genre or generation, who can completely command my attention with what is, essentially, an entire set of bass solos.” The documentary about Leitham’s life story, “I Stand Corrected (https://www.youtube.com/ To succeed in the socially conservative and male-dominated jazz world, Jennifer (formerly “John”) kept her true internal identity a secret for much longer than she would have liked. It was finally in 2001 that she took the courageous step to introduce the world to her true self, and it created a firestorm in the industry. Leitham comments, “To this day, the jazz world still largely resists accepting me because of my transition. I’m a better musician now, yet, since 2001, getting myself or my trio booked at places where I had previously played regularly has been one of the biggest challenges.” She has been extremely open about her transition and the obstacles she has faced in her journey, however, after 15 years, she prides herself on being grounded and highly optimistic, even in the face of an industry that has largely turned its back on her. There will be an album release party for MOOD(S)WINGS on Wednesday, October 21st at the cutting edge Blue Whale Jazz Club in Little Tokyo, Los Angeles, where Leitham will perform with her trio, including Rich Eames on piano (filling in for Andy Langham who plays on the album) and Randy Drake on drums. The album features original compositions, arrangements and vocals by Leitham. As we come upon the holiday season, Leitham’s album Future Christmas (Sinistral Records, 2014) is a timely listen. In particular, she hopes to spread awareness for global warming with her title track, "Future Christmas (The Global Warming Winter Holiday Blues." About Jennifer Leitham Jennifer Leitham is an American musician and jazz bass virtuoso. Being left-handed, she has also used the nicknames "Lefty" or "The Southpaw." Her many roles include bassist, vocalist, composer, arranger, lyricist, producer and educator. An active live performer, Leitham has been bassist on more than 125 recordings, including ten of her own. She is known for long associations with Mel Tormé and Doc Severinsen. She has also appeared with Woody Herman, George Shearing, Gerry Mulligan, Peggy Lee, Joe Pass, Cleo Laine, Louis Bellson, Pete Rugolo, Bill Watrous, and been a member of The Tonight Show All-Stars, The Woody Herman Thundering Herd, the Benny Carter Quintet, and the Bob Cooper Quartet. The first record she made with Tormé, A Vintage Year (also with Shearing) won a Grammy Award for Tormé as “Best Male Jazz Vocalist.” Leitham’ Website: http://jenniferleitham.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ Twitter: @jenniferleitham You Tube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/ End
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