Jazz Standard is thrilled to welcome back Michael Leonhart Orchestra featuring members of Antibalas, presenting the Afrobeat Suite. James Brown and Meryl Streep, Wu–Tang Clan and Bruno Mars – these are just a few of the boldfaced names with whom GRAMMY Award winner Michael Leonhart has collaborated as a trumpeter, composer, producer, and arranger. Leonhart played trumpet on “Uptown Funk,” the international smash hit by Bruno Mars & Mark Ronson that won the 2016 GRAMMY Award for Record Of The Year; he’s been a member of the Steely Dan touring group since 1996 and appeared on their 2000 release Two Against Nature, winner of the 2000 GRAMMY Award for Album Of The Year. But the project closest to his own heart is the genre–crossing Michael Leonhart Orchestra (MLO), a 15–piece modern big band that has been electrifying Jazz Standard audiences every month. The MLO performs Michael Leonhart’s original compositions alongside his imaginative arrangements of songs by (among others) Wu-Tang Clan, Fela Kuti, Duke Ellington, and Frank Zappa. His ensemble features players from such esteemed organizations as the Dap–Kings, the Mingus Big Band, and “The Tonight Show” band (The Roots).
Michael Leonhart – conductor, trumpet
JSWISS – rap vocals
Jordan McLean, Dave Guy, Carter Yasutake
Ian Hendrickson-Smith, Stuart Bogie – tenor saxophones, woodwinds
Jason Marshall – baritone saxophone
Frank Cohen – trombone
Jeff Nelson – bass trombone
Sara Schoenbeck – bassoon
Claudia Chopek, Ludovica Burtone – violin
Nathan Koci – accordion
Robbie Mangano, Luke O'Malley – guitar
Joe Martin – bass
Kevin Raczka – drums
Elizabeth Pupo-Walker, Giancarlo Luigi – percussion
