Steely Dan…Bruno Mars…Meryl Streep…Ringo Starr…Karrin Allyson…These are just a few of the art­ists who’ve sought out Michael Leonhart for his exceptional skills as a composer, arranger, producer, and instrumentalist. But the project closest to his heart is the Michael Leonhart Orchestra, whose spectacular debut album The Painted Lady Suite (Sunnyside, 2018) captured the power and beauty of this 21–piece band. The MLO includes members of the Village Vanguard Orchestra, the Maria Schneider Orchestra, the Dap–Kings, Menahan Street Band, and Antibalas. “A testament to his glorious, unbridled ambi­tion…Leonhart eschews easily digestible melodies in service of something quite complex and mysterious; this is music befitting its intriguing inspiration.” (Bobby Reed, review of The Painted Lady Suite – DownBeat, August 2018) For this much–anticipated evening, the MLO will be joined by special guest Chris Potter, an ECM recording artist and “one of jazz’s most powerful reeds players.” (John Fordham, The Guardian, 5.4.2017) Michael Leonhart – conductor Chris Potter – guest saxophonist Kevin Raczka – drums Joe Martin – bass Elizabeth Pupo Walker – percussion Robbie Mangano, Al Street – guitar Nathan Koci – accordion Philip Dizack, Dave Guy, Carter Yasutake, Jordan McClean – trumpet Ray Mason – trombone John Ellis, Ian Hendrickson-Smith – tenor saxophone Jason Marshall – baritone saxophone Sara Schoenbeck – bassoon Pauline Kim – violin Erik Friedlander – cello