The Leonhart Brass Band was conceived during the 2020 Covid-19 quarantine when trumpeter / composer / producer Michael Leonhart was unable to perform with his 18-piece orchestra at NYC's famous Jazz Standard. Leonhart began composing music for a raw small group brass band that would be capable of playing outdoors without amplification. Building on the foundation of the classic brass bands (Dirty Dozen Brass and Rebirth Brass Band), Leonhart has infused elements of hip-hop and funk to create his own sound. The Leonhart Brass Band features members of Antibalas, the Dap-Kings & Red Baraat.
"Snake Oil”: Driven by a cymbal bell heavy drum groove and a bass line in ascending 4ths, the horn melody harkens back to the serpentine lines of Cannonball Adderley's 1973 "Inside Straight" album and saxophonist Eddie Harris' classic "Freedom Jazz Dance". Leonhart takes the first solo on trumpet followed by Cochemea Gastelum on baritone saxophone.
"Shammgod”: A tribute to perhaps the greatest ball handler to ever play basketball, God Shammgod (a.k.a Shammgod Wells). His NBA playing career was short lived, playing for the Dallas Mavericks in the 1997-1998 season and later for the Chinese Basketball Association (Zhejiang Cyclones). He created the legendary crossover move "The Shammgod". Leonhart draws frequent creative inspiration from basketball. The tight staccato strut of the horn melody has the tempo and swagger of a pickup street ball game. Featuring Stuart Bogie on baritone saxophone.
