Bradley Leighton: "Music For Life Tour"

Bradley Leighton Adds More Performance Dates To The "Music For Life Tour"

"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 Friday, 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. Located at 411 John Carlyle Street, Alexandria, VA, the fun begins at 8:00 p.m. and reservations are available at: 703-548-8899 or www.thecarlyleclub.com.

On Sunday, June 13th at 1:00 p.m. Bradley 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. Located at Old Town Takoma Park, MD the festival is free and goes from 11:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. For more information contact: www.tpjazzfest.org.

Other stops along the way on the tour include the The Greenwich in Cincinnati, Wilbert's Music in Cleveland, Vonn Jazz in Columbus, Ames Summer Festival in Iowa, the Omaha Summer Arts Festival in Omaha, the Coronado Library in California, the Gulf Coast Ethnic and Heritage Festival in Mobile, AL and the final stop on September 25th at Smooth Jazz & High Desert in CA.
For more information about the "Music For Life Tour" go to, www.BradleyLeighton.com
www.PacificCoastJazz.com.
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"Music For Life Tour" Dates:

June 11 - 8:00 p.m. Pacific Coast Jazz All Stars Concert at The Carlyle Club, Alexandria, VA, www.thecarlyleclub.com

June 13 -1:00 p.m. The Takoma Park Jazz Festival, Takoma Park, MD, www.tpjazzfest.org/index.html

June 17 - 7:30 p.m. The Greenwich, Cincinnati, OH, www.the-greenwich.com

June 18 - 10:00 p.m. Wilbert's Music, Cleveland, OH, www.wilbertsmusic.com

June 20 - 7:00 p.m. Vonn Jazz, Columbus, OH, www.vonnjazz.com

June 25 - 12:00 a.m. Ames Summer Festival, Ames, IO,

June 26 - 5:00 p.m. Omaha Summer Arts Festival, Omaha, NE, www.summerarts.org/2010prefestival/

July 16 - 7:00 p.m. Coronado Library, Coronado, CA, www.coronado.ca.us

August 7 - 4:00 p.m. Gulf Coast Ethnic & Heritage Festival, Mobile, AL, www.gcehjazzfest.com

September 25 - 4:00 p.m. Smooth Jazz & High Desert, Adelanto, CA
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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.