 Bradley Leighton's musical interests have always been diverse. As a young man, he lovedbig band music, particularly Maynard Ferguson, Stan Kenton and Woody Herman. Yet he also found himself drawn to the R&B sounds of Tower of Power, Earth Wind and Fire, and, the Brecker Brothers.
Although his first fascination was the player piano, he soon started playing the flute, becoming very involved in school bands. After considerable listening, and practicing, Bradley's interest in Jazz and blues led him to hanging out at after-hours clubs in his native Seattle, where he first surprised, and pleased, such local legends as T McGee, Terry
Camon, Leri Carter, Billy Haddon, and Mel Washington.
Having mentors both assist and encourage Bradley, and a true love of performing, served as the catalysts for his decision to pursue a career in music. Immediately after high school, he seized an opportunity by enlisting and playing in the Army's 9th Infantry Division band at Ft. Lewis, Washington. When his talent quickly became obvious, he was appointed musical director of the jazz ensemble. A tour with the 8th Army band in Seoul, Korea soon followed.
Bradley remained in Seoul after his discharge several years later to teach, and perform in the country's only Jazz bar. But after realizing that the only place to really utilize his musical expertise was the land of his birth, Bradley returned to Seattle for more professional opportunities. By now, an accomplished musician and teacher, he spent the next
fifteen years playing in rhythm and blues bands, Hammond organ trios, funk dance bands and straight-ahead jazz groups. He also taught privately, working with encouraging young musicians, just as his Seattle mentors had done for him.
At the same time, he focused on developing his own sound on the flute. His approach was born in his big band roots, where the accomplished reedman took their saxophone experience to the flute. Inspired by such legends as Frank Wess and Sam Most, Bradley found that the alto flute was the best vehicle for his creativity.
During this period, he worked in bands that accompanied such legendary artists as Bobby McFerrin, Clark Terry, Dizzy Gillespie and Patti Kim in addition to jamming and playing with all the local musicians. He became Seattle's first call flutist, and developed a reputation as one of the leading players in the area.
In the last five years, he decided to start making his own recordings, and performing with his own group. In 2001, Bradley relocated to San Diego and in 2003, released his first solo CD, "Groove Yard," with "Just Doing Our Thang," the followup in 2005. "Thang" features his Yamaha alto flute in a unique setting, in collaboration with a Hammond B-3
organ trio. In 2006, "Back to the Funk" came out of yet another collaboration with Allan Phillips and takes people back to the 70's with a funky groove.
Regarding "Funk" LA Jazz Scene says "while Leighton's session carries only memories of a bygone era, it succeeds in reminding us that music remains the lifeblood of what inspires us every day." "Thang," AllThatJazz.com wrote "If you have a taste for cool sounds with an old school vibe, Leighton and his crew do justice to the music," while Improvisation Nation wrote that "the combination of subdued & laid-back B3 with Leighton's joyful expressions on his flute won't soon escape your ears, and will come back (days later) to recharge your mind."
In addition to recording and performing, Bradley Leighton has continued to share his knowledge and enthusiasm of music as a clinician and teacher. Besides private lessons, he leads workshops 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's music education theory is simple: "We need to make music fun again… Let's not get bogged down with the technique and theory - that's too much like calculus and physics to most students. Instead, we should be teaching the skills that our students will use to express their own musical ideas for the rest of their lives."
One participant, Gerry Presor, of Bradley's Rancho Penasquitos Flute Choir, believes that "Bradley's teaching method gently guided me from trepidation in the morning to triumph in the evening - backed by a live rhythm section.
What a blast! Having taken this first step I feel much more confident in expressing myself musically."
Bradley Leighton performs in various locations in San Diego County. He was the headline act at the Gainesville Jazz Festival in 2006 and opened for Joyce Cooling and Gerald Albright in this year's Greater Hartford Jazz Festival.
While on the road, he conducts clinics and masterclasses for schools and often brings with him his Duo (with Evan Marks (Fattburger) on guitar, Quartet (with Allan Phillips on keyboards and Cecil McBee, Jr. on bass) and larger bands, depending on the need and the event.
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