*See Acknowledgements page

Liam Leahy
Leader, Flutist, Woodwinds, Percussions

For many years a world traveler, Liam's experiences span the globe from Cape Town, South Africa to Helsinki, Finland, from Edinburgh Scotland to Auckland, New Zealand and many Latin America cultures both in and outside the U.S.

When he heard instrument demonstrations for grade school band at age 9 the flute captured his lifelong interest.  A parent's 10th birthday gift of a Herbie Mann* album inspired a passion for jazz as well as "world music".  He led his first fusion band at 16 and, even then, creating new fans for Jazz.  His professional Jazz playing began as a college sophomore in Saint Louis.  That same year broke into late night radio as an announcer on the local FM station.

Flute Stylings

Liam plays R&B, Funk, Latin & Straight Ahead Jazz and even Blues styles with a wide variety of expressions on the flute that bring new dimensions to the instrument. During a session with a famous jazz/blues/fusion guitarist once commented "...if I knew the flute could sound like that I would have never quit [playing flute]."  He can draw on his studies of East Indian and Japanese music styles as well African and folkloric Cuban music to color his Jazz stylings. 

Current Passions

At present, Latin Jazz with its roots in Afro-Cuban and Brazilian music styles, Afro-Cuban classics,  and "World music" are the focus of Liam's personal projects.

"Latin and African traditions are rich and challenging forms of music with enormous rhythmic and melodic palettes rarely explored.  There is also something immensely compelling in these "primitive" rhythms that inspires audiences to participate in the experience and not simply be spectators.  With these we can bring new music to Jazz fans and new fans to Jazz"  Liam Leahy

Liam Leahy plays:

Custom made French model open hole C flute with an Oleg head joint, Armstrong Alto Flute, and Armstrong Tierce (Eb flute), custom Bass and Contrabass flutes as well as African and Latin percussion instruments. When available, he also plays Bass Flute.

Styles:

Jazz, Latin Jazz, Afro-Cuban, Afro-pop, Brazilian as well as Blues, Funk, Rhythm & Blues (R&B) and Jazz fusion.  Liam Leahy creates flute arrangements for other recording artists in western and eastern music styles (except classical). 

"Having spent a good deal of time traveling the world.  I am a big fan of World Music and Latin Jazz especially the influences of West African, Afro-Cuban music with a tip of the hat to Celtic traditions all of these are strongly represented in my playing and choices of music.  Nonetheless, I still love playing funk, Jazz Fusion, and am even well know as a Blues flute player in those circles."