Brad Leali to lead DePauw Jazz Festival Saturday, March 11

Following performance clinics with the Alexandria Monroe and Owen Valley high schools’ jazz bands, Brad Leali (sax soloist with the Lyle Lovett Orchestra) will take the stage for a closing concert with the DePauw Jazz Ensemble on Saturday, March 11.

The performance, directed by Steven Snyder, will be given at 5 p.m. in Kresge Auditorium, located within the Judson and Joyce Green Center for the Performing Arts on the DePauw University campus.

Throughout the day, the high school groups will also have opportunities to perform and be critiqued by Leali, currently a member of the prestigious University of North Texas jazz faculty where -- not at all coincidentally -- he received a bachelor’s degree in music education and played with the famous One O’Clock Lab Band.

After earning a master’s degree from Rutgers University, Leali headed the jazz program at Texas Tech University. From 1984 to 1994, his tenure as lead alto saxophonist for the Harry Connick Jr. Orchestra included serving as its musical director for five years. In 1995, he joined the Count Basie Orchestra, earning a Grammy nomination for his solo work on “Count Plays Duke.”

Leali has since recorded five albums (including “Maria Juanez” in 2006) featuring his own compositions and jazz orchestra, as well as “DA’s Time” with his quartet (2008). He has performed at legendary venues, including the Village Vanguard, Blue Note, Jazz Standard, Iridium, Birdland, Lincoln Center and the Kennedy Center with such jazz greats as Nancy Wilson, Freddie Hubbard, Clark Terry, Joe Williams, Jimmy Cobb and Benny Golson.

Television appearances include The Today Show, Arsenio Hall, Jay Leno and President Barack Obama’s We Are One inaugural celebration. Most recently, Leali accepted the featured saxophone solo chair with the Lyle Lovett Orchestra.

“Among the works featured on Saturday’s concert will be ‘Maria Juanez’ -- one of Brad’s compositions -- and a Duke Ellington piece called ‘The Star-Crossed Lovers’ for which he received a Grammy nomination,” Snyder, director of jazz studies at DePauw, said. “When Brad and I were in school together at North Texas, he was an upperclassman when I was a freshman.

“I remember looking up to him and going to see his performances, and he was always a standout. You don’t find people with that kind of playing and educational résumé very often, so I am delighted to have him teach and play this week at DePauw.”

General admission to Leali’s guest performance with the DePauw Jazz Ensemble is set at $5. Tickets for seniors, youth and all students are free and may be obtained online or at the venue box office beginning one hour prior to the closing concert.

For tickets and more information, visit: www.music.depauw.edu.

Jazz Festival schedule

Saturday, March 11 -- Green Center for the Performing Arts

605 S. College Ave.

• 10 a.m. -- Owen Valley performs; master class with guest artist

• 2 p.m. -- Alexandria Monroe performs; master class with guest artist

• 3:15 p.m. -- Clinic with Brad Leali

• 4:30 p.m. -- Sound check

• 5–7 p.m. -- Closing Concert: The DePauw Jazz Ensemble