Official Website - Jamie Leonhart - News & Musings

Catching up

Thu, 06 May 2010 00:00:00 -0700

My head is in a spin from all the amazing projects I've been involved in this past week. To recap:

- I starred as Michael (Leonhart) in a Jackson Five-style dance video for the title track off of his just-released "Seahorse & the Storyteller" (Truth & Soul Records). Tatiana McCabe shot this video (check out her site from my links page.) This was a crazy night after weeks of collaborative choreography with a fine group of ladies who all danced in the video (including a very pregnant Jordin Ruderman.)

- I sang in support of Mimi Cohen and "To Carry On," her wonderful one-woman (and three back-up women) show deconstructing the life and legacy of 60's icon, Laura Nyro. Mimi is an amazing performer and the show is riveting. Mimi will be putting up the full show in the fall of 2010 at the Cherry Pit Theater.

- I had the honor of debuting an amazing tune called "Missing Me" at the Breithaupt Brother's annual show at Joe's Pub. These guys write phenomenal tunes, reminiscent of the great American Songbook (and they're Canadian!! Go figure.) This show had an awe-inspiring cast of musicians and singers to perform their material. I joined the likes of LaChanze, James Naughton, Kelli O'Hara, Catherine Russell, Greg Naughton, my lovely sister-in-law Carolyn Leonhart, Tyley Ross, Rikki Rumball, and Shelley McPherson.

And

- The Avramina 7 (Michael's band, of which I am a member) performed an AMAZING record release show last night @ the Mercury Lounge, with Sean Lennon opening up with a beautiful DJ set. The show was electric and the crowd amazing.

WHAT A WEEK!

Lots of catching up to do...

Sun, 13 Dec 2009 00:00:00 -0800

Wow. 2009 is nearing an end. I just put my 5-month-old son to bed. Life gets better and messier every day.

Although Milo is my biggest, most visible accomplishment this year, I'd say it's been pretty wonderful musically as well.

Some recording that I began earlier this year (some with the wonderful Stephan Altman of Mophonics, others with my brilliant husband/collaborator Michael Leonhart) will be completed and released in 2010.

I continue to strive to find authenticity as a performer and writer, and continue to enjoy and marvel at the path on which this striving takes me.

I look forward to sharing all of this with you. Happy holidays, and a safe and prosperous new year.

The latest...

Sat, 11 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0700

I realize that I've been really lame in keeping up the the news here...I've had a great handful of months, continuing to play and record new material. I've been working with a great producer/musician in LA, writing a handful of new songs, which I'll post really soon.

The most pressing news is that I'm about to give birth to our first child. My due date has come and gone, so any day now...more soon :)

Shows will resume in September - solo, Avramina 7, Hey, Sailor! and more :)

xxx
Jamie

By request: the lyrics to "Told You"

Mon, 27 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0700

What if I told you
Would you believe me
I was the only one not playing your game

I couldn’t help it
It was so easy
I’m so much better on my own

Na na

If I had a lifeboat
I still wouldn’t save you
Cause I know that someone else will throw you a line

I was almost prey
to your wolfish ways
But it’s not your lucky day
I’m not gonna fall for your love

You want to believe
That I could be enchanted under your spell
Now you can see
That I control me and can never be held

As I walk out the door
You talk but I don’t hear no more
You want to know
How I could go
You ought to see
What you look like to me”¦

I'd like to thank you
For showing me how to
Now I can see someone who's
playing your game

And when I tell you
You will believe me
I’m so much better on my own

"Told You" available on iTunes and more...

Mon, 14 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0700

The song, Told You, from the TRESemmé commercial is now available on iTunes!
http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?id=284068741&s=143441
I'm also going to post it on my myspace page -- feel free to add it to your profile!
http://www.myspace.com/jamieleonhart.

"Second Sundays" interview posted

Wed, 09 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0700

I was the June guest artist at "Second Sundays," Danielle Gasparro's interview series at Rockwood Music Hall.

The whole interview, including impromptu performances of very old tunes, is posted here:
http://daniellegasparro.com/secondsundaysarchives/SecondSundays_JamieLeonhart_06.1.08.mp3

Enjoy!

Michael Arthur's video for who says words....

Tue, 03 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0700

Michael Arthur (you can find more about him in the LINKS section) illustrated a beautiful, whimsical video for my song "who says words." Check it out here: http://inklines.blogspot.com/2008/05/i-dont-plan-it-on-this-planet.html

oo la la TRESemme

Thu, 29 May 2008 00:00:00 -0700

I do some really fun work with a commercial music agency called the Resource, here in NY. Of late, we did a 30 second spot for "Flawless Curls" a TRESemme product (god knows I know about curls!)

The 30 second tune was so catchy and fun, that the advertising agency, and TRESemme started getting calls and emails about the song. SO, we made a really fun full-length version of the tune. It's going to be available on the TRESemme website and also on iTunes under my name.

While it's a bit different than the rest of my current "songbook", I loved writing and recording it with these guys, and it shares the spirit of my other tunes, I think.

It should be up pretty soon, but it the meantime, you can look @ the commercial on the TRESemme website: http://www.tresemme.com/

Recording at the Bunker

Sun, 11 May 2008 00:00:00 -0700

Last Thursday my band and I spent the day at The Bunker Studio in Williamsburg, Bklyn. (owned and operated by Aaron Nevezie & John Davis.) We recorded the basic tracks for "The Arrogance of Genius," "Morning Glory" and "Control Freak" and they sound GREAT! Over the next month or so we'll be recording the horns, accordion, etc. and then will present them for consumption in some form or another.
Really excited to share them with you.
xx

Borders Open Door Poetry

Thu, 01 May 2008 00:00:00 -0700

My song, "area" was featured in Episode One of Borders "Open Door Poetry." This project is made up of video segments of exclusive interviews and poetry readings from high-profile poets (Pulitzer Prize-winners, Poet Laureates, National Poetry Slam Champs, etc.) that have been compiled as an educational resource made available for free to schools/teachers/students. "area" was used (along with some other songs by both "breaking" and established artists) as a means of segueing between these interviews and while the credits roll at the end of each chapter.

Check it out at http://www.bordersmedia.com/odp/
(Click the link on the right side of the page for Episode One)