The Bradley Leighton Band Makes Hawaii Debut

Honolulu, Hawaii (PACIFIC COAST JAZZ) - On Friday, May 5, 2006 and Saturday, May 6, 2006 at 7:30 p.m. on both nights, the acclaimed jazz flutist Bradley Leighton will be debuting in Hawaii Public Radio's Atherton Performing Arts Studio with a series of two concerts. The Seattle native, who now makes his home in San Diego, will be joined by long-time friend and Molokai resident Ron Igarta on piano, as well as another long-time friend and colleague, Honolulu native Owen Matsui, on bass. They will be playing a range of jazz from standards through contemporary, including some of Leighton¹s originals from his recordings on the Pacific Coast Jazz label. Tickets are $17.50 general admission, $15 for HPR members, and $10 for students.

On April 28 & 29, Leighton and Igarta will be performing a free concert for the people of Molokai at the Molokai Rancho Hotel at 7:00 pm. They have been performing together on the West Coast from Seattle to San Diego since the 70's when Leighton finished his stint with the Army Band. Igarta was first call keyboardist in Seattle with an 8 piece band known as 'The Shades of Jade.' Prior to that, he played the Vegas circuit with various show-groups including Teddy and Nancy Tanaka where he was musical director and Don Rickles at the Stardust. Igarta refers to Leighton as his hanai (adopted son).

Yamaha Performing Artist, alto flutist Bradley Leighton's third album, 'Back To The Funk,' was released by the Pacific Coast Jazz record label in January. Leighton co-wrote five songs for the collection of R&B, funk, jazz and pop jams, which were produced and arranged by Allan Phillips. After releasing two, earlier critically acclaimed albums that veered from traditional and Latin jazz to a flirtation with R&B, Leighton decided to fully explore his passion for jazz-funk in 'Back To The Funk.' His early influences - the Brecker Brothers, Earth, Wind & Fire and Tower Of Power - are apparent on 'Back To The Funk�s' robust horn arrangements.

'With today's contemporary jazz scene dominated by guitars and saxes, ...I wanted to integrate the flute into the (contemporary jazz) format and make it funky. One of the key elements was to play the seldom used alto flute, which sounds larger, richer and mellower in tone,' explains the Seattle native. 'Simple, catchy melodies, hip urban grooves, and a full horn section resulted in an album that will hopefully prove pleasing to fans and open the minds of those who have been resistant to music that features the flute.'

Leighton debuted in 2003 with 'Groove Yard,' a beautiful collection of jazz standards. Released earlier in 2005, 'Just Doin' Our Thang' is comprised of inventive arrangements of standards and four original compositions in a traditional jazz setting that finds Leighton backed by a Hammond B3 organ trio. The album has received critical praise from such respected outlets as JazzTimes, Audiophile, All About Jazz, All Music Guide, L.A. Jazz Scene, and the San Diego Reader, and it was recently nominated for 'Best Jazz Album of the Year' by the San Diego Music Academy.

Pacific Coast Jazz is distributed in the U.S. by Big Daddy Music and in the United Kingdom by The Woods.
Contact: Donna Nichols, 619-405-3900