Donna Leonhart
Donna Leonhart - 1960s NYC Greenwich Village jazz singer
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About Donna Leonhart
Donna Leonhart started her vocal career in New York’s Greenwich Village in the 1960’s. Donna performed in clubs all over New York, and appeared in commercials and musicals Off Broadway. A life-long student of jazz, Donna’s early influences came from attending live performances by some of the greatest musicians of our time, most notably: Bill Evans at the Top of the Gate, Judy Garland at Carnegie Hall, Count Basie at Birdland. She even had the opportunity to meet Duke Ellington, which she likens to “meeting God, if I believed in Him.” Foregoing an offer from Marian McPartland to sponsor her vocal career, Donna chose to get married and start a family. Although she was not actively pursuing her singing career, Donna never strayed very far from music. Married to bassist Jay Leonhart and mother of vocalist Carolyn Leonhart and trumpeter Michael Leonhart, Donna performed solo and with her family at jazz festivals and concerts all over the world. One of her most memorable performances was singing “Detour Ahead” with composer Johnny Frigo at the Umbria Jazz Festival in the late 90s. In 2001, Donna released her debut album, Bein’ Green on the Sunnyside label, marking her reemergence in the jazz world as an indomitable voice. Named Album of the Month on French Jazz Radio, Bein’ Green has received critical acclaim in addition to its popular appeal. Of the title track, David R. Adler of EMusic.com wrote: “When [Donna Leonhart] sings this song of hard-won yet tentative self-acceptance, it is a candid and personal moment, a singularly moving and honest way to make one's debut.” In early 2007, Donna was invited to participate with piano great John Eaton at The Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts in Virginia as part of the “Great Songs” series. Donna has appeared regularly at The JVC Jazz Festival, The Jacksonville Jazz Festival, The Blackpool Jazz Festival, The Jazz at The Y Series, and Jazz at St. Peter’s. She has also performed in Jack Kleinsinger’s “Highlights in Jazz Series”. In addition to singing, Donna has written lyrics to songs by Bill Evans, Herbie Hancock, and Kenny Werner. Currently, Donna is delighting audiences as a regular performer in the Sunday Vocal Series at Smoke in New York. This November, for the third time, Donna joins her family for their annual gig at Manhattan’s Knickerbocker Bar and Grill over the Thanksgiving weekend. Described by New York Times critic John Wilson as “a warmly intimate singer”, Donna’s performances and CD are captivating audiences and critics. Her knowledge of and passion for music are matched only by her vocal abilities, of which Wilson remarks “her skillful phrasing gives such songs as ''Ill Wind,'' Bill Evans's ''Waltz for Debbie'' and ''I Didn't Know What Time It Was'' a feeling of depth and range. And she successfully comes to grips with one of Sarah Vaughan's earliest hits, ''If You Could See Me Now,'' on which her modest voice projects in a gentle way much of what Miss Vaughan achieves with bravura.”
Taken from Last.fm
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