Thank you in advance for clicking "Read More"! (in green, just below, on right) Be sure to scroll all the way down, you'll find the liner notes, release announcements, and some of the published reviews. MOOD(S)WINGS (voted one of the top 3 Jazz CDs of 2015 by the readers of JazzEd Magazine!) Featuring: The Jennifer Leitham Trio Jennifer Leitham bass, vocals, Andy Langham piano, Randy Drake drums Special Guests: Jamie Findlay guitar on "You Won't See Me" and "Glad Tidings", Jeff Linsky ukulele on "Don't You Ever" 1. Riverside Romp - music and lyrics by Jennifer Leitham 2. Cascade of the Seven Waterfalls - comp by Clare Fischer, Alex Malheiros 3. Don't You Ever - music and lyrics by Jennifer Leitham 4. My Heart Had Wings - music and lyrics by Jennifer Leitham 5. Glad Tidings - comp by Jamie Findlay 6. I'm Afraid the Masquerade Is Over - music Allie Wrabel, lyrics Herb Magidsun 7. You Won't See Me - music and lyrics by John Lennon, Paul McCartney 8. Tricotism - comp by Oscar Pettiford Producer: Jennifer Leitham Executive Producers: Jo Ann Martin, Saul Kent, and Roberta Conroy Tracks 1- 4 and 6 - 8 recorded 5/12&13/14 and 5 - 3/18/15 All arrangements by Jennifer Leitham except "Glad Tidings", arr by Jamie Findlay Recording Engineers: Andy Waterman, Umbrella Media, Chatsworth, Ca(all but track 5) assistant: Steve Wilk Lucas Fackler, The Compound Studio, Granada Hills, Ca - (track 5) assistant: Joel Ferber Mixed and Mastered by Lucas Fackler, The Compound Studio, Granada Hills, Ca Technical support: Sharon Brackett cover photo by Raul Vega back cover photo by Kimberlee M Tellez Funded through Indiegogo Special thanks to Gary Chen at Stein Music and Lisa Gass at L.A. Bass Works Jennifer endorses Hofner, Acoustic Image amplifiers, Wilson pickups, & Raezer's Edge speaker cabinets. Randy Drake endorses the Superdrum Snare drum. Jamie Findlay endorses Heritage and Schoenberg Guitars Jennifer, Jamie and Jeff endorse La Bella Strings Album Notes: Great artists’ work hints at, explores, and often reveals their most personal secrets, while, at the same time, addressing universal experiences. So it is with Jennifer Leitham. Her life has been symbolized by wings, as noted in the photo of her album, The Real Me, which released the butterfly from her cocoon. I would guess that is also why the title of this disc, MOOD(S)WINGS, has “Wings” separated from the “S,” although its partial meaning also refers to Jennifer’s late sister, Barbara, to whom the disc is dedicated. Barbara suffered from bi-polar disorder, and therefore, severe mood swings. Back in the 1980s, I had no inkling of the depth of the conflicts within Jennifer. She was writing tunes with clever titles. For example, “Split Brain,” was ostensibly about playing the bass left-handed while being right-handed at other things. But in retrospect, one understands it was a much more difficult struggle! (No need to be literal here, Google can provide the answers.) The moods on this disc vary greatly from track to track, hence MOOD(S)WINGS. It opens with a sort of sequel to Jennifer’s popular “Studio City Stomp,” called “Riverside Romp.” The whole trio has fun with this one, and Jennifer gets to display some amazing unison scat too. All of those years on the road with Mel Torme' are certainly informing her vocal improvisation these days! This “Romp” is followed by “Cascade of the Seven Waterfalls”. It features an amazing solo by Andy Langham, who puts in it a little of everything in his experience, from classical studies, to his work with Willie Nelson and Poncho Sanchez, to his own genius. Jennifer caresses the melody as she sings through the bass and then subdivides the rhythm to an amazing extent in her soloing, especially on the extended ending. Jennifer boldly states her opinions and experiences. In “Don’t You Ever,” as she advises a person not to teach their children to bully other kids “while they’re working it out,” and to “blow off” anyone who presumes to criticize others in a destructive manner. No hidden messages or secrets now! By the way, that song features master guitarist Jeff Linsky on ukulele. Another Leitham original is “My Heart Had Wings.” According to Jennifer, it’s “probably the darkest thing I've ever written.” And it is dark, and moody, almost creepy, as it reflects upon an unhappy love affair: “But my heart had wings, how were they clipped? In the end, did we just pretend? Could we comprehend? Can we make amends? But how could we end up as just friends?” An unusual song form, it actually resolves at the beginning of the bridge, instead of the more traditional cadence at the end of a song. It leaves the listener in a questioning mode, and given the darkness of the subject, is a perfect ending. Jennifer says she included an original by guitarist Jamie Findlay right afterwards because she “was in too dark of a space to write something happy.” It's titled "Glad Tidings", and features the composer with the Jennifer and Randy. Jamie also sits in on the Beatles tune, “You Won’t See Me,” which is another nod from Jennifer to her early influences. She plays bass left-handed from watching Paul McCartney in the ‘60s, when Jennifer was growing up in Philadelphia. The disc ends just as her very first disc, Leitham Up, did, with Oscar Pettiford’s classic, “Tricotism.” But it’s a brand new interpretation, in which Andy dazzles with a kind of Shearing-esque chorded solo. Overall, recognition should be paid to Randy Drake, who plays musically and impressively throughout. Randy has a light touch, lots of technique, and abundant swing at his command. In addition, although Jennifer has developed into a versatile singer, composer and lyricist, she is first and foremost a virtuoso on the bass. She is also a creative and courageous artist. Helen Borgers KKJZ/FM88.1 Jazz Program Host From Jennifer: This CD is dedicated to the life and memory of Barbara Leitham Helen's reference to the title MOOD(S)WINGS is spot on. My titles and song lyrics often contain double to quadruple entendre. I heard the news of my sister's passing as we were mixing this CD. When I returned home to Los Angeles from Philadelphia, (after helping to take care of her things and the gathering to remember her life), and we resumed mixing, it dawned on me that the music recorded here was shadowing Barbara's life challenges. I deliberately arranged the order to reflect those intense swings. A few breezier tracks were cast aside and we recorded my friend Jamie Findlay's Glad Tidings, a joyous, even boisterous statement, to follow my darkest piece. I've loved that song since the first time we played it back in the '80's. I know that in this day and age, people are more inclined to let their device dictate the order of listening, but my hope is that some will listen to this CD in the order intended. People with Bipolar Disorder deserve our understanding, compassion, and the opportunity to live full, productive lives. A profound thank you to all who contributed to the Indiegogo Triple Play Campaign. We couldn't have made Future Christmas or Mood(S)wings without you! With love and gratitude, Jennifer Leitham MOOD(S)WINGS Release Announcement Last year, in the spring of 2014, a scheduled tour collapsed at the last minute. In this day and age, trying to maintain a career in music, especially Jazz music is a haphazard task at best. Venues are drying up, the recording business has morphed into a calling card, and the possibility of earning any decent money from recordings and/or publishing are diminishing every day. Without the affiliation of a college adjunct gig so the student can get a shingle, it's more difficult to teach privately in this day and age. Since I walked away from CSULB to follow my heart to NYC and back to L.A., there has been no interest in my teaching from the colleges I've approached. Even without the consequences of my transition, most these happenstances would still be true. Getting paid for your art has never been more challenging. Playing live dates and selling CDs from the bandstand have become my only way to make a living, (for the time being). And even that is becoming increasingly rare. So you can imagine how devastating things were when that tour cancelled. It was at that point that I decided to cope by attempting to do the thing I feel that I do best, record my music again. Even though the earning possibilities have devolved, what else can I do? Aside from playing live for enthusiastic audiences, it's my favorite thing to do. I needed to get the creative juices flowing. I have been a professional musician for over 40 years, and while all art is subjective, I feel as though I have something to say, regardless whether anybody hears it or purchases it. I threw it out into the universe that I was asking for people, (who wanted to hear more music from me), to please help me pay to make that happen. I launched the Triple Play crowd funding campaign on Indiegogo. In just a month, we raised over $19,000! I had hoped to raise $30,000, but the former amount is nothing to sneeze at. My original hope was to make 3 CDs, as it turned out, we raised enough money to almost make 2. In order to push the second CD over the finish line, I spent quite a bit of my own meager fortune. The first release was FUTURE CHRISTMAS, released in October '14. The reviews were some of the best I've ever received, and (by today's standards), it sold! It was one of the biggest sellers on CD Baby during the holiday season, even rising to #1 for a few weeks! But with the system that is in place nowadays, that didn't mean that there was a big payday for me. At least not yet…….. As I was in the studio with Lucas Fackler mixing the 2nd CD in early March '15, I received a call from my cousin. He found my sister Barbara prone in her apartment in West Philadelphia. She had passed away. She was 7 years younger than me, we grew up together. We had become closer after my transition. She tried to bring our family together. It was an enormous shock. I was devastated. When I returned home to L.A. after helping to take care of her things, and the memorial, I was in a bit of a daze. I didn't work on the project for over a week. Then I started listening to it again. It dawned on me that the wild pendulum of emotions from tune to tune were shadowing Barbara's debilitating bipolar condition. I felt that the overall mood of the music was a little too dark. Being old school, I like to program my CDs to be played in order in their entirety. I needed a joyous piece to follow "My Heart Had Wings", easily the darkest thing I've ever written, but I was in too dark of a space to write anything joyous. Back in the 80's, when I was rising through the ranks of musicians in L.A., I had the pleasure of meeting a few other like minded players, who played for love and creativity instead of only trying to punch the studio musician clock. Jeff Linsky is one of those players. So is Jamie Findlay, and from the moment we first played his "Glad Tidings", I knew I would record it someday. Recording that song was a great solace to me in dealing with the grief of my sister's passing. I deliberately arranged the order of tunes on this CD to reflect the wild mood swings my sister experienced. It's a roller coaster and it is intentional. I'm trying a new business model with this release. Physical CD sales seem to be a thing of the past, everybody is listening to streaming sites these days, and in some cases, downloading. Although the tracks on MOOD(S)WINGS are very long in some cases, the total number of tracks is 8. That is one track under the number usually included on a CD. In so doing, it lowers the download price from $9.99 to $7.62. I'm hoping that it will create more downloads and that more folks will hear and support this music, as opposed to only listening on the streaming sites, where the royalties are less than fractions of a penny. You'll still get an hour's worth of IMHO, some of the best work I've ever done. From the bottom of my heart I thank each and every one of you who contributed to the campaign, the magnificent players and engineers, Helen Borgers for writing the liner notes, and my family. Making this CD has been one of the joys and sorrows of my entire life. I couldn't have done it without your support, both financial and emotional. So here it is, I humbly release my new CD. I dedicate this new CD MOOD(S)WINGS to my sister's life and memory. Barbara Leitham, this one is for you with all my heart. Spread your wings and fly. Jennifer Leitham 2015 REVIEWS: https://irom.wordpress.com/2015/10/19/cd-review-jennifer-leithams-moodswings/ International Review of Music CD Review: Jennifer Leitham’s “Mood(S)wings” By Devon Wendell "Jennifer Leithham is a true seeker, a southpaw bassist supreme, fearless songwriter, and a jazz master to be reckoned with. Her new album MOOD(S)WINGS is a lush and beautiful musical tapestry that crosses mainstream pop and jazz with an introspective brilliance that places her in a class all by herself. Her music continues to give many (including myself) hope that jazz is far from dead and that there are plenty of incredible artists who are constantly redefining themselves and delivering lively yet powerful new musical statements all of the time. Leitham has already earned legendary status, having recorded and performed with such jazz giants as Ed Shaughnessy, Bill Watrous, Mel Torme, and Peggy Lee, to name just a few. MOOD(S)WINGS is one of the hippest jazz “crossover” albums to surface in many years.  You don’t ever get the feeling that Leitham is “selling out.” Just the opposite; she is flexing her mighty musical muscles and showcasing her incredible dynamics on this wonderfully energetic project.   Leitham’s virtuosic bass skills, added with her warm vocals, sly lyrics and masterful trio (Andy Langham on piano and Randy Drake on drums) create  a delightfully distinct mood within each composition. Only Leitham and her trio could cover Clare Fischer’s “Cascade Of The Seven Waterfalls,” The Beatles’ “You Won’t See Me” and Oscar Pettiford’s “Tricotism” all on the same album and present it in a way that makes perfect sense as well as making it sound both fresh and beautiful. Andy Langham’s fluid and thematic piano playing serves each composition perfectly and Randy Drake’s subtle bop-influenced drumming beautifully accentuates every carefully delivered phrase from Leitham’s vocals and bass. Jazz trios have often been dismissed by critics as being “background” music, but Leitham’s trio proves this to be far from the truth. “Glad Tidings” (written by and guest starring guitarist Jamie Findlay) is a perfect example of this, and its energy is infectious.   It sounds as if Leitham, Langham, and Drake have been playing together all of their lives but still continue to push each other to greater heights. Leitham proves to be a true poetess with a songwriting style as unique as her bass playing and composing. On original compositions such as “Riverside Romp,” “Don’t You Ever” and “My Heart Had Wings,” Leitham’s lyrics are sweet, anguished, and contemplative, all at once .  Jeff Linsky’s ukulele accompaniment on “Don’t You Ever” is  thoughtful and precise. “The Masquerade Is Over” features some of Leitham’s warmest and most heartfelt vocals. She is an artist constantly on the move; listening, playing, watching, and always growing. The trio’s sound has a potent yet elegant swing to it that is immediately identifiable.  There’s also a genuine sense of vulnerability throughout the album – a place where most musicians of all  musical  genres often fear to explore so freely. Finally, Leitham’s unique upright bass style rivals that of such iconic bassists as Paul Chambers, Ron Carter, and Oscar Pettiford.  Yes, she’s that great. MOOD(S)WINGS is Leitham’s most adventurous and explorative album to date and to be enjoyed by music lovers of all genres. This is one of the finest “crossover” albums I’ve heard in many years Do not miss out on this gem." -Devon Wendell of The International Review Of Music. Jazzography "Last night at Catalina Jazz Club in Hollywood, bassist, Jennifer Leitham and her quintet celebrated the release of her new CD "MOOD(S)WINGS". As advertised, the music took the huge crowd at Catalina on a roller coaster ride of emotions, from the depths of despair and sadness to total elation. She chose some fabulous musicians to help her on this bipolar journey. On the piano was the always brilliant Andy Langham. Jeninifer's long time drummer Randy Drake was there to keep perfect time. Composer, ukulele and guitar phenom Jeff Linsky displayed his great musical gifts. And finally, the superb guitarist Jamie Findlay was there and he played ever so beautifully. Jennifer played, sang and entertained with great passion in every possible emotional direction. It was a great evening and it's a great CD!" - Bob Barry Jazzography All About Jazz: Jennifer Leitham: MOOD(S)WINGS (2015) By JACK BOWERS, Published: August 17, 2015 One of the rules of thumb in jazz is that hardly anyone ever looks forward to a bass solo. Rules, however, were made to be broken, and a case in point is multi-talented Jennifer Leitham whose solos on MOOD(S)WINGS are nimble, well-crafted and consistently engaging—in other words, worth looking forward to. Not that anything less would be expected from someone who has been at the top of her game for more nearly four decades and performed with a who's who of jazz luminaries from Mel Torme, Peggy Lee and George Shearing to Woody Herman, Benny Carter, Louie Bellson and others too numerous to mention. The fact is, Leitham not only plays a mean left-handed bass but sings as well (on five of eight tracks), thus accepting the risk of being labeled a singer who also plays bass instead of a bassist who also sings. She rises above that by displaying her virtuosity as an instrumentalist at every turn, whether soloing or lending strong, inflexible support to pianist Andy Langham or her special guests: guitarist Jamie Findlay (his own "Glad Tidings," Lennon / McCartney's "You Won't See Me") and ukulele master Jeff Linsky ("Don't You Ever"). Leitham sings on that one, as she does on "The Masquerade Is Over," "You Won't See Me" and two more of her compositions: "Riverside Romp" and "My Heart Had Wings." Leitham's lyrics are clever and cogent, while her spare, unpretentious style reminds one of a higher-pitched Dave Frishberg or Giacomo Gates. The chops get a vigorous workout on the shuffling "You Won't See Me" and the slow-paced "Masquerade," on which Leitham sings on-key and with a disarming personality. Although she's obviously no Sinatra, she makes the most of what she has going for her. And of course she shines on bass, setting an unerring compass for Langham, drummer Randy Drake and the others. Besides Findlay's "Glad Tidings" (on which his guitar adds pleasing color), the instrumental selections are Clare Fischer's seldom-heard "Cascade of the Seven Waterfalls" and any bassist's charming companion, Oscar Pettiford's melodic "Tricotism" (on which Drake has a chance to flex his muscles). While Leitham is at home in any setting, the trio format suits her fine, and MOOD(S)WINGS is yet another example of her singular and inclusive artistry. Track Listing: Riverside Romp; Cascade of the Seven Waterfalls; Don’t You Ever; My Heart Had Wings; Glad Tidings; The Masquerade Is Over; You Won’t See Me; Tricotism. Personnel: Jennifer Leitham: bass, vocals; Andy Langham: piano; Randy Drake: drums. Special guests – Jamie Findlay: guitar (5, 7); Jeff Linsky: ukulele (3). Record Label: Sinistral Records L.A. Jazz Scene September 2015 Issue: "Jennifer Leitham has long been known as a hard-swinging and virtuosic bassist. Mood Swings also features Ms. Leitham as an appealing singer and composer, contributing three of the eight songs. From the opening “Riverside Romp,” through the emotional “My Heart Had Wings,” Clare Fischer’s intriguing “Cascade Of The Seven Waterfalls” (which is quite a feature for the bassist), a much slower-than-usual “The Masquerade Is Over” and Oscar Pettiford’s “Tricotism,” Leitham and her tight trio (with pianist Andy Langham and drummer Randy Drake) play brilliantly. Guitarist Jamie Findlay makes welcome guest appearances on “You Won’t See Me” and “Glad Tidings” while Jeff Linsky’s ukulele is a strong asset on the light-hearted feel of “Don’t You Ever” which has an anti-bullying message for children. Overall, Mood Swings is a superior showcase for Jennifer Leitham’s musical talents and is easily recommended." Scott Yanow L.A. Jazz Scene All Music Guide Jazz Life (Japan) メル・トーメ(vo)との共演やウディ・ハーマン(cl, as)のサンダリング・ハード在籍という輝かしい経歴を有し、20077年には山中千尋(p)とも共演。現在、米国西海岸を拠点に活躍する左利きのヴェテラン・ベーシスト、ジェニファー・レイサムの最新作。オスカー・ペティフォードの名曲をブラジリアン・テイストにアレンジした(8)や、ギターをフィーチャーしたコンテンポラリー・サウンドの(5)などのインストゥルメンタルの他、ベースとスキャットの巧みなユニゾンを聴かせる (1)や、温かな歌声が沁みるバラッド(6)など、5曲でヴォーカルを披露。ヴァラエティに富んだ楽しい作品となっている。 Translated: A brilliant career includes playing with Mel Torme’ (vo), was a member of Woody Herman’s (cl, as) Thundering Herd, and performed with Chihiro Yamanaka (p) in Japan in 2007. An active left-handed bassist based on the West Coast, this is Jennifer Leitham’s latest album. Performing vocals in 5 songs, including fancy unisons of bass line and scat (1) as well as an inspirational ballad in a warm voice (6). In addition, instrumental tunes include Oscar Pettiford’s masterpiece arranged Brazilian-style (8), and a contemporary sound featuring guitar (5).　This is a delightful album with a wide variety. - Kazune Hayata, Jazz Life (Japan) International Review of Music Highlight of the Week: The Jennifer Leitham Trio at The Blue Whale By Don Heckman It’s not every night that one has a chance to hear the extraordinary music of Jennifer Leitham. But it will be on full display Wednesday night at The Blue Whale. In a world of too much forgettable repetition, Leitham’s music — instrumentally and vocally —  is a memorable pleasure. A highly praised, veteran artist whose resume includes gigs with everyone from Woody Herman and George Shearing to Mel Tormé and Peggy Lee, Leitham has been a major jazz star in her own right since she transitioned into her true identity in 2001. Leitham’s latest CD, Mood(S)wings, showcases a stellar collection of standards and originals, with Leitham’s remarkable left handed bass playing and her captivating vocals in the spotlight. Backing her, pianist Andy Langham and drummer Randy Drake provide musically symbiotic interaction, sharing Leitham’s far ranging, improvisational flights. The results are stunning displays of state of the art contemporary jazz. Perpetual Change: CD Review, Mood(S)wings "It’s kind of dangerous territory when a reviewer becomes a fan of some of the artists he or she is supposed to objectively review. Anyone who has actually read this column over the years has probably figured out that I’m a huge fan of instrumental music and jazz. Therefore, I’m going to have to say that I can’t be anything but totally subjective about Jennifer Leitham’s newest project, Mood(S)wings. In every one of my reviews, even the shorter “new music” reviews, I always point out what I consider to be the outstanding tracks on each project. Even projects that just don’t come across as being all that cohesive, even somewhat sloppy at times, always seem to have at least one or two cuts that are quite good, in any genre. In the case of Mood(S)wings, I just can’t do that. I can’t manage to find any single track that stands out. They’re all incredibly well done and the entire project stands out. True to her past form, Jennifer uses members of her trio…Randy Drake on drums and pianist Andy Langham…in the studio. She also brings on board Jeff Linsky on ukulele on the tune "Don’t You Ever", and guitarist Jamie Findlay on "You Won’t See Me" and "Glad Tidings". The project is produced by Jennifer and of the 8 tracks, three are Leitham originals. You can tell an artist has reached a level of confidence (some might call it maturity) by some of the chances they occasionally take. In the case of Jennifer Leitham’s Mood(S)wings, she opens the project with one of her original tunes, "Riverside Romp". This is one of her vocal tracks and I have to say that the confidence she’s gained as a singer comes across immediately on this opening cut. But that is not her best vocal here by far. Other excellent vocal tracks include "Don’t You Ever" (another Leitham composition), "My Heart Had Wings", which is another original and is a very dark sounding “mood swing” for sure, the Allie Wrabel Herb Magidsun tune "The Masquerade Is Over" and Lennon/McCartney’s "You Won’t See Me". "My Heart Had Wings" is her most dynamic vocal on the project, but the real growth as a vocalist is shown in Masquerade. Very well done. I’m a real Beatles fan and to hear Jennifer Leitham do a jazz version of "You Won’t See Me" was impressive. It’s hard for any artist to cover a Beatles song…any Beatles song. Beatles music is so well known that even the more obscure album tracks that weren’t radio hits are easily identifiable. That makes it easy to tell when the artist has strayed from the melody and consequently butchers the tune. No so here. While Jennifer definitely makes this a jazz tune, the melody stays intact, even during the extended instrumental portion that of course includes some great bass moments that work with the melody. The fully instrumental tracks on the project are "Cascade Of The Waterfalls" (Clare Fisher, Alex Matheiros), guitarist Findlay’s "Glad Tidings", and "Tricotism" by Oscar Petiford. The Petiford composition has the best bass work from Jennifer on this particular project. So, I warned you…I haven’t been objective at all with this review. I love this CD and would recommend it to anyone, jazz fan or not. The playing by Jennifer, her trio mates and the other musicians is incredible and as far as I’m concerned, her vocal work and the Beatles tune alone are good reason to obtain Mood(S)wings for your collection. Jennifer Leitham is one of those artists who just gets better and more focused with each successive project. Always a pleasure to hear new music from Ms. Leitham."- TG Forum Pam Degroff | Feb 15, 2016