LEOPARD

ALMA

A unique talent possessing a remarkable instrument, Munich-based vocalist-composer-lyricist Alma Naidu is that rare generational find. Jazzthing magazine hailed her “delicate, beautifully clear voice with absolutely perfect intonation” while Böblinger Zeitung called her “an elemental force.” Renowned drummer-producer Wolfgang Haffner had no trouble immediately recognizing her gifts, having discovered her in 2019 and showcasing her on his 2020 album, Kind of Tango. “When I first heard Alma at a jam session in early 2019, I was immediately blown away by her musicality as well as by her way of performing on stage,” said Haffner. “At the second song I joined her on stage in and we played a stunning version of ‘My Funny Valentine.’ The way she made this famous song to her own was really impressive. Alma is a very special talent with an own strong musical voice.”

St. Paul Peterson Salutes ‘Funky Minneapolis’ on Break on Free

Multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter and producer Paul Peterson, a former keyboardist of The Time, leader of The Family and fDeluxe and protege of Prince, serves up a greasy slice of The Minneapolis Sound on Break on Free, his fifth album as a leader and debut for Leopard Records.
An eclectic collection of tunes, Peterson’s latest ranges from the punchy Prince/James Brown-styled title track to the Hall & Oates-influenced “I Couldn’t Do It Without You,” the power ballad “Beauty Beyond the Darkness,” metalesque funk-rocker “Big City” and tender ode to his wife, “Song for Julie (Forever I’ll Love You).” He also turns in faithful covers of Stevie Wonder’s “Love’s In Need of Love Today” and Robbie Robertson’s “Broken Arrow,” and delivers two slamming salutes to his home turf in “Something in the Water” (which addresses the often-raised question, “Why is Minneapolis so funky?”) and “Minne Forget Me Not” (a clever adaptation of Hall & Oates’ “Philly Forget Me Not”).

Marriage Material

Intensely scorching, fueled by the slamming, power precision drumming of Felix Lehrmann, grounded by the unerring pulse of bassist Thomas Stieger and sparked by the pyrotechnic soloing of vibraphonist/synth player Raphael Meinhart and guitar shredder Arto Mäkelä, the music of Marriage Material draws on a world of influences and strikes with the impact of a sledgehammer. Call it fusion, world music, modern jazz, neoclassical or even progressive rock, but the founders of Marriage Material prefer to call it ‘cinematic jazz.’ Indeed, the soundscapes they create on their self-titled debut conjure up an array of intriguing images while packing an imposing punch.

Live in Love

Former Prince trumpeter-horn arranger and 11-time Grammy winner
Philip Lassiter Delivers A Soulful Pop-Funk Gem in Live in Love

DEEP: The Baritone Sessions Vol. 2

Well known for his tight, aggressively grooving brand of rhythm playing, whether in the service of the GRAMMY Award-winning band Snarky Puppy, the Fearless Flyers or on his six solo albums, guitarist Mark Lettieri has found the perfect algorithm for the funk. Merging the influences of ‘70s and ‘80s rhythm and rock guitar icons like Prince and Eddie Van Halen, along with wide inspiration from George Clinton and P-Funk, Chuckii Booker, Periphery, Stevie Wonder, Steely Dan, and others. This Fort Worth, Texas resident has been insinuating his razor-sharp licks into the consciousness of funkateers since joining Snarky Puppy in 2008. 

THE CHECK IN

Alongside Wolfgang Haffner, The Kiel-born Jost Nickel is one of the very few top German tour & session drummers whose name also enjoys an excellent international reputation.

After lessons with Udo Dahmen in Hamburg and with Zach Danziger at the Drummer's Collective in New York, Jost Nickel's star began to shine brightly 25 years ago as the drummer of the jazz-grunge band Matalex. He recorded three albums with the innovative quartet and made guest appearances with this band at the North Sea Jazz Festival in The Hague and the Montreux Jazz Festival, among others. He has also worked with many jazz greats such as Barry Finnerty (Miles Davis, The Crusaders), Randy Brecker, Bob Mintzer (Yellowjackets, WDR Big Band), Mitch Forman (John McLaughlin, Wayne Shorter), Jimmy Haslip (Yellowjackets, Allan Holdsworth) and Jeff Lorber live and in the studio.

HAMBURG

Rural and urban destinations have inspired composers of jazz and improvised music for decades.
For instance, in standards such as Harlem Nocturne, April in Paris, Moonlight in Vermont and London Blues or even on complete albums, such as In Angel City by Charlie Haden, Hudson by Jack DeJohnette, New York Tango by Richard Galliano or Miles Davis’s Sketches of Spain, geographical coordinates have played an important role as catalysts for the musicians’ creative and imaginative powers.

UNDER THE RADAR

The Peterson Brothers -- keyboard player Ricky, bass player Billy, drummer / guitar player Paul and their nephew. saxophonist Jason, are true brothers in arms, Minneapolis institutions, members and survivors of that city’s musical revolution.  What I love about these cats is that they lay the music out like an uptown groove buffet. You don’t need to be smart to feel the beat of the heart; you don’t need to play dumb to feel the beat of the drum.  This is music everybody can get with.  Natural talent by the yard and years of playing with the some of the best of the best-- from Prince to Bonnie Raitt, Eddie Harris to Mose Allison, Dave Sanborn to Boz Scaggs, Fleetwood Mac to Bob Dylan, and that barely scratches the surface—make this tribute to a legendary musical family a back-slapping, finger-popping good time.

LIVE AND UNRELEASED

Als sie am 2. Juli 1980 im legendären Hamburger Club Onkel Pö’s Carnegy Hall auf der Bühne standen, feuerten die Brecker Brothers aus allen Rohren. Diese Gruppe, Inbegriff der bahnbrechenden und populären Jazz-Funk Fusion Band, wurde 1975 gegründet und befand sich, nach der Veröffentlichung des von George Duke produzierten Albums Detente zwei Monate zuvor, mitten in einer Tournee durch Europa. „Das war eine verdammt gute Tournee“, erinnert sich der Trompeter und Komponist Randy Brecker. „Die Band hat es jeden Abend richtig krachen lassen. Zu der Zeit sind wir schon eine ganze Weile gemeinsam aufgetreten und haben uns zu einem eng verbundenen Ensemble entwickelt. Wir waren damals alle in absoluter Topform.”

ABOUT TIME

The Debut Album

About time.
It’s all about (the) time.
It’s all about (the) timing.

A mature feeling for time and how to use it in the right way, when to strike a note or a chord and – even more importantly – when to refrain from doing so. The usage of rests and space as a creative, dramatic element. All this is usually expected from top-level musicians, qualities that – and this seems to be the consensus – develop over the years and need a large amount of performance practise; in short: they are a result of “age”. But sometimes this does not happen. We all know the sayings: „feeling“ - you either have got it or you don’t; or: virtuoso but without any feeling; or: lots of feeling but technically rather inexperienced.

Considering his youthful age it might come as a surprise that Simon Oslender already combines all these qualities in his performance. This is raising questions: How is this possible at the age of 21? Is he a natural talent or an exceptional phenomenon? Or is he just an early bloomer?

BAD AS I WANNA BE

Guitar Visionary Malina Moye Announces New Empowerment Album Amid Entertainment Industry’s Female Revolution

Pop-Rock maven and international guitar superstar Malina Moye is set to release her new album "Bad As I Wanna Be" March 23rd on LEOPARD.

Zapp VII: Roger & Friends

ZAPP IS BACK!!

ZAPP Salutes The Late Roger Troutman on Zapp VII: Roger & Friends

New album continues the band’s 40-year legacy of funk with special guest appearances by Bootsy Collins, Frankie J., Tuxedo, Kurupt and Snoop Dogg

DROP SHOT

Ricky Peterson was a young phenomenon from Minneapolis when we first met 35 years ago.  He came out of a music scene that included both Prince as well as a saxophone player named Irv Williams who had been pals with Lester Young (Lester also spent time in Minneapolis).  In a way, that was typical of the city, a town small enough so that all the musicians knew each other and large enough so that the musical standard was high – very high.

SCHIZOPHRENIA - THE YANG PROJECT

Leaping twenty feet forward, this extraordinarily diverse collection of tunes captures the full range of keyboardist Bobby Sparks’ expansive vocabulary and inexhaustible spirit. From slamming funk to slow-grooving soul ballads to forays into straight ahead jazz, fusion, orchestral and world music, his aptly-titled Schizophrenia — The Yang Project covers a myriad of bases.

IT´S ALL ABOUT LOVE

FINALLY: THE NEW STUDIO ALBUM BY MACEO PARKER HAS ARRIVED!
He is an icon of funk and soul: Maceo Parker. Since his collaboration with James Brown in the 60s, Maceo’s performance on the saxophone clearly sets him apart from the mainstream: distinct, precise and to the point. Besides Brown, Parker has also worked with George Clinton and over many years with Prince. Since the 90s, he has been advancing his own career.

1969 

Andre Cymone's new album might be titled 1969, but nostalgia is the farthest thing from his mind.

"There's so many parallels between 1969 and now," the veteran singer / songwriter / producer observes. "You watch the news and see all the crazy, crazy stuff that's going on, and you realize that we're still dealing with a lot of the same issues now that we were dealing with then. That inspired a lot of these songs."

Kennedy Administration

A dynamic presence on every bandstand she graces, singer Ms Kennedy brings a captivating soulfulness to the proceedings on the Kennedy Administration’s self-titled debut. Whether it’s the funk-laden opener “It’s Over Now,” her smoldering take on Al Green’s “Let’s Stay Together” or energized interpretation of Billy Preston’s “Will It Go Round in Circles,” her own nostalgic “Mama’s Kisses” and other compelling originals like the alluring “Finally,” the anthemic “Victory Song” or the group’s old school throwdown “Let’s Party,” the Michigan native and Brooklyn resident makes a stunning impression on her first recording.