YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – The Tony Leonardi Legacy Alumni Reunion Tribute Concert will take place July 18 at 7 p.m. at Youngstown State University’s Ford Theater in Bliss Hall.
Tickets are available at ysu.tix.com.
Paula Leonardi Ducato organized the concert, which follows the 2023 show she produced to pay tribute to her father, the late Tony Leonardi, former director of YSU’s jazz studies program, and provide him with the retirement concert he never had before his untimely passing in 2001.
The concert will feature the talents of more than 40 YSU alumni musicians from across the country who studied with Leonardi and were members of his acclaimed jazz program at YSU.
The performers will include:
Warren native Sean Jones, theGrammy award-winning trumpeter, composer, and chair of the jazz studies department of Peabody Institute at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore.
Youngstown native James Weldman, the Grammy-nominated pianist, composer, and assistant professor of jazz piano and African American Studies at the University of Georgia’s school of music.
Struthers native Dave Rivello, an award-winning composer, arranger, conductor, bandleader, author and professor at Eastman School of Music in New York.
Leonardi’s jazz program at YSU’s Dana School of Music began as an idea among a group of musicians who jammed together under his direction. The concept evolved into an accredited collegiate program that was ranked as one of the best in the country.
The group of musicians who will perform at the concert in July represents 32 years of YSU jazz under one roof and is a celebration of the Leonardi era at YSU.
As director of the jazz studies program, Leonardi brought a host of internationally renowned jazz musicians to YSU to work and perform with his students, including Chuck Mangione, Kenny Burrell, Stan Kenton, Thad Jones, Mel Lewis, Pepper Adams, Jiggs Whigham, James Moody, Clark Terry, Benny Golson, Marvin Stamm, Bob Mintzer, Jamey Aebersold, Eddie Daniels, Joanne Brackeen and Sal Nistico.
Many of Leonardi’s students who will perform at the concert have gone on to enjoy successful careers as performers, composers, arrangers, band leaders and teachers.
Before embarking on his career at YSU, Leonardi played with legendary performers including Nat King Cole, Sammy Davis Jr., Tony Bennett, Bobby Darin, Buddy Rich, and Stan Kenton. He toured the U.S. and Europe with various jazz groups, including his own quintet, The Jazz Explorers, and as a member of the Woody Herman Orchestra. He appears on four albums with Woody Herman.
Pictured at top: The late Tony Leonardi is shown in a classroom from his days as an instructor at YSU.