Mac & Moss Combo

Join us on March 17 at 7:00 pm to enjoy the music of the Mac and Moss Combo, including the standard jazz tunes from the “Great American Songbook” such as Blue Moon, Moonglow, All of Me, Moon River, Somewhere Over the Rainbow, and Satin Doll.

The Mac and Moss Combo features Nancy McLemore on vocals, Mike Moss on guitar, Jon Ford on bass and Don Wendorf on drums.

Tickets are $10.00. For reservations call 205-699-1892 and leave a message after the beep including your name and phone number and the number of tickets you need. Someone will return your call to confirm your reservation. Reservations are not required. Let us know if special seating is required.

The audience is invited to sing along, dance, or just sit back, relax, and listen to these favorites.

UAB Jazz Faculty Quintet – February 11 @ 4:00 pm

The UAB Jazz Faculty Quintet is made up of some of the finest jazz musicians in Alabama.  It includes UAB jazz professors Gary Wheat (saxophone), Michael Glaser (drums), Carlos Pino (guitar), Brandon Peeples (bass), and is led by UAB jazz director Steve Roberts (trumpet).  They perform together regularly at UAB and around the region including a monthly concert on every second Thursday at noon at the UAB Hospital’s north pavilion atrium.  This fall they will complete their second international tour of the country of Colombia.

Dr. Steven Roberts, Trumpet

Dr. Steven Roberts is associate professor of jazz studies and trumpet at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Previously, he was assistant professor of trumpet and jazz at Mars Hill College after holding a similar position at Iowa State University. He is an active teacher and freelance musician and has performed with Kirk Whalum, Vincent DiMartino, Ryan Anthony, Jon Faddis, Allen Vizzutti, Cecil and Deedee Bridgewater, Chip McNeill, Jim Pugh, Charo and many others. His group “The Roberts Jazz Project” released their album ‘Let’s Fall in Love’ in 2012.  This album features Roberts on both trumpet and keyboard.  He is music director for Unity Church of Birmingham and Saint Junia United Methodist.

As director of the UAB Jazz Ensemble, Roberts has led the group to first place in the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame competition three out of the last four years.  Roberts has premiered arrangements for trumpet ensemble at two International Trumpet Guild conferences, and in October 2012 premiered an original brass quintet arrangement on an Eastern European quintet tour.  In the summer of 2014, Roberts toured Europe for a month, splitting time with the UAB Faculty Brass Quintet, the rock band “Downright”, and completing the tour with his group “The Roberts Jazz Project.”  UAB Jazz returned to Europe under Roberts’ direction in July of 2016 with a mini big band and performed for thousands in Austria, Italy, and Germany.

Carlos Pino, Guitar

Carlos Pino, a Jazz guitarist and composer from Birmingham Alabama, is a graduate from the University of Alabama (B.A.) and Rutgers University (M.M. in Jazz Studies). While in college, Carlos studied guitar under Brian Lutterbie, Tom Wolfe, then Vic Juris. Carlos also studied briefly with Jack Wilkins, Paul Bollenbach, and Ralph Bowen. He has shared the stage with artists such as Ellis Marsalis, Claudio Roditi, Oteil Burbridge, Col. Bruce Hampton, and Bill Kruetzmann.

Pino has performed all over the U.S., Japan, and Colombia. Over the last 15 years Pino led various jazz and fusion groups and is a sideman in several groups, ranging from big band jazz, spoken word improv, to rock and bluegrass. He has released two albums under his name. Pino has also performed on various radio shows such as “Wait, Wait, Don’t Tell Me” and “The Rick and Bubba Show”.

Pino is in demand as a guitarist because of his versatility in various musical styles. He was recently awarded honors at the Festival Bandola in 2016 in Sevilla, Colombia, for his contributions to the festival as an artist, and for his work to bring American musicians to perform at the festival and throughout Colombia. Carlos has been invited as a guest artist to the Confajazz festival in Manizales Colombia in September 2017, as a performer and Clinician.

Brandon Peeples, Bass

Brandon Peeples has been playing music since the age of 9.  Starting out on Alto Saxophone, his talents developed quickly, and after only two years on the instrument, Brandon was selected to play with the Denver Youth Wind Symphony while living in Colorado. At the age of 13 Brandon began playing bass here in Birmingham.  By 16 he was playing professionally in local clubs.  Upon graduating from high school, Brandon received a music scholarship to UAB, but soon was getting calls to go on national and international tours with various groups.  From 2002-2006 Brandon toured the U.S., Europe, and the Caribbean extensively, and recorded several albums with the swing band Band the Buzz. In 2006 he settled back to Birmingham where he has toured regionally with Frankie Velvet and The Mighty Veltones as well as several different local bands.  Starting in 2010 Brandon has toured nationally with American Idol Season 5 winner Taylor Hicks.  Brandon has performed with Willie Nelson, John Fogarty, The Little River Band, Silverchair, Derek St. Holmes, Jeff Carlisi of .38 Special, Yonrico Scott, Tommy Talton from the Greg Allman Band and Cowboy, Georgia Music Hall of Fame member Jimmy Hall of Wet Willie, Rolling Stones keyboardist Chuck Leavell, and many other local and regional legends. While not on the road, Brandon can be found recording in Birmingham at Sound of Birmingham Studios, Boutwell Studios, and Gintown Studios, as well as playing live five nights a week. He is currently endorsed with Euphonic Audio Amps, Lakland Basses, and Thomastik-Infeld Strings.  He teaches as an adjunct instructor for the UAB Department of Music in Applied Bass.

Gary Wheat, Saxophone

Gary Wheat has been performing and teaching professionally in Birmingham for 15 years.  After studying with Dr. Jonathan Noffsinger at the University of Alabama and earning his Jazz Studies Bachelor’s degree, Mr. Wheat moved to Birmingham to play with his first band, Meteorite, and to travel across the country to play with national touring musical acts such as the Temptations, the Four Tops, the O’Jays, Percy Sledge, and Frankie Valli.  At home, he has logged countless hours at gigs and jam sessions with local jazz names like Cleve Eaton, Bo Berry, Chad Fisher, and Tommy Stewart.  Mr. Wheat has taught saxophone and jazz in private and class settings since August 2000, building relationships with band directors at most Birmingham metro area public middle and high schools.  He also has years of college-level teaching experience at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.  He released his first album, comprised of original modern jazz pieces, in the summer of 2016.  It is entitled Star Child and is available for purchase on iTunes, Amazon music, and other online retailers.

Michael Glaser, Drum Set

Michael Glaser is the first call drummer for many of the finest sounds in Birmingham: String Theory, Chad Fisher, The Birmingham Seven, Choko Aiken, The Magic Shtetl Klezmer Band, The Jason Bailey Band, Matthew DeVine’s Big Greasy Brass Band, and Rob Alley’s Alabama Songbook.  He covers lots of styles with these groups: original modern jazz, ‘30s-‘40s swing, Afrobeat & funk, classic rock and pop arranged for a string quartet, Jewish folk music, New Orleans sounds, drums for African dance, and more.

He is also a bandleader, transcribing, arranging, and performing the music of his favorite jazz composers and performers.  He has played in major music festivals in New York City and Lucerne, Switzerland, and did a six-city tour of Colombia with a UAB Jazz faculty group in November 2014.  He has worked as a sideman with nationally and internationally-known artists like John P. Strohm (Blake Babies, Lemonheads), Johnny O’Neal (Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers, Ray Brown, Lionel Hampton), Ron McCurdy (The Langston Hughes Project), musician & spoken word artist Malcolm-Jamal Warner, and Guinean dance master Youssouf Koumbassa.

Michael is a graduate of Davidson College (B.A.).  He enjoys teaching drumset lessons in the jazz and Music Technology programs at UAB as well as playing in the UAB Jazz Faculty Quintet / Septet, and he teaches drummers of all ages in Birmingham.  Visit www.MichaelGlaserMusic.com

Brandi Overbeck and the Shades of Grey

The Leeds Arts Council presents Brandi Overbeck and the Shades of Grey Band on Jan. 27, 2018 at 7:00 pm.  Tickets are $10.00.

The Shades of Grey Band includes Kevin Grigsby on piano, Jon McClaran on drums, Steve Garrett on bass, David Gomez on guitar, and Billy Crocker on saxophone.

Reservations can be made by calling 205-699-1892 and leaving a message that includes your name, phone number, and the number of tickets needed. Someone will return your call to confirm your reservation.

The Leeds Theatre and Arts Center is located at 8140 Parkway Drive in Downtown Leeds.

Jason Petty presents, “Hank Williams – The Lonesome Tour”

The Leeds Arts Council is excited to bring tribute artist Jason Petty presenting “Hank Williams – The Lonesome Tour” to the Leeds Theatre and Arts Center on September 23 at 7:00 pm. Tickets are $20.00.

Due to the popularity of this show, reservations are recommended! Call 205-699-1892 and leave a message including your name, phone number, and the number of tickets you need. Someone will return your call to confirm your reservation. You may pay by cash, check, or credit card. If paying by credit card there is a $1.00 per ticket service charge.

Jason Petty began his acting and singing odyssey on the stage of the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee portraying country music legend, Hank Williams, in the musical, “Lost Highway”. After several national tours Petty went to New York for an off Broadway run of the show and won the OBIE Award for Outstanding Performance in 2003.

When Jason first performed the role of Hank Williams at the Ryman in Tennessee in 1996, little did he imagine that some 20 years later he would still be portraying this legendary man in his own highly acclaimed show. Petty met and became friends with Williams friends and family members, musicians, and fellow Grand Ole Opry stars. They shared with him the intimate details of this legend’s life and career. From the good times to the hard times, Jason listened and began to understand this man like no other. Now he brings that intimate story to life in this one man tribute.

The Leeds Theatre and Arts Center is located at 8140 Parkway Drive in Downtown Leeds. We are handicapped accessible so when you call for reservations please let us know if you are in a wheelchair.

Come and join us for an evening you will never forget!

Shades Mountain Air

Shades Mountain Air will bring their special mix of bluegrass, newgrass, and gospel to the Leeds Arts Center on Saturday, August 19, at 7:00 pm.  All seats are $10.

Shades Mountain Air has been together since 1998, performing at a wide variety of venues. The members are: Nancy Womble on bass and lead vocals; Gary Furr on guitar and vocals; Greg Womble on banjo and vocals; Don Wendorf on banjo, mandolin and hammer dulcimer; and Melanie Richardson Rogers on fiddle and vocals. They have all been playing and singing for many years and all have performed with other groups and bands. Their musical experiences are as diverse as classical, folk, rock and roll, and contemporary Christian. However, they have found a common love in original acoustic music, roots music, and bluegrass.

They describe themselves as “an acoustic band that mixes modern, traditional, and gospel bluegrass styles”. You will hear a little of everything from Bill Monroe to James Taylor and even something they call “mariachigrass” along with original compositions by Gary.  Tight vocals, solid arrangements, good picking, and high energy is coming your way!

Reservations are not required, but if you wish to make reservations, call the LAC office at 205-699-1892. Leave your name, phone number, and the number of tickets you need and we will return your call. We are handicapped accessible so let someone know before showtime if you need special seating.

 

Leeds Community Chorus Spring Concert

The Leeds Community Chorus will present their Spring Concert on June 3, 2017 at the Leeds Arts Center.

This year’s show, entitled, An American Songbook, will feature songs of American culture from Stephen Foster to the Beach Boys.

Special guest performance by The Clay Boys, a local Blue Grass ensemble, plus other featured singers.

Saturday only, 7:00 PM at the Leeds Arts Center.

Admission is $10.00. Call 205-699-1892 for reservations, or tickets may be purchased at the door.

The Something Else Trio

Something Else Trio - March 18 @ 7:00 pm - $10

Leeds Arts Council presents the Something Else Trio on March 18 at 7:00 PM!  Admission is $10.

Merle, Peggy and Sylvia have been singing together for years and now bring their repertoire of classics from the 40s, 50s, and beyond to the Leeds Arts Center. Don’t miss this evening of memorable favorites from one of Alabama’s best trios!

For reservations call 205-699-1892.  Reservations are not required, tickets are available at the door.