The Leaders
Soul & R&B band · formed 1985
- doo wop
- jazz
- Post-Bop
- rhythm and blues
- soul
- Shows on record
- 8
- Rooms played
- 6
- Cities
- 5
- Releases
- 6
- Last show
- Jan 13, 2025Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall
About
The Leaders is a band, formed in 1985, tagged doo wop, jazz, Post-Bop by its sources. Shows on record run from 2011 to 2025, across 6 rooms in 5 cities.
- The Leaders formed in 1985 — MusicBrainz
- Arthur Blythe: member — MusicBrainz
- Lester Bowie: member — MusicBrainz
- Chico Freeman: member — MusicBrainz
- The Leaders Trio: eponymous — MusicBrainz
- Kirk Lightsey: member — MusicBrainz
- Cecil McBee: member — MusicBrainz
- Famoudou Don Moye: member — MusicBrainz
- The Leaders has 6 release group(s) on MusicBrainz spanning 1986–2006 — MusicBrainz
- The Leaders has 3427 listeners on Last.fm — The Leaders on Last.fm
The summary is assembled from the record fields and shows on this page; each fact listed names its source. See Sources & corrections for what each source supplied.
Shows
8 on record · SongkickShows per year
- 20111 show
- 20144 shows
- 20253 shows
| Date | Venue | Billing | With |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 13, 2025 | Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall · PortlandSupportwith Oregon Symphony | Support | Oregon Symphony |
| Jan 12, 2025 | Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall · PortlandSupportwith Oregon Symphony | Support | Oregon Symphony |
| Jan 11, 2025 | Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall · PortlandSupportwith Oregon Symphony | Support | Oregon Symphony |
| May 19, 2014 | Loading Dock - Old Location · Salt Lake CitySupportwith The Heavy Hitters Fest [two Day Ticket], Murder Death Kill, Freya, +9 | Support | The Heavy Hitters Fest [two Day Ticket], Murder Death Kill, Freya, +9 |
| May 19, 2014 | Eagle Aerie Hall · HendersonSupportwith The Last Ten Seconds of Life, Murder Death Kill, Legion, +6 | Support | The Last Ten Seconds of Life, Murder Death Kill, Legion, +6 |
| Apr 14, 2014 | Thompson House · NewportSupportwith Thick As Blood, Legion, Face All Fears, +4 | Support | Thick As Blood, Legion, Face All Fears, +4 |
| Mar 26, 2014 | The Webster Underground · HartfordSupportwith Thick As Blood, Legion, Face All Fears, +4 | Support | Thick As Blood, Legion, Face All Fears, +4 |
| Jul 22, 2011 | Rotture · PortlandSupportwith Federation X, Danava, Gaytheist | Support | Federation X, Danava, Gaytheist |
Where they play
6 rooms in 5 citiesRooms played most
- Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall · Portland3 shows
- Eagle Aerie Hall · Henderson1 show
- Loading Dock - Old Location · Salt Lake City1 show
- Rotture · Portland1 show
- The Webster Underground · Hartford1 show
Cities played
- Portland4 shows
- Hartford1 show
- Henderson1 show
- Newport1 show
- Salt Lake City1 show
Live history
7 shows on record- Shows counted
- 7
- First on record
- Jul 2011
- Latest on record
- Jan 2025
Shows per year
- 20111
- 20143
- 20253
Top rooms
- Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, Portland · 3
- Loading Dock - Old Location, Salt Lake City · 1
- Thompson House, Newport · 1
- The Webster Underground, Hartford · 1
- Rotture, Portland · 1
Top cities
- Portland, OR · 4
- Salt Lake City, UT · 1
- Newport · 1
- Hartford, CT · 1
Often on the bill with: Oregon Symphony, Thick As Blood, Ashylus, Behold the Legend, Danava, Death of an Era, Demolisher, Endless
Counted from the shows BandSlate holds; missing shows are not counted.
Releases
6 releases, 1986–2006Spirits Alike
2006 · Album
Slipping and Sliding
1994 · Album
Unforeseen Blessings
1989 · Album
Out Here Like This...
1988 · Album
Mudfoot
1986 · Album
2007-10-18: JVC Jazz Festival, New Morning, Paris, France
Album
Discography
7 releases, 1986–2006- 2006Spirits AlikeAlbum
Double Moon Records · DMCHR 71060
- 1994Slipping and SlidingAlbum
Sound Hills Records · SSCD-8054 · Engineer: Joe Marciano; Executive-Producer: Hirakazu Sasabe; Producer: The Leaders
- 1990Jazz À ParisRelease
Charly Video · VIDJAM33 · Producer: Hubert Niogret
- 1989Unforeseen BlessingsAlbum
Black Saint · 120 129-2 · Engineer [Assistant, Mixing]: James MacMillan; Engineer [Assistant]: Ollie Cotton; Engineer, Mixed By: Jon Rosenberg; Mastered By: Gennaro Carone
- 1988Out Here Like This...Album
Black Saint · 120 119-1 · Engineer [Asst. Engineer, Studio des Dames]: Christophe Marais; Engineer [East Side Studios]: Nicholas Prout; Engineer [PhonoComp]: Gennaro Carone; Engineer [Studio Consultant, East Side Studios]: Lou Holtzman
- 1986MudfootAlbum
Blackhawk Records · BKH 52001
- n.d.2007-10-18: JVC Jazz Festival, New Morning, Paris, FranceLive
[no label]
Compiled from MusicBrainz and Discogs. Releases not listed there are not shown.
Lineup
- Arthur Blythe
- Lester Bowie
- Chico Freeman
- The Leaders Trio · eponymous
- Kirk Lightsey
- Cecil McBee
- Famoudou Don Moye
Airplay
Lineup history
13 members on record- Arthur Blythetenure unknown
- Billy Harttenure unknown
- Bobby Watsontenure unknown
- Cecil McBeetenure unknown
- Chico Freemantenure unknown
- Don Cherrytenure unknown
- Don Pullentenure unknown
- Eddie Hendersontenure unknown
- Famoudou Don Moyetenure unknown
- Fred Harristenure unknown
- Hilton Ruiztenure unknown
- Kirk Lightseytenure unknown
Show 1 more members
- Lester Bowietenure unknown
Years come from public music databases. Where none says a member left, the end is shown as unknown; it does not mean they are still in the band.
Members also play in: Alan Silva and The Celestrial Communication Orchestra (via Famoudou Don Moye), Art Ensemble of Chicago (via Famoudou Don Moye), Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians (via Lester Bowie), Chico Freeman Quartet (via Famoudou Don Moye), Gianni Lenoci Quintet (via Famoudou Don Moye), Hamiet Bluiett Quartet (via Famoudou Don Moye), Kirk Lightsey Trio (via Famoudou Don Moye), Lester Bowie Ensemble (via Lester Bowie) and 6 more
Shares members with: Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers (via Bobby Watson), Charles Tyler Ensemble (via Arthur Blythe), David Liebman Ensemble (via Cecil McBee), David Murray & Low Class Conspiracy (via Don Pullen), Don Pullen & The African-Brazilian Connection (via Don Pullen), Gil Evans And His Orchestra (via Arthur Blythe), Kahil El'Zabar's Ritual Trio (via Lester Bowie), Kamal & The Brothers (via Bobby Watson) and 6 more
Photos, art and posters
Sources & corrections
| Source | Used for |
|---|---|
| MusicBrainz | Artist facts |
| The Leaders on Last.fm | Artist facts |
| KEXP | Airplay |
| Songkick | Show history, Show posters |
| Last.fm | Credited on the record; no item on this page cites it |
| Wikidata | Credited on the record; no item on this page cites it |
This is a partial record of publicly documented activity. Missing shows, releases or members do not mean there are none. It does not confirm availability for booking.