The Leaders is a

jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a major ...

supergroup Supergroup or super group may refer to: * Supergroup (music), a music group formed by artists who are already notable or respected in their fields * Supergroup (physics), a generalization of groups, used in the study of supersymmetry * Supergroup ...

formed in 1983. The initial lineup of the Leaders was put together in 1983 by saxophonist

Chico Freeman Chico Freeman (born Earl Lavon Freeman Jr.; July 17, 1949) is a modern jazz tenor saxophonist and trumpeter and son of jazz saxophonist Von Freeman. He began recording as lead musician in 1976 with ''Morning Prayer'', won the New York Jazz Award ...

and featured trumpeter

Don Cherry Donald Stewart Cherry (born February 5, 1934) is a Canadian former ice hockey player, coach, and television commentator. Cherry played one game in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Boston Bruins, and later coached the team for five se ...

, alto saxophonist

Arthur Blythe Arthur Murray Blythe (May 7, 1940 – March 27, 2017) was an American jazz alto saxophonist and composer. He was described by critic Chris Kelsey as displaying "one of the most easily recognizable alto sax sounds in jazz, big and round, with a f ...

, along with a rhythm section of pianist

Don Pullen Don Gabriel Pullen (December 25, 1941 – April 22, 1995) was an American jazz pianist and organist. Pullen developed a strikingly individual style throughout his career. He composed pieces ranging from blues to bebop and modern jazz. The great ...

, bassist

Cecil McBee Cecil McBee (born May 19, 1935) is an American jazz bassist. He has recorded as a leader only a handful of times since the 1970s, but has contributed as a sideman to a number of jazz albums. Biography Early life and career McBee was born in Tu ...

, and drummer

Famoudou Don Moye Donald Moye, Jr. (born May 23, 1946), known as Famoudou Don Moye, is an American jazz percussionist and drummer. He is most known for his involvement with the Art Ensemble of Chicago and is noted for his mastery of African and Caribbean percuss ...

. In the second incarnation of the Leaders in 1984, pianist

was replaced with

Hilton Ruiz Hilton Ruiz (May 29, 1952 – June 6, 2006) was an American jazz pianist in the Afro-Cuban jazz mold, but was also a talented bebop player. He was of Puerto Rican descent. Biography Born in New York City, Ruiz began playing piano at the age of f ...

. In 1985, the third and final incarnation of the Leaders, pianist

was replaced by

Kirk Lightsey Kirkland "Kirk" Lightsey (born February 15, 1937, Detroit, Michigan) is an American jazz pianist. Biography Lightsey had piano instruction from the age of five and studied piano and clarinet through high school. After service in the Army, Lights ...

and trumpeter

was replaced by

Lester Bowie Lester Bowie (October 11, 1941 – November 8, 1999) was an American jazz trumpet player and composer. He was a member of the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians and co-founded the Art Ensemble of Chicago. Biography Born in t ...

. The Leaders released four albums in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The rhythm section also recorded one album on their own as The Leaders Trio (''

Heaven Dance ''Heaven Dance'' is an album by The Leaders Trio, pianist Kirk Lightsey, bassist Cecil McBee and drummer Don Moye, that was recorded in 1988 and released by the Sunnyside label.

'', 1988). In 2007 a new and reconstituted Leaders, again formed by

consisted of Freeman and McBee alongside Eddie Henderson on trumpet,

Bobby Watson Robert Michael Watson Jr. (born August 23, 1953), known professionally as Bobby Watson, is an American saxophonist, composer, and educator. Music career Watson was born in Lawrence, Kansas, United States, and grew up in Kansas City, Kansas. He ...

on alto, Fred Harris on piano, and

Billy Hart Billy Hart (born November 29, 1940) is an American jazz drummer and educator. He is known internationally for his work with Herbie Hancock's "Mwandishi" band in the early 1970s, as well with Shirley Horn, Stan Getz, and Quest, among others. Bi ...

on drums, released the album '' Spirits Alike''.

Discography

* 1986: ''

Mudfoot ''Mudfoot'' is the debut album by the all-star jazz group The Leaders released on the Black Hawk Records, Black Hawk label in 1986. The album features performances by Lester Bowie, Chico Freeman, Arthur Blythe, Cecil McBee, Kirk Lightsey and Don Mo ...

'' (Black-Hawk) * 1987: ''

Out Here Like This ''Out Here Like This'' is a jazz album released in 1987. It was the second album by the all-star jazz group The Leaders and the first to be released on the Italian Black Saint label. The album features performances by Lester Bowie, Chico Freeman, ...

'' (

Black Saint Black Saint and Soul Note are two affiliated Italian independent record labels. Since their conception in the 1970s, they have released albums from a variety of influential jazz musicians, particularly in the genre of free jazz. History Black S ...

) * 1988: ''

Heaven Dance ''Heaven Dance'' is an album by The Leaders Trio, pianist Kirk Lightsey, bassist Cecil McBee and drummer Don Moye, that was recorded in 1988 and released by the Sunnyside label.

'' ( Sunnyside), piano trio album * 1988: '' Unforeseen Blessings'' (Black Saint) * 1994: '' Slipping and Sliding'' (Sound Hills Records) Japanese release * 2006: '' Spirits Alike'' (Double Moon)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Leaders, The American jazz ensembles Jazz supergroups Black Saint/Soul Note artists 1983 establishments in the United States Musical groups established in 1983 Sunnyside Records artists