Just Doin' Our Thang

Bradley Leighton | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 20, 2005)
• Original Release Date: January 31, 2005
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Pacific Coast Jazz
• ASIN: B0007QN4MI
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #294,880 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

About the Artist

Classically trained, Bradley Leighton was greatly influenced by the last of the great touring Big Bands like Basie, Kenton and Maynard and all their talented personnel. It was in the after-hours clubs of Tacoma, Washington where he developed his unique sound and style. He was jamming almost nightly with great local musicians who generously shared their bandstands while playing a steady stream of Earth Wind and Fire, Tower of Power and other classic R&B tunes for Bradley to cut his teeth on.

Upon graduating high school, he played in the Army’s 9th Infantry Division band at Ft. Lewis, Washington, where he served for a time as musical director of the jazz ensemble. After a tour of service with the 8th Army band in Seoul, Korea, he remained in Seoul teaching and playing jazz in the country’s only jazz bar.

After Korea, he returned to Seattle where he spent the next 15 years playing in a wide variety of rhythm and blues bands, Hammond organ trios, funk dance bands and straight-ahead jazz bands. His career has included shows with international stars such as Bobby McFerrin, Clark Terry, Dizzy Gillespie and Patti Kim. His career found him in San Diego in 2001 where he recorded and released his first solo CD, "Groove Yard" in 2003. Derek Winterberg of the "thesmoothjazzsite.com" said, "This is straight-ahead jazz for the smooth and contemporary jazz set. His selections definitely have the unmistakable energy and improvisation that mark it as straight-ahead but are so warm and inviting that it would be appropriate to have it playing while you’re romanticizing that special someone in your life."

In addition to Bradley’s recording career, he is a clinician and teacher and has received kudos for his workshop, "Jazz Improvisation for the Classically Trained Flutist" as well as "Music For Life – Improvisation for the Adult Amateur Musician." Bradley sums up his theory on music education quite simply: "We need to make music fun for everyone again. It’s not an elitist pursuit reserved for artists and performers, it’s something anyone can do at any point in their lives for fun, relaxation or personal gratification."

He performs weekly at the club Aurora Trattoria in downtown La Jolla, California as well as various clubs in the San Diego area. He has performed for many corporate events in San Diego, Seattle, Boston and Las Vegas.

Product Description

Produced by percussionist and composer/producer Allan Phillips, Just Doin' Our Thang continues carving a niche for the talented Leighton as a straight-ahead jazzman for the smooth and contemporary set. The record is warm and easy on the ears but with no lack of technical prowess. Pacific Coast Jazz. 2005.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Smoothjazz.com Review, June 20, 2005

By 

Sandy Shore (Monterey, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Just Doin' Our Thang (Audio CD)

If ever there was an album that exemplified the Smoothjazz.com concept of "Where Smooth Jazz meets Cool Jazz," then this new release from flutist Bradley Leighton is it! JUST DOIN' OUR THANG is a first-rate collection of eight jazz and pop standards...plus four originals...that beautifully illustrates why the alto flute and the Hammond B3 just might be the most sensual combination of sound and texture in music. The concept of this album intrigued me right from the beginning. When I started listening, my expectations were easily exceeded. A Seattle native, transplanted down the Coast to San Diego in 2001, Mr. Leighton knows his way around jazz, having spent many years as Seattle's "first call" flutist. JUST DOIN' OUR THANG is his second CD release, and I can't begin to tell you how striking the B3 Trio setting is for his mellow, hip flute sound. From his incredibly sexy read (or should I say "reed") on the beautiful "Europa" to his spunky take on the "Pink Panther Theme"...from the sultry "Ain't No Sunshine" to the Bossa-flavored "Deep Sea" (penned by percussionist Allan Phillips), JUST DOIN' OUR THANG is full of inventive, inspired playing. This one's going to be spending a lot of time in my player this summer, and my recommendation is to get a copy for yourself. In the case of Bradley Leighton's JUST DOIN' OUR THANG, Smooth Jazz has met Cool Jazz...and there's definitely something going on between them! ~Scott O'Brien

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Music For My Ears, July 9, 2005

By 

Timothy T. Taylor "JavaMan" (Portland, Oregon United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Just Doin' Our Thang (Audio CD)

Sandy Shore has published an excellent review of the album. I merely want to add I disc jockey a program on a jazz station in the northwest. Bradley & Company have a sound that is just what I like. The album just recently hit our new release shelf. I left station at the end of the shift and purchased. Alto Flute is a beautiful sound, but this combination with the Hammond B3 and rythmn is candy to my ears.. It is a good album for your Jazz Collection.