BiographyIt was at an early age Alan realized the importance that music would play in his life. Stevie Wonder, The Spinners, Nancy Wilson, A Tribe Called Quest, Groove Theory and the true gems of of Duke Ellington, John Coltrane, and Ella Fitzgerald built his musical love and foundation.
Alan started performing around his native city of Houston as a high school student, winning accolades and awards in local clubs, festivals, and talent shows. He was recognized on the collegiate level as well, as he was pursued by some of the best music institutions in the country after becoming a NFAA Awardee (National Foundation for Advancement in Arts). Alan studied at Juilliard and then at New York University as a Master candidate in Vocal Performance. It was short time after this period that he started performing in New York City and Toronto jazz clubs. In 2012, he released his debut album, Detour Ahead, to critical review. Her is the new ambitious release from Leatherman. While still drawing upon the Jazz roots that propelled him on his critically acclaimed, charting release Detour Ahead, Alan has masterfully strung together an eclectic collection of songs across varying genres that have influenced him. Alan takes a refreshing approach to soul, blues, and funk all through a jazz lens, held together singularly by the reality that “Good Music, Is Good Music” no matter the genera. |
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Jazz Times Magazine
"A potentially welcome addition to the impressive crop of young male stylist - Jose James, Gregory Porter, Milton Suggs and Sachal Vasandani principal among them - that is propelling post-millennial jazz singing."
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All About Jazz"Two tracks into Alan Leatherman's Detour Ahead and the phrase "sweet soul music" comes to mind. But this isn't the rarified realm of Sam Cooke or Otis Redding with ballads. Rather, Leatherman resides—and comfortably so—in the role of classic torch singer"
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Jazz Inside Magazine"From the opening title track “Detour Ahead” there is an elegance and grace that Leatherman brings to the table with his smooth style. He warns with the lyric “wake up, slow down before you crash and break your heart, gullible clown.” And you believe every caution- ary word because his delivery is real and thoroughly captivating."
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The Aquarian"Mostly though, his pure, clean, honest, organic, elegant vocals are in service to the song. He doesn’t stretch out the syllables like those obnoxious cartoon-character singers on American Idol. His voice is totally devoid of melisma. In other words, he doesn’t make the word “love,” for instance, into five syllables. He sings it sweet, unadorned, declarative, deceptively simplistic. He makes these timeless lyrics mean something again."
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