Perhaps it takes places like the Valley to keep something as pure and non-commercial as jazz alive; its clubs and coffee houses provide venues, its radio stations serve it up on the airwaves to discriminating ears, and its colleges and universities teach the art. Grammy-winning jazz albums have been produced here, and luminaries such as Max Roach, Yusef Lateef and Archie Shepp have made the area home or graced the local halls of academia with their rich musical knowledge.
Bearing this in mind, it should come as no surprise that such a musical miasma occasionally boils up phenomena like Leah Randazzo, a young performer who prefers her jazz with a little cream and sugar. Injecting influences from soul and pop with all the seductive grace of a Charlie Parker syringe solo, Randazzo spills her smooth, silky soliloquies over a bed of first-rate instrumental arrangements courtesy of her tirelessly touring band. Randazzo was kind enough to lend us a few of her thoughts during a brief respite from a fairly rigorous schedule of East Coast dates.
Valley Advocate: When did you start studying music?
Leah Randazzo: Hmmm. I started playing music long before I started studying it… but I guess my official study began in about third grade with the piano. I've also studied voice over the years.
What instruments do you play?
Heh. See above. Just kidding—I play piano, though not terribly well. I compose with the piano, but rarely play it live. I also am a vocalist. Got to love your instrument being part of your body!
Who would you list as your biggest influences?
Stevie Wonder. Wow. It's rare I am so decisive about these things! But when it comes to Stevie, he simply can't be beat… I have worn out every album and still discover new things with each listen. He's absolutely positively my favorite, and I hope that he is a significant influence on my writing.
What percentage of the material you perform is original?
Well, it depends—is this a three-hour bar gig with drunk people approaching me onstage making requests, or a two-set club or listening room with a captive audience? No, I play 90 percent original music. I think it is always good to mix a few covers into a set in order to give the audience some idea of where you are coming from musically beyond original tunes. But for me, the large majority is original. It's really important to me to have an identity as a composer, not just a singer.
Have you ventured into different genres of music at all?
I have been approached by several MCs and producers to work on hip-hop stuff, actually, but nothing that has really happened yet.
You recently played a gig at New York City's famous Blue Note jazz club. How did it go?
Amazing, amazing, amazing! This gig was the best one yet. To be in a room with such energy—I mean we played after McCoy Tyner, for goodness sake!—and to have such a warm and positive response was absolutely amazing. I hope my career gets to the point where I can be playing that type of gig all of the time. And I hope that happens sooner rather than later!
Check out music, tour schedule and more at www.myspace.com/leahrandazzogroup.
