Aaron Leaney, born December 5, 1983, is a Canadian jazz saxophonist and composer who has been performing since the late 1990’s. He has worked across a great variety of genres, from avant-guard improvised music to alt rock. He is an experienced and trained jazz musician but by no means does he choose to remain limited in one genre of music. His musical personality finds him foremost as an improviser; he treasures the immediacy of a spontaneous moment and what the results achieve. But his appreciation and deep investigation in composition allows him to be free within any given form and yet never detached from it.
In 2005, a live radio broadcast performance resulted in the inclusion on ‘Alive From CJSW’ a CJSW 90.9FM double CD. This performance included three of Leaney’s “Compositions for
Saxophone & Drums” pieces, of which No. 2 is featured on the recording. His first LP recording entitled ‘Duo’ released in October 2006, highlights his exploring spirit and ability to play completely spontaneous improvised music. The music was recorded live in Calgary and released independently. In late 2005 he began performing with the Toronto alt rock group, The Postage Stamps. In the summer of 2006 they recorded a full length record ‘This Ugly Arrangement.’ Although the music was completely written prior to the recording session the saxophone parts remained improvised and were recorded direct off the floor with the band; a coinciding Eastern Canada tour took place at the beginning of 2007.
He first began studying music seriously at Mount Royal College in Calgary, Alberta. His time there allowed him to study with Gary DeBoek, John Hyde, Eric Friedenberg, and Bob Day. During this time he formed a group with other students in the Jazz Studies program which provided him with performing experience at various clubs and private functions.
The next year Aaron moved to Toronto to attend Humber College where he graduated with his Bachelor’s of Music in Jazz Studies with honours. For two years in Toronto, Aaron studied privately with saxophonist Pat LaBarbera, whose credits span from Buddy Rich to Elvin Jones. At Humber he was able to learn from, Kelly Jefferson, Brian Dickinson, Kirk MacDonald, and Don Thompson among others. During his final year at Humber he played in the Humber Studio Big Band under the leadership of Denny Christianson. Since 2001, he has been teaching all levels of improvisation, theory and woodwinds (saxophone, flute, and clarinet) for children and adults. His passion for music fuels his love for passing on what he has learned to others.
Compositionally, Leaney brings a long list of influences to his recordings, among others, Wayne Shorter, Thelonious Monk, reggae icon Bob Marley, producer Daniel Lanois, Brian Blade, Johann Sebastian Bach, and Icelandic vocalist Björk. As a saxophonist, he has been influenced by the music of John Coltrane, Steve Lacy, Sonny Rollins, Wayne Shorter, Fela Kuti, and Ken Vandermark.
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DISCOGRAPHY
Aaron Leaney Three, Aaron Leaney, Thom Golub, Chris Dadge (2008)
This Ugly Arrangement, The Postage Stamps, (2007) Produced by Howard Bilerman at
Hotel2tango, Montreal
Duo, Aaron Leaney and Chris Dadge, (2006)
Alive From CJSW, Various Artists, CJSWAOK (2005)
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2007-2008 © Aaron Leaney, all rights reserved