Tony Leone

Happy 95th Birthday to the great Jackie McLean… So many of us that came through his Department were affected by him and his music.
During my time at Hartt he was extremely encouraging, even sending me a postcard from one of his tours in Italy.. I’ll never forget playing with him for the first time at a school assembly … I was trying to play some solid, smooth, swinging time behind him when he turned around and shouted,“ GIMME ALL YOU GOT!!!” He wanted FIRE..🔥 Thanks for sharing that NYC fire with a kid from the suburbs of Hartford.

I really enjoyed talking with Matt Crouse at ! We talked about Little Feat as well as some other projects I’ve been a part of, Phil Lesh, Levon Helm, Jackie McLean and my Dad Tom, who got me started.
We also chatted about my recent gigs at Smalls in NYC and shifting gears between different styles and sonic pallets at the drums….Thanks Matt!

Join us Monday May 18th at Smalls Jazz Club or stream live for free at smallslive.com!! Mike D, Steve and I go way back to our formative years in Hartford CT and you can be sure we will be celebrating the birthday of the great Jackie Mclean (May 17!)with a few of his compositions…