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Artist
Donna Leonhart
9+ albums
about
Donna Leonhart started her vocal career in New York’s Greenwich Village in the 1960’s. Donna performed in clubs all over New York, and appeared in commercials and musicals Off Broadway. A life-long student of jazz, Donna’s early influences came from attending live performances by some of the greatest musicians of our time, most notably: Bill Evans at the Top of the Gate, Judy Garland at Carnegie Hall, Count Basie at Birdland. She even had the opportunity to meet Duke Ellington, which she likens to “meeting God, if I believed in Him.” Foregoing an offer from Marian McPartland to sponsor her vocal career, Donna chose to get married and start a family. Although she was not actively pursuing her singing career, Donna never strayed very far from music. Married to bassist Jay Leonhart and mother of vocalist Carolyn Leonhart and trumpeter Michael Leonhart, Donna performed solo and with her family at jazz festivals and concerts all over the world. One of her most memorable performances was singing “Detour Ahead” with composer Johnny Frigo at the Umbria Jazz Festival in the late 90s. In 2001, Donna released her debut album, Bein’ Green on the Sunnyside label, marking her reemergence in the jazz world as an indomitable voice. Named Album of the Month on French Jazz Radio, Bein’ Green has received critical acclaim in addition to its popular appeal. Of the title track, David R. Adler of EMusic.com wrote: “When [Donna Leonhart] sings this song of hard-won yet tentative self-acceptance,
