Harlan Leonard

Harlan Leonard (Kansas City, July 2, 1905 - november 10, 1983) was an American jazzclarinetist, saxophonist and-bandleader.

Leonard played in the territoryband of George e. Lee and joined around 1923 with the Orchestra of Bennie Slices, where he led the reedsection until 1931. He moved to France with Thamon Hayes in the Kansas City Skyrockets, which, inter alia, Vic Dickenson and Jesse Stone were active. After the end of the band he founded Harlan Leonard and His Rockets on. the band played a mix of swing and bop and was one of the best-known bands in Kansas City. The group fell apart in 1936, but Leonard came in 1937/1938 with a second version, with musicians from the Group of Jimmy Keith. Charlie Parker played five weeks In 1938 in the group, but he was fired because of a lack of discipline. Leonard played In 1940 some time in different ballrooms in Chicago and he took 23 numbers on the group returned a year later. back to Kansas City and toured the Orchestra in the Middle West. In 1943 the Orchestra toured on the west coast and entered the Club Alabam on in for a year in Los Angeles, where it accompanied Little Miss Cornshucks also singer.Around 1945 the group worked only in Kansas City. After the end of the band joined Leonard occasionally on in local clubs, until he put a point behind and began a career with the tax authorities.

Leonard has appeared on recordings by Count Basie, Slices, Jelly Roll Morton, Jimmy Rushing and George Shearing. ==Discography[ Edit] ==
 * 1940-Harlan Leonard and His Rockets, Chronological Classics, 1992