Leanne Weatherly Quintet Jazz for Sweethearts Concert in San Jose February 9

February is a time to express one's love and admiration for his or her sweetheart. Crittenden Middle School's Music Teacher Leanne Weatherly is busy expressing her love and passion for creating and singing jazz music. Teacher by day, singer/songwriter by night. You would think these would conflict but they compliment each other. “Music is my life and by performing it professionally, I am showing the kids that you can do anything your heart desires if it is your passion. It took them by surprise when I showed them my two CDs. They had no idea that their teacher could also be a recording artist and performer."

Leanne has a degree from San Jose State University in Voice. She is also a member of the West Coast Songwriters Association where she learned the craft of songwriting. It was there that she met Concord Records A&R Vice-President Nick Phillips. While she is not currently signed with the label, Nick has played trumpet on her latest CD and is helping her get funding for her next project. Leanne is hoping that her next album will get their attention. Her team is working very hard on it and she has one of the best Bay Area producers, Tom Tomasello, helping her record this project.

Leanne Weatherly began singing at the age of 13 in musicals. Ever since then, she has been pursuing her dream of becoming a touring jazz artist and music education advocate. She is still taking voice lessons and attends seminars for songwriting. Her song “Sunny Skies" with its Michael Buble-style big band arrangement won fourth place out of 708 other songs on the American Idol Underground contest web site. “I like to sing, write good songs, learn as much as I can about the music industry and talk about the importance of music education. Someday, I want to be able to raise money for music programs in need of funding."

After performing with guitar player Pat Smith for three years at the Espresso Garden Cafe's Open Mics, Leanne decided to put her own band together and began booking gigs. “We started in a coffee house when we were in our development phase. We then moved on to Santana Row and the Agenda Lounge. Now we are getting bookings throughout the Bay Area."

Listing her influences, Leanne says, “I have heard people tell me that I sound like Diane Schuur or Linda Ronstadt in her jazz days." I don't mind that at all! They are great singers". Her songwriting is similar to the style of Norah Jones and Michael Buble. “It's kind of a cross between jazz and pop music. I like to cross genres so that everyone can listen to it...from the young teenager to the seasoned jazz listener. Jazz is a great genre that is not marketed towards the youth often enough."

You can see Leanne and her quintet perform at the Agenda Lounge on Friday, February 9th at 7:30 p.m. Admission is free. Check out her web site at: www.leanneweatherly.com.

WHO: The Leanne Weatherly Quintet
WHAT: Jazz for Sweethearts Concert
WHEN: Friday, February 9, 2007
WHERE: The Agenda Lounge
399 South First Street
San Jose, CA 95113-2804
(408) 287-3991