Leon Parker

Not to be confused with the baritone saxophonist Leo Parker.

Leon Parker (born August 21, 1965 in White Plains, New York) is a jazz percussionist and composer. He studied drums from age 11 and had classical training in his teens. He went on to study jazz under the tutelage of Barry Harris. His recording debut would be with Harvie S. His first wife Lisa is a flautist and he had worked with her musically. He often plays minimalist drum kits, sometimes consisting of only one cymbal.

His 1998 album, Awakening (Columbia Records) made it to 20th at Billboard (magazine)'s "Top Jazz albums."

Discography

As leader

• 1994: Above & Below (Epicure)
• 1996: Belief (Columbia)
• 1998: Awakening (Columbia)
• 2001: The Simple Life (Label M)

Collaborations

• 1999: Duo with Charlie Hunter (Blue Note)

As sideman

With Dewey Redman & Joshua Redman

• Choices (Enja, 1992)

With Jesse Davis

• As We Speak (Concord Jazz, 1992)

With MTB (Brad Mehldau, Mark Turner, Peter Bernstein)

• Consenting Adults (Criss Cross Jazz, 1994)

With Jacky Terrasson

• Jacky Terrasson (Bluenote, 1994)

With Don Braden

• Organic (Epicure, 1995)

With James Carter

• The Real Quiet Storm (Atlantic, 1995)

With Franck Amsallem and Tim Ries

• Is That So, Sunnyside Records 1996

With Virginia Mayhew

• Nini Green (Chiaroscuro, 1997)

With Jacky Terrasson

• Alive (Bluenote, 1998)

With Giovanni Mirabassi

• Terra Furiosa (Discograph, 2008)

With Giovanni Mirabassi

• Out of Track (Discograph, 2009)

With Giovanni Mirabassi and Gianluca Renzi

• Live At the Blue Note, Tokyo (Discograph, 2010)