Brad Leali - saxophone

Mihajlo Blam - contrabass

Dragan Calina - piano

Montez Coleman - drums

BRADFORD BRAD LEALI - A native of Denver, he began playing the saxophone in junior high school. It was while listening to his father's recordings of jazz masters such as Miles Davis and Cannonball Adderley that he became intrigued with jazz. He attended the University of North Texas where he performed with the world renowned One O'clock Lab Band and played the Dallas scene with local tenor saxophone legends, James Clay and Marchel Ivery. After receiving his Bachelor of Arts in music education, he was hired as the lead alto saxophonist for the Harry Connick, Jr. Orchestra and was appointed musical director five months later. It was on the road with Harry Connick, Jr. that Leali made his move to New York City. He is now a featured alto saxophone soloist with the Count Basie Orchestra under the leadership of Grover Mitchell. In 1999, the Count Basie Orchestra won a Grammy award for their CD, "The Count Basie Orchestra plays the music of Duke Ellington." On this recording, Brad was also nominated for a Grammy for his solo work on the classic Billy Strayhorn composition, "The Star-Crossed Lover's." He has performed nationally and internationally. A well-rounded musician, Leali has performed with such stellar musicians as Freddie Hubbard, Clark Terry, Joe Williams, Jimmy Cobb, Nancy Wilson, Frank Foster, Jon Hendricks, Roy Hargrove, The Mingus Big Band, Jack McDuff, George Duke, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Jimmy Smith, and Melvin Rhyne among others.
Leali departed from the Basie Band in the year 2000 to focus on his career as a soloist. Since then, he has had the opportunity to perform with a wide range of musicians playing a wide range of music. In 2002, he expanded his performance to include a younger generation of very talented musicians. Earlier this year, Leali appeared in New York's famous Miller Theatre for the "Jazz Composer Portraits" series as Reed's feature soloist with drummer Jason Marsalis, and bassist Reginal Veils. In April, he performed with one of the vocal legends Isaac Hayes and pianist Cyrus from the 'Chestnuts'. In August, Leali joined Carl Allen for the Detroit Jazz Festival as a feature soloist. He is also active in performing as a part of the Duke Ellington Orchestra. When Leali is not on tour, he plays on the New York Club scene fronting his own group.
Leali is currently residing in Brooklyn, New York.
- "I want everyone to dig my music - not just the musicians." Leali says. "I want to bring soul into music in the same way as Stanley Turrentine, Cannonball Adderley, Lee Morgan, David "Fathead" Newman, Freddie Hubbard and Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis have. I want people to feel my music in their soul."
- "Brad Leali is one of the brightest and most promising young talents out there today. Check him out." Frank Wess
- "Brad is one of the important young saxophone players of the era." Grover Mitchell (Leader of the Count Basie Orchestra)
- "A tremendous musical talent who can qualify for any musical setting where individual creativity is needed. I respect and admire him greatly." Dr. Frank B. Foster
- "Saxophonist Brad Leali is among the most soulful and exciting I've heard recently."
- "Alto saxophonist Brad Leali has a bright and amiable way of playing!"- The New York Times -Priority Soul!
More information at - http://jazzworld.com/bradleali/

MIHAJLO MISA BLAM - He is a musician, composer, arranger, jazz publicist, manager and freelance artist. He was born on 15th November 1947 in Belgrade. He received his education at the 'Stankovic' Music High School and at the Faculty of Music in Belgrade.
He has been a member of: the Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra, the 'Dusan Skovran' Chamber Orchestra, the Big National Orchestra RTB (1968 - 1971), the Big Jazz Orchestra RTB - the Big Band (1978 - 1989) and the Sinfonika Nacional Orchestra - Santo Domingo (1993 - 1994).
He is the founder of the specialized monthly magazine for jazz music "JAZZ" (1990) and the agency "Jazz International" (1991). He is the author and Art Director of the "Summertime Jazz & Blues and World Music Festival" (Sava Centre, 1991), as well as the organizer and financier of "The First Serbian Christmas Festival" with over 150 different art programmes opened in the Museum of Mihajlo Blam - SKC, in 1993.
He has recorded two solo jazz music records ("Misa Blam and Those Who Love Funk" and "Memories") and about 30 records in collaboration with the Yugoslav and international musicians (the "Gut & Markovic" sextet, Clark Terry, Alvin Queen, Stjepko Gut and others). He ha appeared at festivals in Holland, Italy, Midheim, Prague, Istanbul, Debrecin, etc.
His book is Miles Davis (biography, interview, records) and he was involved in the production of the TV show about jazz "Jazz around Midnight".
He had an exhibition called "60 Years of Jazz in Belgrade 1927 - 1987".
He has received the awards: The Performers' Award of Yugoslavia (1983) and Serbia (1992), the "Golden Microphone" of Radio Belgrade (1989), as well as an award in Israel (1992).

DRAGAN CALINA - Keyboardist Dragan Calina was born in 1982. He completed his musical education at the Department of Jazz at the "Stankovic" Music School. He is a band founder, composer and arranger who has played with Dusko Gojkovic, Stjepko Gut and Dave Gibson.

MONTEZ COLEMAN was born in St. Louis. Three years age he moved to New York only to become one of the most sought after drummers at the moment. He has played with many great jazz musicians (Winton Marsalis, Russell Malonic, Bruce Barth, etc.).



IN COLLABORATION WITH U.S.A. EMBASSY IN BELGRADE