Write a commentThe Music Hall in Oswego welcomed Syracuse legend Ronnie Leigh on Saturday evening. Accompanied by a stellar trio of area musicians, the dapper gentleman enthralled the audience with his renditions of a dozen jazz favorites.
Saturday's performance by Leigh was the third jazz show of the fall season at The Music Hall. Guest curator David Kaspar's Jazz By The Lake series has brought a Who's Who of Central New York jazz performers to the Lake Street venue.
An opening instrumental number allowed Leigh's band to stretch their legs a bit before bringing the headliner to the stage. Bassist Peter Chwazik and drummer Josh Dekaney formed a fluid rhythm section, and keyboardist Dino Losito provided the melody. Each member of the trio was given the opportunity to solo throughout the evening, much to the delight of the audience.
Ronnie Leigh then took the stage and began with Gregory Porter's "On My Way To Harlem," an upbeat number paying tribute to one of the birthplaces of jazz music.
The fist set also included Dizzy Gillespie's "A Night In Tunisia" and another song made famous by Porter, "Time Is Ticking."
After intermission, Leigh and the band started with the Errol Garner classic, "Misty" followed by the jazz standard, Johnny Mercer's "Autumn Leaves." Leigh, whose scat singing style enhanced many of the evening's numbers, ably mimicked a trumpet solo with his voice during the latter song.
The Ballad "You Don't Know What Love Is" was then followed by "Let's Go Out For Coffee" and the first of two Al Jarreau numbers, "We're In This Love Together."
Leigh showed complete control of his voice, befitting a veteran of more than 40 years performing. Thelonius Monk's "In Walked Bud" allowed the band to strut a bit. The closing number, Jarreau's "Sweet Tomorrow Morning" brought the audience to its feet not once, but twice, as Leigh came back on stage for a encore chorus of the song after receiving a standing ovation from the appreciative crowd.
It is no wonder that Ronnie Leigh has been enshrined in the Syracuse Area Music Hall of Fame, as the genial veteran held his audience spellbound throughout the entire show. This may have been Leigh's first time playing at The Music Hall, but we hope it isn't the last!
Next up at The Music Hall will be singer-songwriter Mike Powell next Saturday, November 18th. Presale tickets are available through the website OswegoMusicHall.org or at the river's end bookstore in downtown Oswego.
