Leah Randazzo - Vocals Ryan Hommel - Guitar David Picchi - Bass Justin Annis - Drums Frank Newton - Tenor Sax Andrew Smicker - Trumpet Paul Olesuk - Trombone
Thanks to your votes, we won BEST JAZZ in the Valley Advocate's Grand Band Slam for the second year in a row! Check out their website for upcoming details http://valleyadvocate.com/
Composer and vocalist Leah Randazzo, 23, is a naturally gifted performer of uncommon charisma who knows how to bring an audience to its feet with her powerful voice and high-energy stage performance. Her original songs, described as jazz-infused R&B and funk, are sophisticated and soulful compositions that belie her young age. Leah's stunning debut album "At the Root," produced by Michael Gregory, has been acclaimed for having a sound that doesn't pigeonhole itself stylistically; musically it's as dynamic and fluid as Randazzo's voice.
The Leah Randazzo Group, a septet that includes vocals, rhythm section, and horns, formed in the spring of 2005 and has been touring nationally since. The Leah Randazzo Group was recently named "Best Jazz" for the second year in a row in western Massachusetts and the Pioneer Valley (Valley Advocate). Additionally, the group was honored with the grand prize for music in September 2007 on OurStage.com and received a nomination for "Oustanding Jazz Act" in the 2007 Boston Music Awards. "At their most boisterous - as on the brash "My Weapon" - the band's songs are highly danceable and colored with punchy horn lines. At their most sensitive - as on the piano and string-laced Morning Song - they blow the work of Starbucks divas like Norah Jones out of the water." (Nick R. Scalia, Play Magazine)
"Leah Randazzo has a mature songwriting sensibility and the voice to back it up...equal parts jazz, blues and soul, and Randazzo has the chops to hang with upper-echelon singers in any of these genres. Her backing band is equally versatile, moving effortlessly between bombastic funk and self-assured jazz, refraining from overplaying and allowing Randazzo's voice to shine." - Casey Hayman, Local Buzz, Pioneer Valley
"Backed by a jazz-inflected, horn-heavy septet, Randazzo barrels through earthy R&B and funk on her debut, At the Root. While she's not quite in step with the trendy neo-soul genre, both her voice and her band are probably a bit too big for that pigeonhole anyway." - Aaron Jentzen, Pittsburgh City Paper, Pittsburgh, PA
"This Northampton darling can roar through jazz numbers with a voice that’s as mind-blowing as a wind tunnel’s force. Randazzo skats and spats with charismatic enunciation, cooing and purring over her words with the seduction of a sex-kitten. After visualizing her innocent youth, it seems she’s barely even legal to be a teenage heartbreaker, much less a jazz vocalist. But her voice is seasoned beyond her mere 23 years of life, peppered with a spice all its own." - Shea Carver, Encore Magazine, Wilmington, NC
"Leah Randazzo came through with her band and they straight killed it." -Justin Strong, 7thmovement, Inc., Pittsburgh, PA
"Leah could easily pass for an American version of Amy Winehouse without the drama." - pubrecords.com
You guys are great. I see you everytime I can. Recently I have seen you play Regattabar, Johnny D's and GrotonFest! Great job you are getting better and better and so much tighter everytime I see you! Keep it up I can't wait to hear what's to come.
Thank you for adding me, Leah! Northampton is such a cool town, my sister lives in Hadley so whenever I visit I drop over to the Basement or Iron Horse to catch a show. Played Basement open-mic once, too.
Not just a great vocalist but she looks damn good taking out the garbage...sorry you couldnt join us @ OBrians party on Monday...see yaz around... best-dan
Have you ever discovered a song that you just fall in love with, and keep playing over and over?? That's how I feel about your "Morning Song"...caught me completely off guard! Blessings, Cornelius
lol!! That's my kind of poem! For real tho, it's been incredible working with you all again. Everyone did a stellar job on stage and in the pressure cooker as well. I hope you dig the roughs i left for you, but the only work i'm doin now is on some sleep! Travel safe, keep in touch and I hope to see you again soon!
I can't wait!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! In less than 48hrs from now I'll be blessed with the smooth sounds from The Leah Randazzo Group. Look forward to seeing you guys again~
Hey Leah...your appearance @ Monday Night Jazz @ the Sierra Grille was just great...Hope to see you there again soon...OB is putting in a house PA so yer all set! Best Dan
Hey Leah!! It's Mike from the Matt Zeiner Band! We met outside Sully's (Matt and I were about 36 sheets to the wind). Looking forward to playin' with you guys on the 18th! See you soon. -Mike
