|
Beginning piano studies at the age of four, Ms. Ledgerwood received intensive classical training from Mannes faculty member Grant Johannesen at the Cleveland Institute of Music. After meeting Marian McPartland, she began to pursue her intense interest in Jazz. Noted early on for her ability to improvise, Ms. Ledgerwood began studying at North Texas State and the Berklee College of Music where she met and performed on numerous occasions with Branford Marsalis. Since moving to New York, she has received critical acclaim as a performer in New Yorkıs Jazz clubs appearing with such Jazz luminaries as Red Mitchell, Eddie Gomez, and Billy Hart. Ms. Ledgerwood has also acquired several recording credits as a session player with Eddie Gomez and Michael Brecker for Columbia, and Ron McClure for Steeple Chase. As a leader, she recorded "You Wish" for Triloka records (released in 1992) which featured Jeremy Steig and Bill Evans.
Ms. Ledgerwood always stresses to her students "to take advantage of the Jazz Program as a microcosm of the Jazz community and to collaborate with other students and faculty members." As an example to her students, she has performed with fellow faculty members Buster Williams and Joe Chambers at Birdland. Most recently, Ms. Ledgerwood also worked with Jazz alumni Heinrich Koebberling, drums, and Matt Penman, bass, on her new recording for Steeple Chase. "I heard them playing at school and knew they were musicians I really wanted to record with." The CD Now and Zen also features Jon Gordon on saxophone and is due for release in 1998. In conclusion, Ms. Ledgerwood added, "The students at the Jazz Program are some of the most serious, devoted players I have ever seen. It gives me a lot of hope for the future of Jazz."
|
