David Leon
Timbral Innovator
Cuban-American saxophonist blending avant-garde jazz with Cuban folkloric traditions and microtonality.
About
David Leon is a Miami-born Cuban-American saxophonist, woodwinds player, composer, and improviser living in Brooklyn. He won the 2017 ASCAP Herb Alpert Young Jazz Composer's Award and debuted at Newport Jazz Festival. His work investigates alternate saxophone techniques, microtonality, and Cuban rhythmic traditions.
Music Style
Leon's approach explores timbral nuance through extended saxophone techniques, microtonality, and equal temperament manipulation, melded with Cuban folkloric phrasing, free jazz aesthetics, and narrative improvisation.
Background
- Hometown
- Miami, Florida
- Education
- Frost School of Music at the University of Miami
- Instruments
- saxophone (alto), saxophone (soprano), flute, clarinet
- Active
- 2010s-present
Similar Artists
If you like Darius Jones, Dave Liebman — you'll love this artist
Notable Collaborations
Upcoming Events
David Leon's next NYC show is Friday, July 24 at The Jazz Gallery.