Leo Sidran
Host of The Third StoryLeo Sidran is a Grammy winning multi-instrumentalist musician, producer, arranger, composer, recording artist and podcast host based in Brooklyn, New York.
Raised around music and musicians, Sidran started writing songs professionally as a teenager when the Steve Miller Band recorded four of his songs for their 1993 Wide River album. Around the same time, he began performing regularly as a drummer with his father, renowned and multifaceted jazzman Ben Sidran.
Sidran’s seven solo albums have explored the space between pop music, jazz, Brazilian and singer songwriter genres. Jazz Magazine in France says “Leo Sidran makes pop music swing.” Jazz Times says of Leo, “Vocally he suggests an amalgam of his father Ben with a hint of Donald Fagen. His fluid laidback style is reminiscent of Bob Dorough. Musically and lyrically his compositions are smart, sharp, and sparklingly original.” His most recent album, The Art Of Conversation was released in 2021. El Pais in Spain called it a “hymn to empathy”.
In addition to his solo career he has produced or co-produced projects for artists around the world (often in the Latin music space) including the Oscar winning song “Al otro lado del rio” for Jorge Drexler (from the film The Motorcycle Diaries), the Latin Grammy winning Healer for Cuban singer Alex Cuba, Grammy Nominated Mis Americas for Argentine-American songwriter Kevin Johansen, and The Original for Clyde Stubblefield (James Brown's original funky drummer). Leo has produced all of Ben Sidran’s records for the last 15 years, most recently Swing State.
Leo’s music has been featured in hundreds of advertisements for the world’s biggest brands, and he has scored long form projects for outlets including ESPN 30 for 30, Discovery, IFC, Sundance, and PBS.
As a drummer, he has played and recorded with jazz luminaries including Phil Woods, Howard Levy, David Fathead Newman, Clark Terry, Dave Grusin, Rick Margitza, and many more. He tours regularly around the world with his father’s quartet and his love of jazz continues to inform much of his work.
Above all, Leo loves to connect with people, which is what led him to start his much heralded podcast The Third Story, featuring interviews with musicians, producers, songwriters, and others in the creative class of all ages about their personal stories and professional journeys. Although it is not specifically a jazz podcast, many of his guests have spent time exploring the space around improvisation and creation.
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Dr. Aaron Flagg, Chair and Associate Director of Jazz Studies, talks to Leo Sidrann about the history of Juilliard Jazz which celebrates its 25th anniversary this year. -
As Gregory Porter revisits his Grammy-winning album Take Me to the Alley a decade later, he reflects on his childhood in Bakersfield, the influence of his mother, and the people and places that inspired his music. -
As Gregory Porter revisits his Grammy-winning album Take Me to the Alley a decade later, he reflects on his childhood in Bakersfield, the influence of his mother, and the people and places that inspired his music. -
Singer Gretchen Parlato turned 50 this year. And her new album, The Wise Ones, finds her looking both backward and forward. -
Monty Alexander talks to Leo Sidran about Miles Davis, Sinatra, the music of Jamaica, his recovery from pancreatic cancer, his new album A Jamarican in Paris, and the remarkable power of positivity. -
Pianist and composer Sean Mason talks with Leo Sidran about reconnecting jazz with its roots as dance music on his new album State of the Art. -
From singing jingles as a child to writing some of the biggest pop hits of the 1980s, Richard Marx reflects on his musical upbringing, his songwriting career and his new album, After Hours, in conversation with Leo Sidran. -
From singing jingles as a child to writing some of the biggest pop hits of the 1980s, Richard Marx reflects on his musical upbringing, his songwriting career and his new album, After Hours, in conversation with Leo Sidran. -
From Monk to Joni Mitchell, the legendary pianist demonstrates why he remains in a class by himself. -
Harry Connick, Jr. talks to Leo Sidran about his new project, Babe: Elaboratio — A Tribute to My Mother, part symphony, part memoir, and devoted to his mother, Anita Livingston, who died when he was 13.
