Leo Sidran
Host of The Third Story podcastLeo 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.” JazzTimes 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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In this episode of The Third Story podcast, Leo Sidran talks with saxophonist Ben Wendel about performing at the Village Vanguard, his desire to connect and to belong, his ongoing negotiation with technology, and more. -
Leo Sidran profiles the eclectic group Buke and Gase led by Arone Dyer and Aaron Sanchez
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Leo Sidran profiles R&B singer-songwriter Emily King who has just released an album, 'Special Occasion,' and is embarking on a month-long US tour.
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In this episode of The Third Story podcast, Leo Sidran talks with noted songwriter Beth Nielsen Chapman about processing grief and loss through music and about the craft of songwriting.
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Pianist and composer Vijay Iyer talks with host Leo Sidran about how he developed his musical identity alongside an academic career as a scientist, creating work for an uncertain future and how to make music matter.
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In this episode of The Third Story podcast, host Leo Sidran talks with Christian McBride about his New Jawn
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In this episode of The Third Story podcast, jazz vocal sensation Samara Joy talks with Leo Sidran about her sudden rise in popularity and acclaim.
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Leo Sidran talks with guitarist Eric Krasno and drummer Stanton Moore about the Krasno Moore Project and their new album ‘Book of Queens’
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Leo Sidran's Art of the Story piece on saxophonist and bandleader Ben Wendel, who is performing at the Village Vanguard.
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This week on The Third Story podcast, host Leo Sidran turns the tables on himself and shares the stories and the creative process behind his new record What’s Trending.
