2nd June 2003
Leo Green
The Early Years: A Musical Childhood and A Father‘s Influence
Born in Watford in 1972, Leo Green was thrust into the world of music and entertainment. Although the son of the late BBC Radio 2 broadcaster Benny Green, (a columnist, author, and professional saxophonist as well), it was his own instincts that drew him toward a career in music. However the word ‘career‘ was not a concept the young Leo was aware of when he took an interest in the clarinet aged nine, his father having long since stopped playing music. "When I was growing up I didn‘t think of him as a musician the saxophone was something that would come out on birthdays and he would play Happy Birthday."
His father‘s musical influence did however extend to playing hundreds of records in the house as he prepared his weekly show ‘The Art Of The Songwriter‘ broadcast on Radio 2 every Sunday for twenty years. Through this Leo was exposed to a wealth of popular songs from the 1930s through to the late 1950s and ‘60s with names like Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra and Nat King Cole an early influence on his musical tastes. Yet it was the pioneering recordings of clarinetist Benny Goodman that really caught his attention. His father had been encouraging but never pushed his son into these aspirations and ironically it was his son‘s constant requests for his help with his playing that lead Green Snr. to pick up his own sax once again.
The resulting family band, lead by his father and backed by his two sons, were one of Leo‘s first on stage experiences, his father an old hand at working the crowd with witty repartee between jazz and blues standards. Undoubtedly this was all leading towards a life in music and entertainment but Leo was simply following his instincts again; "I never thought one day ‘right, I‘m going to be a musician‘, I just always was. As a kid about nine or ten I can remember thinking that‘s what I am, I never thought ‘what should I do?‘ Kind of weird really, I never thought about doing anything else."
Leo Gets Started - The Self-Promoter Extraordinaire
What started Leo‘s incredible self belief is hard to say but his father‘s reputation and standing in the entertainment world was something he never relied on to get him gigs. Early examples of this saw him, aged 17, talking his way into playing with his childhood idol Big J McNeely for three nights at London‘s Jazz Café. His wild stage antics grabbed the attention of other bands in the audience and before he knew it he was joining a string of top R&B outfits, beginning to tour while still a teenager. Leo‘s confidence meant he never missed an opportunity to take himself that bit further into the music he loved - despite leaving his sax at home, an impromptu ‘blag‘ onto a stage one evening, saw him sending his friend home to collect his instrument, making it back in time for the show.
Learning from these early experiences that many opportunities happened by being in the right place at the right time Leo never missed a chance to get a gig - even if it meant cutting off his long hair to impress Jerry Lee Lewis, who he worked with for three years. Through connections and a wealth of live experience Leo was steadily becoming a more rounded musician, eventually joining Van Morrison‘s band, as arranger and featured soloist. Green toured with Morrison for six years, and recorded four albums , yet it was through an appearance on the ‘Later with Jools Holland‘ TV show that he met the boogie woogie piano legend himself and shortly afterwards was asked to join Holland‘s Rhythm & Blues Orchestra where Jools affectionately dubbed him ‘The Prince of Wails‘!
One of Leo‘s most unlikely successes was meeting Chris Evans and getting his own solo spot on Evan‘s ‘TFI Friday‘ programme on Channel 4 as Mr. Sexy Sax.. Once again Leo the self-starter didn‘t wait for an opportunity to gain Evan‘s attention - he created one. In what can only be described as devilishly cheeky circumstances, Evan‘s invited him onto an early morning show, and at Evan‘s request began writing and playing their morning jingles, live in the studio! Proof enough that Leo wanted nothing more than the chance to entertain whenever the chance arose - and on getting that chance, rising to the occasion and then some!
The Journey Continues - Top Draw Collaborations and Projects
The following years saw opportunities flooding Leo‘s way. He was at the helm of musical extravaganzas such as the 2000 tribute to legendary songwriters Burt Bacharach and Hal David at the Royal Albert Hall, featuring the likes of Elvis Costello and Dionne Warwick, as well as Burt Bacharach and Hal David themselves - the latter described it as "The night of my life."
The incredible list of names that Leo has now worked also includes his production work for acclaimed singer and actress Jane Horrocks on her album "The Further Adventures Of Little Voice", which featured vocal duets between Miss Horrocks and Robbie Williams, Ewan McGregor and Dean Martin. He made a his big screen debut as the sax player in the film ‘Swing‘ starring Lisa Stansfield and Hugo Spear. In 2000, Leo continued to tour the world with Van Morrison, Jools Holland and Marti Pellow, and worked on his forthcoming projects, which include a stage show intended for the West End and Broadway and also various radio and television scripts.
2001 saw Leo recording and touring with Lisa Stansfield, Paul Weller, Eric Clapton, and Mick Hucknall plus an invitation to be Musical Director and arranger for the legendary songwriters Leiber & Stoller, who appeared in London for an evening celebrating their work. Classics performing alongside the likes of Ben E. King, Heather Small, Tom Jones, David Gilmour.
Now in 2003 it‘s time for Leo step out of the role of sideman extraordinaire and put his talents centre stage as he signs a worldwide deal with major label that will see him dig deep into his love of classic songs, riveting live performances and exuberant talent as an entertainer to produce his most accessible work to date.
David Jensen Photography:
https://www.davidjensen.co.uk/
