Leslie Maclean Trio

LESLIE MACLEAN

Leslie Maclean, pianist, composer, vocalist and teacher, has been a professional musician since the age of 13. While in college, Leslie worked extensively with free jazz proponent Muhul Richard Abrams. Her imaginative and artistic performance at the Midwest Intercollegiate Jazz Festival won her the esteemed American Music Foundation Award, granted to the single outstanding instrumental soloist at the event. Leslie was deemed “the best” by judging panelist Marian McPartland, who presented the award.

She opened for jazz legend Stan Kenton, and has appeared at many top Chicago jazz clubs and on television and radio. Leslie has also performed with guitarist Mundell Lowe and drummer Roy Burns. She cites as one of her main influences the music of the Big Bands, and enjoys bringing the ensemble-style articulations of the big band sound into her playing and her arrangements.

Her piano style also owes much to her background in classical music and displays a satisfying depth of touch and sensitivity to the piano keyboard. Leslie’s original tunes reflect her wide-ranging musical interests and run the gamut from straight-ahead swing and well-crafted ballads to driving Latin rhythms and jazz fusion.

Maclean earned a Master of Music in piano performance at the Chicago Musical College of Roosevelt University.

Jerry Pollock

Jerry Pollock, drums/percussion, started drum instruction when he was 12 and began his career as a professional musician at the age of 15. He has played all styles of music with symphonic orchestras, jazz bands and ensembles, and theater pit bands. While in high school, Jerry played with other students in a jazz quartet modeled after the Dave Brubeck Quartet. He has also been strongly influenced by the Big Band legacy in part due to his four years of experience with the Illinois State University Jazz Ensemble led by Jim Boitos.

Upon graduation, Jerry returned to Chicago and began teaching drums and auditioned for the Leslie Maclean Trio. Once hired, he also took on the business manager role and booked engagements throughout the Chicago metro area at Collete’s, Redford's, Orphans, The Bulls, The Back Room and many others.

Today, Jerry continues to perform with the Leslie Maclean Trio at jazz clubs including Dazzle in Denver, The Blue Room, Green Lady Lounge, Black Dolphin, Jardine’s and others in Kansas City. He also continues to teach drums to aspiring students.

Jerry is an exceptionally musical drummer, adding invaluable imaginative touches to any music he performs. His deft brushwork is reminiscent of Joe Morello and is a frequent feature of Trio arrangements. Jerry often takes a tuneful approach to his improvisation, combining the timbre of the drums with rhythm in such a way as to suggest the melody line.

He studied with Chicago drummers Bob Tilles, Staff drummer for CBS Chicago, and Chicago jazz legend Marshall Thompson, who recorded and performed with many artists including Stan Getz, Oscar Peterson, Chet Baker, Jack McDuff, Eddie Higgins, Gene Shaw, James Moody, Eddie Harris, Woody Herman & Wayne Shorter.

Jerry continues to serve as the Business Manager for the Leslie Maclean Trio, and holds an MBA from the University of Chicago.

14" Jazz Master Hi-Hats
16" Traditional Crash
21" New Orleans Ride
22" Groove Pang
22" Antique Ride

Neo Vintage NV60-M1 Kit

14" x 6.5" NV60M1S-1465
8" x 12" Mounted Tom
14" x 14" Floor Tom
18" x 14" Bass Drum

Hardware

Cymbal Stands-Jeff Hamilton Model
Hi-Hat Stand-Lightweight
Snare Stand-Hybrid
Throne-Hybrid
Vintage Snare Wire

Bob Bowman

Bob Bowman, a native Kansan, learned to play the piano and clarinet before beginning to play bass at age 12. He won a scholarship to the Stan Kenton Jazz Clinic as a high school freshman, followed by study at North Texas State University.

In 1976, he joined the famous Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra, touring and recording several albums, including the Grammy award-winning “Live in Munich.” Bob continued his performing and recording career by joining the Toshiko Akiyoshi-Lew Tabakin Big Band in Los Angeles in 1979. He recorded numerous albums as a member of this band, many of which were nominated for Grammy Awards. Bob also had long musical relationships with pianists, composers and arrangers Dan Haerle and Frank Mantooth.

Bob has toured and recorded with many artists including the legendary Carmen McRae, Pat Coil, Freddie Hubbard, Bud Shank, Karrin Allyson, Dan Haerle, Steve Houghton, Steve Allee, Bill Mays, Clay Jenkins, Danny Embrey, Todd Strait, Bob Sheppard, Rod Fleeman, John Stowell, Jerry Hahn, Bobby Watson and others.

Bob moved to Kansas City in 1988 where he has been a vibrant part of the jazz scene there. He was a member of the University of Missouri at Kansas City Faculty Jazztet, and leads legendary Kansas City group INTERSTRING.

Tim Brewer

Born and raised in Kansas City, he studied music at the UMKC Conservatory of Music and played around town in various jazz groups including The Doug Talley Quartet, The Boulevard Big Band, The Leslie Maclean Trio and various Broadway shows touring the area. He is currently a member of The Medical Arts Symphony.

After graduating the Conservatory with a composition degree, he went on to earn a Doctor of Dental Surgery at UMKC. He practiced dentistry for nearly 25 years. He retired in 2019 and has been very busy doing the things he was unable to do as a dentist such as practicing bass and writing and arranging music.

Brewer has been happily married to author Carolyn Glenn for 35 years. They have 4 children, 6 grandchildren (soon to be 7), and their dog Herbie. They have been busy but at home during the current pandemic.