A one time New York subway artist whose music made him a YouTube sensation, Leo Pellegrino (aka Leo P) has just released his debut album ‘Comin’ Up Aces’ on the Shanachie Entertainment label.
This big ballsy and brass infused extravaganza has its touch-points in funk, blues, salsa and so much more while Leo’s playing on baritone sax has redefined this often misunderstood and underused instrument. Seven original tunes sit handsomely with carefully crafted reimagining’s of classics such as Earth Wind & Fire’s ‘Serpentine Fire’, the Charlie Mingus number ‘Goodbye Pork Pie Hat’ and Eddie Harris’ ‘Cold Duck Time’. This latter track features smooth jazz heavyweight and former Tower of Power sax-man Richard Elliot doing what he does best. It’s right up there with the best that ‘Comin Up Aces’ has to offer and in this respect it is in the good company of a Leo P original, ‘Timeless Love’ that from tender beginnings ultimately allows Leo to blow up quite a storm.