Darren Leonidas

Born in NYC in 1969, Darren Leonidas first began playing guitar at the age of 11 years old. Growing up in a household with numerous musicians and surrounded by music for most of his life, Darren credited Eric Clapton as the reason he originally began playing guitar. Along with Clapton, Darren was deeply inspired by other 60s and 70s era rock-and-roll bands like Led Zeppelin and the Rolling Stones.

After moving to New Jersey in his teenage years, Darren discovered Jazz and quickly became engrossed with the genre. Albums from notable artist such as George Benson, David Sanborn, and Pat Metheny caught his interest. After graduating high school, Darren studied jazz at William Paterson University, studying under Jazz Virtuoso Vic Juris. It was here where Darren developed a deep appreciation for Modern Contemporary Jazz and instilled an overall drive to seek out all forms of music.

Throughout his career as a guitarist, Darren Leonidas has mesmerized and captivated audiences with his unique playing style and tone. Blending together warm, smooth tones with a classic contemporary jazz & R&B motif, Darren brings a modern sound with a vintage feel, delivering a truly one-of-a-kind experience for any audience. Fusing elements from classic rock, contemporary jazz, funk, and R&B with strong melodies, Darren is just as comfortable playing classic standards to anything that grooves.

Gear

Gibson ES 175, Kiesel custom guitar various jazz amps

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