Leon Parker is a strong believer in the importance of less. He makes a lot of music with a very small drum set, sometimes with a snare drum and bass drum. Parker began playing drums at the age of three. He became a serious drummer when he turned 11. He started playing drums at the age of three and became a professional drummer when he was 11. Parker graduated from high school and moved to New York City to take lessons with Barry Harris. He also freelancing. He began to reduce his drum set while working as a leader at Augie’s. This allowed him to learn how to play complete sets with just a cymbal. He recorded his debut with Harvie Swartz and toured with Sheila Jordan. Kenny Barron was also with him. Parker and Lisa, a flutist, spent 1989 playing in Spain and Portugal. He returned to New York and joined the Village Gate regular band. Dewey Redman recorded and toured with the colorful drummer. He also worked with David Sanchez and was part the Jacky Terrasson Trio during the mid-’90s. Leon Parker was a recording artist for Epicure and Columbia. Columbia issued Awakening in 1998.
