JOHN LEFTWICH
COMPOSER / ARRANGER / BASSIST / AUDIO ENGINEER
jazz legends John Leftwich & Hubert Laws
ABOUT
Over the course of his prestigious career, John has performed and recorded with, and arranged music for, artists like Dizzy Gillespie, Freddie Hubbard, Hubert Laws, Sergio Mendez, Mark Isham, Milla Jovovich, Paula Abdul, Leo Kottke, Melody Gardot, Yasuko Agawa, Carol Duboc, and Lyle Lovett, was the bassist on legendary singer Carmen McCrae's record albums, toured and recorded with Rickie Lee Jones for many years as music director, singer and bassist, and played in the movie “Let’s Get Lost” with Chet Baker.
John has also composed, arranged, and played in numerous films and TV shows, including writing arrangements for the Jim Carrey hit movie "The Mask," and "Dreamgirls," and featured performances on bass in "Despicable Me 2," "Minions," "Smallfoot," "In the Wake of the Zaca," and "The Cooler," was score mixing engineer for "One Eyed King," and composed scores for "Ten Tricks," "Blood Done Sign My Name." "A Letter to True," "Double Bang," "Chip Suey," and "Gentle Giants," along with many others.
He continues to tour and record as well as composing music for TV and film.
CONTACT
LISTEN
Listen to John Leftwich performing with Hubert Laws, Ricardo Silveira and Kiko Freitas
LISTEN
Listen to John Leftwich performing with Hubert Laws, David Budway, Rob Mullins and Ralph Penland
DISCOGRAPHY
2021 • Then and Again, Here and Now • Todd Cochran • Bass, Composer
2020 • Sunset in the Blue • Melody Gardot • Bass, Bass (Vocal)
2020 • C’est Magnifique • Melody Gardot • Bass
2015 • Grateful Jazz • Jazz Is Dead • Engineer
2013 • Despicable Me 2 [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack] • Heitor Pereira / Pharrell Williams • Bass
2012 • The Absence • Melody Gardot • Bass
2011 • Sanctuary By the Sea • Jim Wilson • Engineer
2009 • In the Weird Small Hours • Phil Roy • Engineer, Featured Artist, Double Bass
2008 • In Autumn • Yasuko Agawa • Bass
2007 • The Taste of You (Sabor A Mi) • Wayne Boyer • Main Personnel, Bass Instrument, Bass
2007 • The Great Longing • Phil Roy • Bass (Upright)
2007 • Great Big Boy/Peculiaroso • Leo Kottke • Bass
2005 • The Duchess of Coolsville: An Anthology • Rickie Lee Jones • Guitar (Acoustic), Cello, Bass
2005 • Naked, Vol. 2: Universal Fire • Kwanza Jones • Mixing, Main Personnel, Bass Instrument, Bass
2005 • Fine and Mellow • Carmen McRae • Bass
2005 • Early On • A.J. Croce • Bass, Horn Arrangements, String Arrangements, Slap Bass
2005 • All of You • Carol Duboc • Main Personnel, Double Bass, Bass (Upright)
2005 • A Place in My Heart • Jim Wilson • Engineer
2004 • Sun and the Moon • James Hurley • Bass
2004 • Retro-Spec(t) • Larry Klimas • Engineer
2004 • Moondance • Hubert Laws • Bass
2004 • Melancolista • Adam Cohen • Contrabass
2004 • All That Jazz: But in Persian • Minoo Javan • Bass
2003 • The Cooler • Mark Isham • Bass
2003 • Smile • Lyle Lovett • Bass
2003 • Noite Clara • Ricardo Silveira • Engineer, Bass (Acoustic)
2003 • Monterey • Lori Lieberman • Bass
2003 • Manana • Willie & Lobo • Producer, Engineer, Arranger, Keyboards, Synthesizer, Bass (Acoustic), Bass, Drum Arrangements, Composer
2003 • Issues + Options • Phil Roy • Producer, Engineer, Mixing, Guitar (Acoustic), Keyboards, Bass (Acoustic), Bass (Upright), Bass (Electric)
2002 • Wendy Lands Sings the Music of the Pianist Wladyslaw Szpilman • Wendy Lands • Producer, Engineer, Arranger, Mixing, Vocals, Guitar (Electric), Cello, Piano, Synthesizer, Bass (Acoustic), Vocals (Background), Composer, Lyricist
2002 • Jukebox Sparrows • Shannon McNally • Bass
2002 • Heatwave • Gregg Karukas • Bass
2001 • With All That I Am • Carol Duboc • Bass
2001 • Live at Red Rocks • Rickie Lee Jones • Vocals, Bass
2000 • Steal This Movie [Original Score] • • Bass
2000 • Siete • Willie & Lobo • Engineer, Keyboards, Bass, Associate Producer
2000 • Grouchyfriendly • Phil Roy • Producer, Engineer, Mixing, Cello, Bass (Upright), Bass (Electric)
2000 • Feelin' Good Jazz Club • • Bass
1999 • My Only Passion • Marcos Ariel • Engineer, Mixing
1999 • Heart & Soul: Romantic Dedications • Adam del Monte • Bass (Upright)
1999 • Don't Misunderstand • Carmen McRae • Bass
1999 • Ballad Essentials • Carmen McRae • Bass, Double Bass
1998 • The Collected Carmen McRae • Carmen McRae • Bass (Acoustic)
1998 • Music from Everglades National Park • Checkfield • Bass (Acoustic)
1998 • Electro-Shock Blues • Eels • Bass (Upright), Bowed Bass
1997 • Reflections on a Decade • Checkfield • Bass
1997 • RCA Victor 80th Anniversary [Collector's Edition] • • Bass
1997 • Jazz at Midnight [RCA] • • Bass
1997 • Ghostyhead • Rickie Lee Jones • Cello
1997 • Colorful • 500 Megs Fine • Bass (Acoustic), Bass
1997 • Chinchilla Serenade • Ellen Johnson • Bass (Electric)
1996 • Home of Whispers • Lori Lieberman • Bass (Acoustic), Bass (Upright), Bass (Electric)
1995 • Wind • Kazu Matsui • Bass (Acoustic)
1995 • Those Fabulous Ladies of Jazz • • Bass
1995 • The Long Black Veil • The Chieftains • Bass
1995 • Head Over Heels • Paula Abdul • Horn
1995 • Best of Doug Smith • Doug Smith • Bass
1994 • The Mask [Original Soundtrack] • • Arranger
1994 • The Divine Comedy • Milla Jovovich / Milla • Bass
1994 • Sacred Addiction • Fareed Haque • Bass (Acoustic), Bass
1994 • Peculiaroso • Leo Kottke • Arranger, Bass
1994 • Mojazz Christmas Album • • Bass
1994 • If Ever... • Dori Caymmi • Bass
1994 • I Love Everybody • Lyle Lovett • Bass
1993 • Traffic from Paradise • Rickie Lee Jones • Director, Music Direction, Guitar, Cello, Vocals (Background), Bass, Composer, Guitar (Acoustic), Vocals
1993 • Keeping the Dream Alive • Wayne Johnson • Bass (Acoustic), Bass (Electric), Bass
1993 • In the Moment • J.W. Everitt • Bass
1993 • Home for the Holidays • Great Taste / Gregg Karukas • Bass (Acoustic)
1993 • Beyond Words • Exchange • Cello, Double Bass, Bass
1992 • Why We Fight • John Wesley Harding • Cello, Bass, Vocal Harmony
1992 • The Arms of Love • Steve Kujala • Bass (Electric), Fretless Bass
1992 • Pipe Dreams • Steve Kujala • Bass (Acoustic), Fretless Bass, Bass
1992 • More Toolbox • Toolbox • Bass, Composer
1992 • Moonglow • Karen Knowles • Cello, Bass (Electric), Bass
1992 • Independence • Jim Dawson • Bass, String Bass
1992 • Heads Hands Hearts • Steve Kujala • Bass
1992 • Exchange • Exchange • Cello, Double Bass, Guitar (Bass)
1991 • Standing on Fishes • Phil Sheeran • Bass (Acoustic), Bass
1991 • Sound of Emotion • Gregg Karukas • Bass (Acoustic), Performer, Primary Artist
1991 • Pop Pop • Rickie Lee Jones • Bass
1991 • Order of Magnitude • Doug Smith • Bass
1991 • Livin' the Good Life • Ron Cooley • Bass (Acoustic), Bass (Electric)
1991 • Great Big Boy • Leo Kottke • Bass
1990 • The Best of Mark-Almond [Rhino] • Mark-Almond • Bass
1989 • Chet Baker Sings and Plays from the Film "Let's Get Lost" • Chet Baker • Bass
1987 • A Drop of Water • Keiko Matsui • Bass, Primary Artist
1986 • Water Wind and Stone • Checkfield • Bass (Acoustic)
1984 • For Lady Day • Carmen McRae • Bass
1983 • You're Lookin' at Me (A Collection of Nat King Cole Songs) • Carmen McRae • Bass
1983 • For Lady Day, Vol. 2 • Carmen McRae • Bass
1982 • Immortal Concerts: Montreux, Switzerland 1982 • Carmen McRae • Bass
1982 • Everything Happens to Me • Carmen McRae • Bass
1980 • Tuesday in New York • Mark-Almond • Bass
Été jazz • • Guitar (Bass)
Women of Jazz [Universal] • • Bass (Vocal)
Winter 2019 • • Double Bass
When Love Happens: The Loving Day Concert • Sandra Booker • Mixing, Bass
What a Beautiful Voices • • Bass
Unlikely Valentine • Ron Boustead • Bass (Acoustic)
Sunset in the Blue • Melody Gardot • Bass
Summer Bossa Nova • • Bass
Nyári Reggelek 2021 • • Guitar (Bass)
Midnight Jazz [2021] • • Bass
Mediterran Izek 2021 • • Guitar (Bass)
Legacy & Alchemy • Alexandra Jackson • Engineer
Jazz for Lovers • • Bass
It's About Time • Don Peake • Bass
Hot Club Combo • Patrick Berrogain • Bass (Acoustic)
Grandes Temazos: Bossa Nova • • Bass
From Paris With Love • Melody Gardot • Bass (Vocal)
Ete Jazz 2022 • • Bass
Dalok Teli Reggelekre • • Guitar (Bass)
Cosmos • John Leftwich / Ricardo Silveira • Primary Artist, Producer, Engineer, Bass, Composer
Classic Beach Jazz • • Bass
Chill Jazz Music [September,2021] • • Guitar (Bass)
Cafés à Paris: Cafes in Paris • • Bass (Vocal)
Bossa Chill • • Bass
Blues Night [Universal] • • Guitar (Bass)
Barbecue Jazz • • Guitar (Bass)
Apéro Bossa • • Bass
