Tony Leone

Tony Leone is a drummer whose career spans hard bop jazz, Americana, and rock. Born in New Britain, Connecticut in 1969, he studied at the Hartt School under Jackie McLean, who sent him to take private lessons with the bebop master Art Taylor. After moving to New York in 1998 he became a fixture of the straight ahead scene, working with Michael Weiss, Eric Alexander, Harold Mabern, Lou Donaldson, and George Coleman. Equally at home outside jazz, he has drummed with roots and rock acts including the Chris Robinson Brotherhood, and he leads his own quintet at clubs like Smalls.