Sound Underground is a trio, consisting of Alec Aldred, David Leon, and Jonah Udall, with an unusual, intimate line-up of guitar, alto saxophone and trumpet. Inspired by broad influences from traditional Americana to the music of Jimmy Giuffre and Ornette Coleman, we explore unconventional textures in an open, conversational style. Sound Underground has been recognized in Downbeat Magazine and has performed across the United States - including our debut tour of California last year - as well as touring in Bulgaria and Serbia. We are excited to be releasing a new album on our West Coast tour in 2016.
David Leon is a Cuban-American saxophonist, woodwinds player and composer from Miami, Florida. David began piano lessons at age seven before discovering the alto saxophone. In high school, he garnered national recognition as a Young Arts winner in jazz, and as a member of the GRAMMY Jazz Ensemble and the Jazz Band of America. He has also received multiple awards from Downbeat magazine in performance and composition,as well as the ASCAP Foundation's Young Jazz Composer Award. Most recently, he was selected in two consecutive years to participate in the Betty Carter Jazz Ahead residency at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C.David continually seeks new sounds to inform his music and is currently exploring Bulgarian folk music, microtonality, free improvisation and ways of uniting these seemingly disparate musical languages through conducted improvisation.
Alec Aldred is a trumpet player and composer currently residing in Miami,Florida. Alec grew up in Waukesha, Wisconsin and showed interest in music from an early age, starting piano at age 5. He picked up the trumpet at age10 and several years later discovered a love for jazz. Alec began studying at the University of Miami's Frost School of Music in 2012, where he is currently pursuing his Bachelor of Music in Jazz Performance. In 2015, Alec was selected as the second place winner in the National Trumpet Competition Jazz Division.
Jonah Udall is a guitarist, composer, and bandleader currently residing in Miami, Florida. Jonah grew up in Berkeley, California, immersed in a diverse musical culture that carried sounds from traditional Bulgarian horo music, to Brazilian choro, to classic R&B. He started playing guitar and singing at age10 with his father. He quickly fell in love with jazz, and in 2012, Jonah moved to Miami to study at the Frost School of Music where he is currently completing his Bachelor of Music in Jazz Performance. True to his upbringing,Jonah maintains a wide array of interests; he is an avid student of Balkan folk music and the Bulgarian tamboura, studies classical composition,counterpoint and orchestration, and regularly collaborates with singer songwriters across many styles. In 2016, Jonah was selected to participate in the Betty Carter Jazz Ahead residency at the Kennedy Center in Washington,D.C.
