2013 International Women in Jazz "Youth in Action" award winner, Leonieke Scheuble:
Leonieke (phonetically pronounced “lay-o-nee-ka”) started to play piano after being inspired by Ray Charles through the 2004 biographical film, “Ray”.
At the age of 7, she began studies with Jazz pianist, Steve Ash.
As her love of Jazz, Soul and Gospel motivate her to develop her musical skills, Leonieke has been afforded some wonderful opportunities at a very young age.
Among them, would be winning the 2013 International Women in Jazz “Youth in Action” Award -eligible to female jazz musicians under 18 years of age presented in performance at St. Peter’s Church in Manhattan (The Jazz Church).
A two-time featured artist at The Watchung Arts Center, Leonieke was also featured at the 2012 FusionFest, and has performed in Jazz Vespers along with Steve Turre, Tim Ries and Bill Crow.
She is often invited to sit in at various New York City Jazz Clubs.
In July of 2012, Dr. Lonnie Smith met Leonieke and watched a youtube of her performing on piano. After learning that she had an interest in jazz organ, he arranged for a Hammond organ to be delivered to her as a gift. Earlier that year, Bob Belden, (former A&R Blue Note records) introduced her to Herbie Hancock and has since become a mentor, guiding her mainly through recordings. Radio station WBGO Jazz 88.3FM featured Leonieke in interview along with trombonist Coleman Hughes in an hour long special entitled, “The Future of Jazz (10/2/13).
On October 13 2013, she recorded her debut CD engineered by Trustees Award Grammy winner, Rudy Van Gelder, widely recognized as one of the most important engineers in music history. She returned to his studio again on November 17th and was joined by Jazz drumming legend, Jimmy Cobb.
Leonieke aspires to continually grow musically, composing more of her own music.
This recording, entitled "debut", features Leonieke on both the Hammond B-3 organ and a Steinway concert grand piano. She is joined by Tim Givens on double bass and her sister Natasha Scheuble on vocals. Jimmy Cobb and her dad, Nick Scheuble share the drum responsibiliies. It is recorded by Rudy Van Gelder and his assistant Maureen Sickler and is produced by the gifted composer/pianist Cecilia Coleman.
