Lawrence Leathers death: Grammy-winning jazz drummer found dead after assault
Lauded musician, 37, famed for decade spent playing with Cecile McLorin Salvant discovered in Brooklyn apartment building
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A celebrated jazz drummer known for his crisply swinging style was found dead on Sunday in a Bronx stairwell, and two people were charged with assault in connection with his death, the police said.
Lawrence Leathers, 37, was discovered at around noon on Sunday by another tenant, sprawled on the stairs on the first floor of the Bronx apartment building on East 141st Street where he lived.
Emergency medical technicians pronounced him dead at the scene, the police said.
Sterling Aguilar, 28, and Lisa Harris, 41, were arrested Monday in connection with Mr Leathers’ death.
According to the police, Harris lived in the same building as Leathers, but his relationship to her was unclear.
Mr Leathers’ gated building, located on a quiet side street in Mott Haven, remained cordoned off and a police officer was standing guard on Monday evening.
Mr Leathers had established himself over the past dozen years as a rising talent on New York’s straight-ahead jazz scene.
He was scheduled to play an after-hours show on Monday at Smalls, a club in Greenwich Village where he appeared regularly.
Mr Leathers spent most of the past decade playing in the backing trio for Cecile McLorin Salvant, arguably jazz’s premier young vocalist, and he is featured on two of her recordings, “For One to Love” (2015) and “Dreams and Daggers” (2017), both of which won Grammy Awards for best jazz vocal album.
Born in Lansing, Michigan, on Nov. 23, 1981, Mr Leathers began playing professionally at 15, and studied jazz at Michigan State University before moving to New York City. He arrived in New York in 2007 to attend the Juilliard School.
Mr Leathers quickly turned heads at dens like Dizzy’s Club and Smalls, where he became a fixture, carrying forward a tradition of unflashy but vigorously swinging drumming that harked back to the likes of Jimmy Cobb and Arthur Taylor.
At Juilliard, Mr Leathers met Aaron Diehl, a pianist, and Paul Sikivie, a bassist, and the students eventually formed a trio under Mr Diehl’s leadership.
It later became Ms Salvant’s backing band, and went on to tour the world, playing at some of jazz’s most prestigious festivals.
In a 2015 interview with Lansing City Pulse, Mr Leathers said he sought to entwine his steady-minded drumming with Ms Salvant’s vocals.
“A lot of time, people play with vocalists and there’s a separation between the vocalist and the rest of the band,” he said. “She’s just another instrument on the bandstand.”
Mr Leathers studied and performed with a number of elder musicians.
Among them, trumpeter and impresario Wynton Marsalis became a mentor, supporter and occasional jam-session partner. It was based partly on Mr Marsalis’ suggestion that Ms Salvant chose the Aaron Diehl Trio as her backing band.
New York Times
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments