For those unaware, Washington, DC native Leigh Pilzer is a baritone saxophone specialist, composer, arranger, and educator. Her performance resume includes appearances with the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra, The DIVA Jazz Orchestra, the National Symphony Orchestra, Baltimore’s Soulful Symphony, and more.

She is also a bandleader in her own right, leading bands from duo to septet. Pilzer has presented her groups to enthusiastic audience response at top venues including Blues Alley, the Kennedy Center, and Keystone Korner. Pilzer is an in-demand composer and arranger whose music is performed by jazz ensembles throughout the country.

Her work has been performed and recorded by the SJMO and DIVA, and she is a Brava Jazz artist. Her compositions and arrangements are highlighted on her 2024 septet release “Beatin’ the Odds.” The recording received 3½ stars in DownBeat and was proclaimed “an hour of handsomely written straight-ahead contemporary jazz, ardently performed” by All About Jazz.

Pilzer also holds a DMA from George Mason University and is on faculty at the University of Maryland, where she teaches jazz theory, jazz arranging, and a jazz combo. In addition to her classroom teaching, Pilzer is an engaging speaker who has presented at the Jazz Education Network conference and for numerous educational initiatives.

Pilzer’s latest recording “Keep Holding On,” releasing June 19th, 2026 via Strange Woman Records 010, showcases her writing in the combo setting in addition to highlighting her instrumental prowess.

1. “Swinging at the Station”
2. “Js and Ks”
3. “Musing Music”
4. “What’s Up, Puppy”
5. “Keep Holding On”
6. “When It’s Gone”
7. “Zingamomma”
8. “Just Another Pretty Song”
9. “East Coast Andy”
10. “Sideburns”
11. “G’s Bop”

Bringing her compositional voice into a tightly interactive trio and quartet setting, Pilzer opens her new recording on the jamtastic sounds of “Swinging at the Station” and the low slung and dulcetly sculpted “Js and Ks,” the rhythmically playful “Musing Music,” before we are gifted the melodious free for all “What’s Up, Puppy” and the upbeat and soulful “Keep Holding On.”

Along next is the furtively frenetic, yet at all times cultured “When It’s Gone” which is itself backed by the funkily grooved “Zingamomma,” the stirring balladry of “Just Another Pretty Song,” and the triumphantly crafted “East Coast Andy,” the set rounding out on the joyfully all-embracing “Sideburns,” coming to a close on the refreshingly pleasurable “G’s Bop.”

PLAYERS & INSTRUMENTS:
Leigh Pilzer - Baritone Saxophone
Paul Bratcher - Hammond B3
Greg Holloway - Drums
Jen Krupa - Trombone
Kenny Rittenhouse - Trumpet
Ally Hany Albrecht - Trumpet
Joe Jackson - Trombone

www.leighpilzer.com

www.strangewomanrecords.com

Leigh Pilzer @ Instagram