Background

Beth grew up in a world filled with music. Her family owned Lederman Music Company, one of Arizona’s largest music store chains. With a whole store filled with pianos, all begging to be played, what was a young girl to do? Learn to play! Determined not to waste any time, she began classical study at the age of 5. She quickly mastered the basics and then branched out into jazz and classical. If you’re good at jazz and classical, you can play any style of music – and Beth does.

Education

Beth received private lessons during her childhood before attending Lewis & Clark College, Mt. Hood Community College (both in Oregon), and NAU in Flagstaff, studying jazz and classical music and playing with the jazz ensembles. Beth received her B.A. in Music, Cum Laude, from ASU in 1990. After graduation, she continued to refine her technique by studying privately with Chuck Marohnic for a number of years.

Band Leader / Music Director

Beth leads several groups that play around the Valley and are currently available for performances.

Jazz Con Alma featuring Beth Lederman

Translating as “Jazz with Soul” or “Jazz with Spirit,” Beth Lederman and Jazz Con Alma provide just that. With an emphasis on Latin jazz, the group ranges from traditional to contemporary music with the spirit of improvisation and the love of jazz always intact. Jazz that is easy to listen to, but doesn’t compromise the integrity and creativity that make this music celebrated as America’s own unique art form. Mix in the rhythms of samba, salsa, swing, bossa-nova, cha-cha, add some of Phoenix’s finest musicians, shake well, and serve for a memorable evening of music!

Their CD “Las Sombras” was released in 2013 and has received extensive radio play on NPR station KJZZ. “Las Sombras” is available on iTunes and CD Baby.

Jazz Con Alma was on the Arizona Arts Commission Artist Roster List from 1991 to 1995 featuring a “Roots of Jazz” program for schools, playing for residencies and concerts throughout Arizona including: Sierra Vista, Page, Chinle, Casa Grande, Globe, Yuma, Sedona, Patagonia, and Tubac.

Listen to their recording of “Tica Linda,” recorded at The Nash in 2013, or “Cold Duck Time” with Jerry Donato on sax.

Venues

Musical Instrument Museum
Scottsdale Arts Festival
The Nash
Tubac Center for the Performing Arts
Kerr Cultural Center
Jazz in Arizona Monthly Jazz Party
McDowell Sonoran Jazz Festival
Sedona Marketplace
Lake Powell Concert Series
City of Globe Concert Series
Residencies in the towns of Thatcher/Safford
Central Arizona College
Concert Series at Sun City Grand
Jazz in the Hills
Jazz for the Soul
Sacred Grounds Jazz
Concert series
Peacock Jazz Festival
Primavera Women’s Jazz Festival
Desert Botanical Garden
Kerr Cultural Center
El Pedregal Concert Series
Jazz in Arizona Concert Series
City of Glendale Concert Series
Scottsdale Festival of the Arts
Chandler Jazz Festival
The Phoenix Zoo
Primavera Jazz Festival

Novo Mundo

Brazilian Jazz is the specialty of this popular group that Beth has band-led since 2000. The group has two CDs available for download on iTunes and CD Baby. Featuring the vocals and guitar playing of Kay Peper, Felix Sainz on the bass, Emerson Laffey on drums, and Joe Garcia on percussion, the group has enchanted Valley audiences for many years with their unique sound. They have played many festivals, concerts, and clubs and were members of the AZ Commission on the Arts Artist Roster List for more than 7 years playing school residencies and concerts around the state. Novo Mundo has a devoted local following.

Solo Piano

Beth is an experienced pianist who is comfortable playing solo piano or in duo settings in a variety of circumstances. Her repertoire includes pop music as well as an extensive repertoire of jazz, swing, and Latin standards. Recent engagements include steady performances at the elegant Royal Palms Hotel, and past engagements at the Arizona Biltmore, Sassi restaurant, and innumerable private functions.

Music Director

Currently music director for a weekly jazz service at Dayspring Methodist Church in Tempe, AZ.

Music director and keyboardist for a national touring production of Phantom of the Opera in 1990 that played throughout the United States and Canada.

Past musical director for the Brazilian band “Zum,Zum,Zum,” and for the 7-piece salsa band “Mas!”, two bands that worked extensively throughout the Phoenix area.