Monday Convocation | Jennifer Leitham

December 15, 2016

The Hitchcock Theatre was swinging on the evening of Monday, December 12 with the Cate Jazz Band accompanying Jennifer Leitham, a well-known stand-up bass player. The band opened by playing “Oleo”, a Sonny Rollins standard, with Nick Thomas, ’17 taking the first solo on his saxophone. Under, around, and in the spotlight was Leitham. Bryce Huerta, ’17, who also plays saxophone, described the experience, “It was like she was playing two different basses at once.”

After the opening tune, the Cate musicians exited the stage, so that Leitham could tell her story. Forging an immediate connection with her audience of young adults, Leitham began her talk with the statement, “I always knew I was different than most folks.” The bass player spoke passionately, allowing the Cate students to follow her path from budding musician to in-demand professional, passing through cross-country moves, a stint as a semi-pro baseball player, and a twenty-year marriage. The background to Leitham’s development was always a sense that she had to hide her true self; she is transgender, but was afraid that she would lose family, friends, and music if she came out to the world.

Leitham’s career prospered; she played with Mel Tormé, with Doc Severinsen, and with any number of musicians who wanted her in their studios. She traveled the world, sustained by her music but weighed down by her gender incongruity. Finally, she decided that she needed to take the risk and declare her true gender identity. She was correct in her fears: Leitham lost her partner and many of her musical collaborators. However, she is now at ease with herself and the world; for Leitham, the change was absolutely worth it.

After Leitham’s emotional presentation, the Cate musicians took the stage again. With Leitham once again showcased, they played Trombone Shorty’s “Buckjump.” Junior Cambria Weaver on trombone, Junior Luke Beckmen on trumpet, and senior Zac Towbes on electric guitar all took solos. Jeffrey Kim ‘19, Stefan Suh ‘19, Cullen Barber ‘19, Josh Shields ‘19, all on saxophone, Teddy Wecker ‘17 on trombone, Joshua Park ‘20 and Liam Mundy ‘19 on trumpet, Flora Hamilton ‘17 on keyboard, Huy Le ‘19 on electric keyboard, Colin Stevens ‘17 on drums, and Kenneth Liou ‘ on clarinet rounded out the Cate Jazz Big Band. Many students related to Leitham’s story of searching for her true identity, a process for each of them. And they were wowed by her music. As Charlie Corman ‘18 declared, “ I want to go right out and learn to play the bass.”