Mel Tormé Would Be Proud of Jazz Great Jennifer Leitham
BY Diane Anderson-Minshall
July 13 2012 4:00 AM ET

http://www.advocate.com/arts-entertainment/film/2012/07/13/mel-torme-would-be-proud-jazz-great-jennifer-leitham

One of the best documentaries on the festival circuit this year is I Stand Corrected, lesbian director Andrea Meyerson's intimate and engaging portrait of Jennifer Leitham, the transgender bass player whose unusual technique and extraordinary talent has made her one of the most recognizable musicians in the jazz world.

Her career actually began decades ago when she was stil known as John Leitham — and her unusual left-handed techniques and passionate earned her a spot on more than 100 jazz recordings and a long gig with Mel Tormé. But after a lifetime of hiding her female identity at home in order to seek musical fame, Leitham couldn't take it any more and decided to risk it all to start living life as the woman she always knew she was. She found some unlikely allies including The Tonight Show bandleader Doc Severinson. We caught up with both Leitham and Meyerson to talk about the movie, their careers, and what they hope audiences take away.

Hi Zythyra,

Thanks for this item. About 7 years ago I was in a cd club & saw an article on Jennifer's transition & at the time she was playing with Doc Severinson. Having watched the Tonight show for a long time, there were so many great musicians on the show mentioned in the article & of course the Great Doc. He must have been a very liberal person, always liked him, he had a good humor. He has impressed me with his acceptance & support of Jennifer. In the trailer I liked what he said about Jennifer, "I hired you as a bass player, not as a man or woman." I didn't know about Mel Torme connection. The "velvet fog," was a wonderful singer. It would be wonderful to see this documentary.

Jamie

Quote from: Jamiep on July 13, 2012, 12:13:37 PM
In the trailer I liked what he said about Jennifer, "I hired you as a bass player, not as a man or woman."

Jamie,

I also love that quote! I'm a musician, and dealt with considerable discrimination during my first transition attempt. Things are going better in my current transition phase than previously, however the music industry is still transphobic.

Z

Hi Zythyra,

I am sorry about your first transition discrimination & that it is going better in your current transition. You would think anyone in the entertainment industry has a mix of much of our community within that people would less phobic. My wife says non accepting people are "ignorant." Unbeknown to them they hurt themselves and us. I suppose I agree with my wife & have a sense phobic people are lazy to learn. We don't hurt people & we are not going away.

My Dad lived in the Big Band era and introduced me to the music in the 50's in my teen years. I love that & jazz. I this your realm or do you play other music & what instrument(s)?

Jamie

Quote from: Jamiep on July 13, 2012, 01:16:23 PM
My Dad lived in the Big Band era and introduced me to the music in the 50's in my teen years. I love that & jazz. I this your realm or do you play other music & what instrument(s)?

Hi Jamie,

I play various string instruments; fiddle, mandolin, guitar, banjo, uke... Mostly traditional American folk styles, but also some swing era jazz. Do you play any instruments?

Z

Hi Zythyra,

I am not musical at all, how I wish. Can't read music & not a good singing voice unfortunately.

Wow you can play a lot of instruments! Wonderful, you can be a one person band. I love folk music, the 60's was a wonderful time. Maybe you could play celtic too. I like all the instruments you play.

Jamie