Violent Shadows was originally written for AJ Muusse in 2017. The wind ensemble version of the piece was written in 2019 for Evan Clifton and a consortium of 9 bass trombonists. Inspired by progressive rock, Violent Shadows showcases the different characters of the bass trombone, from the loud and aggressive side commonly associated with the instrument to the more pure and lyrical side. Jose Leonardo Leon Performed the South Florida Premiere of the Bass Trombone and Wind Ensemble version with the FAU Winds in October 2022 under the direction of Kyle Prescott. Learn more…

Winds of Change is a collection of 12 new works commissioned for different levels of performers. Each solo brings something new and unique to your music stand. We challenge students, performers, and educators to diversify their stands and expand the ‘classical repertoire’. Each composer gives the performer an opportunity to explore their musical voice in this progressive trombone solo collection. visit Diversify the Stand and Winds of Change for more.

Der Jüngling, Das Mädchen, und der Tod (The Youth, The Maiden, and Death) for Trombone Quartet is an arrangement based on two of Franz Schubert’s songs: Der Tod und das Mädchen and Der Jüngling und der Tod (2nd version). Dr. Leon is Warwick Music Composer and Arranger. Learn more…

In April 2013 Jose Leonardo Leon premiered the trombone ensemble version of MONOLITH in collaboration with the Xalapa Symphony Orchestra trombone section. This piece written for Bass trombone by South Floridian Composer Alejandro Guardia was performed at the 3rd Annual Trombone Week at the University of Aguascalientes in Mexico. In the month of July 2013, POTENZA MUSIC has published both the trombone chamber and the piano reduction of this piece. More about Monolith HERE

In April 2016 Jose Leonardo Leon and pianist Cecilia Lo-Chien Kao premiered the bass trombone and piano e version of AIRES RIOPLATENSES Concertino for Bass Trombone and Bandoneon by Ricardo Arbiza (b.1987) as part of his first DMA recital at the University of Colorado Boulder College of Music. In July 2016, the version for bass trombone and Bandoneon of this wonderful piece was premiered by Jose L Leon and bandoneonist Sergio Astengo at the URUBRASS International Summit 2016 in the National Auditorium in the city of Montevideo-Uruguay. For the recording of Aires, as part of the album JOURNEY, Jose Leonardo Leon collaborated with Uruguayan bandoneonist Nestor Vaz during December of 2017 sessions. More about Aires Rioplatenses HERE

Journey is a Fantasy for Bass Trombone and Chamber Quintet. Andres Rodriguez (b.1970), was commissioned by Jose Leonardo Leon as part of the recording project JOURNEY, as a tribute to all foreign musicians that have left their homelands, families, and friends in pursuit of a music life. Andres Rodriguez’s unique orchestration: Flute/piccolo, clarinet/bass clarintet, piano, bass, and drums, creates the characteristic Venezuelan chamber music sound, replacing the usual leading voice sounds of the woodwinds or string instruments, by the unusual sound of the bass trombone as the main melodic source. Learn more about A Short Account of a Long Journey HERE.

The Concerto for Bass Trombone and Piano was first performed in its solo and orchestra version by bass trombonist David Brubeck and the Florida Atlantic University Symphony Orchestra in December of 2017. Upon learning of this recording project, Sleeper wrote the piano version to be included in the album JOURNEY, and also to be performed as part of Jose's last DMA recital at CU Boulder in March 2018 in collaboration with pianist Dr. Hsiao-Ling Lin. The piece portrays a battle between the emotions of anger and peace, as a tribute to human kind overcoming adversity. Learn more…

The Spanish version of Jose Leonardo Leon complete analysis, Theretical, Historical,and Performance of Robert Spillman's Concerto for Bass Trombone has been published in two parts on the prestigious International Trombone online page Revista Española de Trombones. Learn more…