The debut recording of the Peter Leitch New Life Orchestra, New Life, has been released! The 2-CD set of mostly Peter Leitch original music is meant to bring the listener into a jazz club atmosphere--two sets, two CDs. You can leave after one set--but you won't want to! With this release, Peter celebrates the time given to him by his successful treatment for stage 4 lung cancer. Although he can no longer play the guitar, he has channeled his creativity into composing, orchestrating and directing this wonderful 14-piece orchestra! Enjoy

Peter Leitch is a New York based composer, orchestrator and leader of the Peter Leitch New Life Orchestra. The former critically acclaimed guitarist has performed in such popular rooms as Club 75, Sweet Basil, Sweet Rhythm, Jazz Standard, Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola, The Blue Note, Bradley's, Zinno, Visiones and Birdland and has placed several times in the DownBeat International Jazz Critics Poll. He has been profiled in numerous magazine articles.

A tour favorite, Peter and his groups have appeared at festivals and clubs in the U.S., Canada, Europe and Australia. Versatile in a broad range of jazz artistry, he has worked/recorded with some of his profession's greatest performers: Oscar Peterson, Ron Carter, Milt Jackson, Woody Shaw, Pepper Adams, Jaki Byard, Jack McDuff, Kenny Wheeler, Al Grey, and John Hicks.

Peter is also an accomplished black and white photographer and has mounted several solo shows of his work, including of fellow musicians, New York street scenes, Mississippi and the South, and the newest New York to New Orleans. In addition, he has co-created several videos for which he has composed music. This has led to an exploration of new (and old) areas of music. Click on the icons above to see!

In 1997, Peter initiated his Sunday Nights at Walker's, one of New York City's longest running jazz engagements. Each weekly engagement featured a duo performance with a guest artist. Gary Bartz, Ray Drummond, Bobby Watson, Sean Smith, Harvie S, Dwayne Burno, Steve Wilson, Jed Levy and Charles Davis have all shared Sunday's spotlight in this enduring jazz tradition.

During 1993-94, Peter was the Musical Director of "Guitars Play Mingus," the 5-guitar and rhythm section ensemble performing the music of Charles Mingus.

In 1991, Peter was artist-in-residence at Western Australia Academy of the Performing Arts, Perth and Elder Conservatorium, Adelaide.

Peter has been an adjunct professor at Long Island University and has taught at the National Guitar Workshop and the Vermont Jazz Center, the Summer Guitar Workshop at New York University and the Berkeley College of Music. He conducts workshops, master classes and clinics in jazz guitar and improvisation in the United States, Europe, Canada and Australia.

Peter's recordings are available on the Jazz House Reservoir, Concord and Criss Cross Jazz labels (see Discography).

The Peter Leitch New Life Orchestra is available for bookings.