Trail Mix: Leon Joseph Littlebird
Trail Mix combines art, music, theater, mindfulness, hiking an biking along the trails of Breckenridge with free outdoor pop-up performances and outdoor installations.
Co-presented with Building Hope.
Artist Bio: LEON JOSEPH LITTLEBIRD
A regionally and internationally acclaimed musician, performer, recording artist and composer, Leon Joseph Littlebird is a third generation native of Colorado with ancestral roots in both Pioneer & Native American cultures. His heritage and multi-instrumentalist style combine to create: “Native Colorado Music”. With his deep sonorous voice and masterful Native flute and guitar styles his performances captivate audiences.
He performs concerts on World-class stages all over the country including the “MIM” Musical Instrument Museum in Phoenix, the Sanders Theater in Boston, Riverwalk Theater in Breckenridge and 10 solo concerts for the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, to name a few. Leon has recorded 10 albums in his lengthy career. His 2016 album “Circle of Dreams” is getting regular radio airplay in Europe.
Currently, Leon is composing, performing and recording with pan-global percussionist and seven-time Grammy Nominee: Will Clipman. Their first recorded collaboration: “Shadow Chant” released in 2017 was submitted for a Grammy. www.willclipman.com
Littlebird also co-composed a concerto for Classical string quartet and Indigenous instruments with renowned violinist, Chas. Wetherbee titled: “Anthem for the Ancestors” which he has performed with Carpe Diem String Quartet in Boulder, Cincinnati and Silverthorne. www.cdsq.org
He is currently collaborating with Classical composer and arranger, Max Wolpert on a commission from the La Jolla Symphony for an orchestral piece for Native Flutes, percussion and orchestra based on Leon’s music. “When Echoes Speak”
During the Covid pandemic, when live music was halted, Leon produced 25 virtual concerts, creating gigs for 44 local musicians for Summit Musicians Relief Fund; a local non-profit in Colorado.
In concert he will play numerous instruments from guitars to Native American flutes and percussion. His songwriting, vocal and guitar styles have been compared to Leonard Cohen, Johnny Cash and Eric Clapton.
Well-known as a storyteller, Leon delights his audiences with historical and humorous tales.
“Indigenous History of Music” In 2016, he was the keynote presenter for a symposium of professional storytellers in Tucson.