Leon Parker Trio 93 ft. Brad Mehldau & Ugonna Okegwo - Foundations (2026)

The early 1990s ushered in a new crop of distinctive young voices in the New York City jazz community. Leon Parker caught the attention of many with his unique approach to playing the drums, often playing with only a cymbal. A complete self-starter and individualist, Parker produced and recorded his first recording, Foundations, in a one-shot performance in 1993 with none other than pianist Brad Mehldau and bassist Ugonna Okegwo. Finally getting its first release, Foundations provides an early snapshot of some brash young talent that would go on to shake the jazz world.

Originally hailing from the suburban confines of White Plains, New York, Parker was caught in the gravity of New York City’s jazz scene. Rather than attend college, the young drummer moved to the City. He became the house drummer at Barry Harris’s Jazz Cultural Theatre and unofficially injected himself in Arnie Lawrence’s freshly birthed New School jazz program. Parker moved freely amongst jazz legends and a new crop of young talent.

It was around this time that Parker caught the ears of many luminaries, artists and critics alike. His practice of playing a single cymbal along with piano great Kenny Barron at Bradley’s or a scaled down drum set without hi-hat led to a writeup by the legendary Whitney Balliett in The New Yorker.

One of Parker’s main incubators was Augie’s in Harlem (which would later become Smoke), where he instituted a music policy. Many of his New School colleagues would make their debuts there, including Peter Bernstein, Larry Goldings, and Brad Mehldau. Parker also introduced drums at the Village Gate Terrace’s jazz series.

While at Augie’s, Parker became the assistant music director for trombonist Steve Davis’s ensemble. The ensemble included saxophonist Mark Turner, bassist Ugonna Okegwu, and pianist Brad Mehldau. It was shortly thereafter at the Village Gate that Parker debuted his short-lived trio, which featured Mehldau and Okegwo.

The trio was nearly over before it began, as Mehldau’s career led him further afield. Parker was able to record them on his own impetus at Michael Brody’s Brooklyn studio in April 1993. On one microphone, the recording is a youthful, nearly live document of New York’s burgeoning jazz scene evolving.

The program begins with a bouncy drum forward take on Thelonious Monk’s “Bemsha Swing.” The performance highlights the young Mehldau’s light yet creative touch over a incredible grooving rhythm set up by Okegwo and Parker. “Brad Original” is a brooding ballad from the pen of Mehldau, the piece showing the sensitivity and range all three musicians already had at such a young age. Parker’s unique ride cymbal technique comes into full display on a spritely take of Juan Tizol and Duke Ellington’s “Caravan.”

Monk’s “Evidence” begins as pointillistic interpretation before launching into a hard swinging groove, while Cole Porter’s classic “Love for Sale” allows the trio to sail on a lightly swinging breeze. The trio uses the chord changes to Monk’s “Straight, No Chaser” as the basis for their improvisational excursion, “Straight, No Head.” Okegwo’s impressively dynamic bass is a standout as Mehldau and Parker stretch their muscles after. The program concludes with Victor Young and Edward Heyman’s “When I Fall In Love,” the trio exploring the emotional limits of the classic ballad.

Though their paths quickly diverged, the trio of Leon Parker, Brad Mehldau, and Ugonna Okegwo managed to find one, bright moment to come together and record a special collection of tunes. Finally released as Foundations, the album shows the brilliance of three talents at the beginning of their musical journeys.

Leon Parker - drums
Brad Mehldau - piano
Ugonna Okegwo - bass