alice leggett
saxophonist & composer
NEW ALBUM OUT NOW
Featuring compositions by Alice. Performed by Alice on alto saxophone, Alex Hitchcock on tenor saxophone, Alistair Payne on trumpet, Chaerin Im on piano, Tijs Klaassen on double bass, and Wouter Kühne on drums.
“Leggett’s art does not make concessions: this is serious music, and deserves and rewards serious listening. ”
“As a composer and as a musician, Leggett delivers a business card with Birdsong, which says ‘promise’ in large letters.”
“Tightly woven, progressively modern sounding without being atonal or full on avant-garde there’s plenty of space for in-depth examination of themes and motifs.
A strong statement of where Leggett is now as a composer”
birdsong
“Blending deeply personal experiences with a rich, dynamic sound, Birdsong explores the chaos, joy, and beauty of life. The title track is a dedication to Alice’s mother, Michelle Bird, and reflects the album’s strong themes of family, memory, and community.
Rooted in tradition whilst exploring new scopes, Birdsong is a bold and honest debut, capturing Alice’s distinctive voice as both composer and bandleader.”
Available as a digital download or as a physical CD in a four-panel digipack, which includes a booklet featuring photos, liner notes, poems, and artwork.
Credits
Alice Leggett (alto saxophone and compositions), Alex Hitchcock (tenor saxophone), Alistair Payne (trumpet), Chaerin Im (piano), Tijs Klaassen (bass), and Wouter Kühne (drums).
Recorded at Fattoria Musica Studios - December 2024
Engineer - Stephan van Wylick
Mixing & Mastering - Alistair Payne
Album Artwork - Natal Zaks
Booklet photos - Beatriz Lerer Castelo
Album Layout - Floor Rehbach
Label - ZenneZ Records
Reviews & Articles
About Alice
Alice Leggett is an alto saxophonist, composer, and bandleader rapidly emerging as a distinct voice in the European jazz scene. Originally from Cardiff, Wales, she is now based in Amsterdam after spending seven formative years in London. She is known for her expressive sound, melodic statements, and a compositional approach that balances lyricism with bold rhythmic and harmonic exploration.
Deeply rooted in the jazz tradition, her influences range from Charlie Parker, John Coltrane, Sonny Rollins, Ornette Coleman and Wayne Shorter to modern innovators such as Kurt Rosenwinkel, Ambrose Akinmusire, Mark Turner, Immanuel Wilkins, Ben van Gelder, and Melissa Aldana. Her own writing blends intriguing forms and emotive themes with a strong improvisational core, showcasing a voice that is both personal and vibrant.
Alice released her debut album Birdsong in 2025, featuring an ensemble of leading UK and Dutch musicians. The album received critical acclaim with reviews in Jazzism, De Volkskrant, and Jazzwise, and was supported by a six-date UK tour funded by Arts Council England.
In 2026, Alice will tour across the Netherlands and Europe with her sextet, including a debut performance as a bandleader at the Bimhuis. The group features an international lineup: Alex Hitchcock (tenor saxophone), Alex Ridout (trumpet), Noah Stoneman (piano), Tijs Klaassen (bass), and Wouter Kühne (drums). She is currently composing new material for her next album and regularly travels to New York to collaborate with artists there.
She performs regularly at leading Dutch venues such as the Bimhuis and collaborates widely within the Amsterdam scene. Alongside this, Alice keeps her connections to the UK jazz scene strong and performs periodically at venues such as The Vortex as well as collaborating with UK musicians. In 2024, she won the prestigious Keep an Eye International Jazz Award and in 2020 she was named a "One to Watch" by Jazzwise Magazine.
Past collaborations include performances with Teis Semey’s Super Deluxe Orchestra (featuring artists such as Louis Cole, Liva Dumpe, and Jasper Høiby), Mark Lockheart’s Days on Earth project, and Calum Gourlay’s Big Band. During her time in London, she has performed at Ronnie Scott’s, The Vortex, the Southbank Centre, as well as part of London and Brecon Jazz Festival.
Alice holds degrees from Trinity Laban and the Conservatorium van Amsterdam, where she completed her Master’s in 2025. She is also part of the teaching faculty at the Junior Jazz Department of the CvA.
Contact me.
aliceleggettmusic@gmail.com