LEO & LEO Leonor Watling & Leo Sidran

• 1 The Art of Conversation 04:02
• 2 Wake Up SoSo 03:45
• 3 Entre chien et loup 03:35
• 4 Light 02:55
• 5 It's Never Too Late 03:15
• 6 Nobody Kisses Anymore 03:54
• 7 Somehow They Understand 02:43
• 8 What's Trending 03:14
• 9 Hanging by a Thread 03:23
• 10 Tonight Someone Is Me 04:11
• 11 This Too Shall Pass 03:37
• Total Runtime 38:34

Info for LEO & LEO

Leonor Watling, renowned actress and singer, embarks on a new musical adventure alongside musician and composer Leo Sidran. Leo & Leo is the result of a mutual admiration that has developed over time. Watling, known for her work with the band Marlango, discovered Leo’s talent through her fascination with his father, the poet and musician Ben Sidran. Meanwhile, Leo, a fan of Leonor’s acting, connected with her music thanks to Marlango and his friendship with Jorge Drexler, the Uruguayan singer-songwriter and Watling’s husband.

From that moment on, they started planning to record together, working on original songs by Leo, sung by Leonor and played alongside The Groovy French Band (Max Darmon, Paul Sany & Romain Bouiges). In September 2024, over three magical days at Estudio Uno (Madrid), they recorded a selection of songs from Leo’s discography, along with two original compositions written specifically for the project. With guest appearances from mutual friends including Kevin Johansen & Jorge Drexler, their debut album, called simply "Leo & Leo".

This duo combines Leo’s songs, performed by Leonor’s captivating voice, with the accompaniment of The Groovy French Band, featuring Max Darmon on bass, Paul Sany on keyboards, and Romain Bouiges on drums. The result is a highly sophisticated musical experience, marked by a velvet sound that seduces from the first beat.

“LEO & LEO position themselves as a sophisticated and cross-border project, where the soul of jazz, elegant pop, and introspective storytelling go hand in hand.” (YTI Magazine, Spain)

Leonor Watling, vocals
Leo Sidran, guitar, vocals
Max Darmon, bass
Romain Bouiges, drums
Paul Sany, Hammond organ, Fender Rhodes
Moses Patrou, percussion
Michael Leonhart, trumpet
John Ellis, saxophone
Jacob Garchik, trombone

Recorded by Pablo Pulido (assisted by Julen Zaldua) at Estudio Uno, Colmenar Viejo (Madrid)
Additional recording by Hector Coulon at Electric Poodle, Brooklyn
Mixed and Mastered by Matias Cella at Cocochela Estudios, Buenos Aires
Produced by Leo Sidran

Leonor Watling
is one of the most recognisable voices on the Spanish music scene. As the singer and songwriter of Marlango, she has built a career marked by elegance, fusion of genres and a unique sensibility. Since her beginnings, her music has moved between jazz, blues and pop with influences from French chanson and American folk, creating an unmistakable style.

With Marlango, she has released seven studio albums, consolidating her place on the music scene with lyrics that explore deep emotions and nuanced performances. Throughout her career, she has collaborated with great artists such as Fito Páez, Jorge Drexler, Miguel Bosé, Coque Malla and Rufus Wainwright, enriching her sound and expanding her creative universe. In April, she will release a new single with Leo Sidran, once again exploring her most intimate and personal side.

Although many also recognise her for her work as an actress, Leonor finds in music a space for free and intimate expression, where each song is a story told with her unmistakable voice. Her passion for music has made her an essential reference point for those who seek authenticity and emotion in every note.

Leo Sidran
is a Grammy winning multi-instrumentalist musician, producer, arranger, composer, recording artist and podcast host based in Brooklyn, New York.

Raised around music and musicians, Sidran started writing songs professionally as a teenager when the Steve Miller Band recorded four of his songs for their 1993 Wide River album. Around the same time, he began performing regularly as a drummer with his father, renowned and multifaceted jazzman Ben Sidran.

Sidran’s seven solo albums have explored the space between pop music, jazz, Brazilian and singer songwriter genres. Jazz Magazine in France says “Leo Sidran makes pop music swing.” Jazz Times says of Leo, “Vocally he suggests an amalgam of his father Ben with a hint of Donald Fagen. His fluid laidback style is reminiscent of Bob Dorough. Musically and lyrically his compositions are smart, sharp, and sparklingly original.” His most recent album, The Art Of Conversation was released in 2021. El Pais in Spain called it a “hymn to empathy”.

In addition to his solo career he has produced or co-produced projects for artists around the world (often in the Latin music space) including the Oscar winning song “Al otro lado del rio” for Jorge Drexler (from the film The Motorcycle Diaries), the Latin Grammy winning Healer for Cuban singer Alex Cuba, Grammy Nominated Mis Americas for Argentine-American songwriter Kevin Johansen, and The Original for Clyde Stubblefield (James Brown's original funky drummer). Leo has produced all of Ben Sidran’s records for the last 15 years, most recently Swing State.

Leo’s music has been featured in hundreds of advertisements for the world’s biggest brands, and he has scored long form projects for outlets including ESPN 30 for 30, Discovery, IFC, Sundance, and PBS.

As a drummer, he has played and recorded with jazz luminaries including Phil Woods, Howard Levy, David Fathead Newman, Clark Terry, Dave Grusin, Rick Margitza, and many more. He tours regularly around the world with his father’s quartet and his love of jazz continues to inform much of his work.

Above all, Leo loves to connect with people, which is what led him to start his much heralded podcast The Third Story, featuring interviews with musicians, producers, songwriters, and others in the creative class of all ages about their personal stories and professional journeys. Although it is not specifically a jazz podcast, many of his guests have spent time exploring the space around improvisation and creation.

This album contains no booklet.