During 13 fruitful years in Melbourne, Barker was a fixture of the Australian touring circuit, as well as appearing at venues and events such as the Sydney Opera House, Jazz at Lincoln Center, ‘Frankie 100’ in New York, and the Bix Beiderbecke Memorial Festival in Davenport, Iowa—establishing himself worldwide as a first-call sideman and award-winning bandleader. He has collaborated worldwide with artists as diverse as Branford Marsalis, Gordon Webster, the Hot Jazz Alliance, the Tom Vincent Trio, and Sarah McKenzie.
Leigh moved to Paris in 2016, forming the ‘European Edition’ of his long-running band, extending the excellent body of work from his eight full-length album releases in Australia and managing to maintain a coherent lineup in both Paris and Melbourne.
Making his debut appearance at The Count’s, Leigh reunites his Melbourne band to celebrate the release of Cross Street (2025). Featuring veteran ensemble members Eamon McNelis, Matt Boden, Abby Constable, Grant Arthur, John Scurry, Jason Downes, and Heather Stewart, the group maintains his vision of an inclusive and diverse music—where one finds all the principal threads of blues, swing, hot jazz, and classic themes at the heart of an exuberant, spontaneous, and passionate orchestra. Vocalist and violinist Heather Stewart anchors the seven virtuosos with her moving, swinging voice, while the orchestra traverses the full palette of rhythm, melody, and improvisation.
