Doug Leaffer began playing saxophone in 1975 in the Malden Massachusetts public school system. While still in high school, Doug was selected as first chair Tenor Sax for the Massachusetts All-State Band and was awarded Most Valuable Player at the Southeastern Massachusetts University Annual Jazz Festival, where he opened for Frank Foster and the Count Basie Orchestra. Doug later graduated from the University of Miami, where he studied saxophone with Ed Maina, an alumnus of Maynard Ferguson's Big Band. He continued his jazz studies at both Berklee College of Music and New England Conservatory, and studied privately with Tom Ferrante of the Boston Pops and with RAM Records recording artist Miles Donohue. Doug has performed in concert at Boston's Symphony Hall and with pop, rock and jazz groups in nightclubs and music venues in South Florida and New England.  Doug has been called an "interesting and soulful player" by internationally known jazz pianist Bill Cunliffe, and has been acclaimed by Jazz Times magazine as a "fine soloist".

Doug is a regular member of the "Special Edition" big band, fills in on the "Gerry Barrett Swing Orchestra" and the "Cloud IX" nonet.  We are pleased and excited to have such a fine person and performer be part of our musical organization.