bandleader

noun

band·​lead·​er ˈband-ˌlē-dər How to pronounce bandleader (audio)
: the conductor of a band (such as a dance band)

Examples of bandleader in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Jason Moran’s rearrangements of the early 20th-century composer and bandleader James Reese Europe’s compositions. Kadish Morris, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2024 Headlining the affair is Grammy-winning Bay Area percussionist, composer and bandleader Javier Cabanillas and his group Cabanijazz Project. Randy McMullen, The Mercury News, 10 Apr. 2024 Directed by Jeffrey Polk with music direction and conducting by bandleader Duane Benjamin, the smooth and fast-paced show wasn’t presented in chronological order of the hits produced by Motown from 1961-1971. Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Apr. 2024 Thad Jones was one of the all-time greatest jazz trumpet soloists and a brilliant composer, arranger and bandleader. Duante Beddingfield, Detroit Free Press, 15 Mar. 2024 True to its title, the single takes its inspiration from bandleader Dylan Baldi’s daily runs through a nearby college campus. Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 28 Feb. 2024 Hutchings, who has been an authoritative bandleader in the past, is more a savvy studio auteur here, alongside co-producer Dilip Harris. Evan Haga, SPIN, 11 Apr. 2024 But the major news is, in fact, about a jazz artist: trumpet legend Wynton Marsalis will be returning to the 200-seat Blue Note as a bandleader for the first time since 1991. Gary Graff, Billboard, 4 Apr. 2024 Batiste also served as bandleader on CBS’ The Late Show With Stephen Colbert for seven seasons. Ryan Gajewski, The Hollywood Reporter, 28 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'bandleader.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1869, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of bandleader was in 1869

Dictionary Entries Near bandleader

Cite this Entry

“Bandleader.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bandleader. Accessed 3 May. 2024.

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