David Leahy has been resident in the UK since 1998, and in this time has become a prominent double bass player on the free and improvised music scene. Added to this he has not only maintained his connections with other musical styles such as jazz, folk and world music, but has allowed these differing influences to mix together.

David's long interest in movement has led him to extending his creative practice to incorporate Contact Improvisation, an improvised dance style created in the 1970's, and David has performed as a dancer/musician throughout Europe. Some of the artists and groups that he is currently involved with include; the London Improvisers Orchestra, a number of smaller groups containing members of the orchestra, Lode (improvisational string duo), Dha (Indian/European Improvisation ensemble), Deirdre Starr (Irish vocalist/pianist), Geraldo Si (dancer) in SichtLautTrio and with Frey Faust and Mirva Makanan (dancers) in the Balance Project.

He has conducted groups and performed as a guest and soloist in a number of ensembles both in this country and in Europe. David has been featured on numerous recordings and is soon to release his second solo cd.

He has worked as an accompanist, performer, composer and/or music director with an array of dance and theatre companies, including; The Pioneers (music in theatre project), Fevered Sleep (8 projects over the last few years), Attic Dance (Rural tour of 'Crouching Chef, Hidden Waiter'), Loop Dance Co. (Chatham, Kent), slapdash (dance theatre), Trestle Theatre Company (’Tonight We Fly'). And as a dance accompanist in institutions such as 'The Place', Greenwich Dance Agency, and at 'TrinityLaban'.

Aside from his performance work, David worked for many years as a promoter, a music therapist, and as a passionate educator working as a consultant to schools for the last 8 years.

“Leahy's section was the most dynamic, impressive in its physical abandon”
(Martin Longley The Independant Jan 2006)

“You are the dancing - double bass Meister”
(Barre Phillips August 2011)