Leela Paymai

Confident and proficient musician skilled in range of instruments, with special talents for band leading, composition, arranging, production, teaching, and performing. Holds numerous years of experience in managing music related organizations and events.

• Electric Bass (primary)
• Trombone (primary)
• Piano/Keyboard (fluent)

Agua Pura

San Francisco, CA 

• Trombonist and bassist for Agua Pura, a 10-piece all female salsa band based in the Mission district of San Francisco.
• Also acts as an arranger and sound technician for the group.

7th Street Big Band

San Jose, CA

• Trombonist and bassist, Trombonist and bassist for 7th Street Big Band. Has played performances on both trombone and bass for the group, most notably the San Jose Jazz Summerfest Main Stage.

Miss Hits

San Jose, CA

• Founder and band leader, composer, and bassist, Founder and band leader, composer, and bassist for Miss Hits, a San Jose based indie, jazz, neo-soul band.
• As the bandleader, responsibilities include organizing gigs and rehearsals, writing and arranging music, speaking to venues, releasing music and coordinating with producers, creating marketing materials, growing social media presence through content, and more.
• Successfully released our first single on all platforms, called "Faking It".

Voluntary Hazing

San Jose, CA

• Bassist, songwriter, and co-leader, Bassist, songwriter, and co-leader of a 12 piece ska group based in San Jose, CA.
• Independently wrote, recorded, and released on all platforms their first EP, "Crossroads", in January 2020.

Orquesta Salsón

San Francisco Bay Area

• Trombonist and bassist for a classic Salsa Dura band, active in the Bay Area since 2008.
• Arranges new charts for the group, depending on new instrumentations
• Horn section leader

SJSU Ensembles

San Jose, CA

• Trombonist and bassist in multiple semesters of the San Jose State University Jazz Orchestra, Jazz Combos, Afro-Latin Jazz Ensemble, Symphonic Band, Symphony Orchestra, and Trombone Choir.

Bruocsella Symphony Orchestra

Brussels, Belgium

• The principal trombonist in the top amateur symphony orchestra in Belgium.

AMIS Honour Bands

International

• After a rigorous blind audition process, was accepted and participated in multiple internationally recognized honour bands.
• 2015: Honour band section leader (Brussels, Belgium); Honour Jazz Workshop (Beijing, China) 2016: Honour Band (Doha, Qatar), Honour Jazz (The Hague, Netherlands)

...and more!