Bassist Leitham at top of her form in return to Elkhart

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" height=51 BGCOLOR="#000000" TEXT="#F7F7FF" bgproperties="fixed" background="29002330dvldtc.jpg"> <div> <B>Bassist Leitham at top of her form in return to Elkhart</B></div> <div> <I><B><IMG SRC="15c20770.jpg" border=0 width="800" height="119" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></I></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" height=269 BGCOLOR="#000000" TEXT="#F7F7FF" bgproperties="fixed" background="8bd00c00dvldtc.jpg"> <div> <I><B> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="578" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 38 WIDTH="572"><div> <I><B>Marcia Fulmer - </B></I><I><B><U>The Truth</U></B></I><I><B> </B></I><I>(</I><B>June 24, 2002) - </B><I><B>Bassist Leitham at top of her form in return to Elkhart</B></I></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 1287 WIDTH="572"><div> <B>ELKHART -- Recent Elkhart resident John McCloud came to the Elkhart Jazz Festival as a volunteer. </B></div> <div> <B>In addition to a session pass for his efforts, the bass player got something extra ... a lesson with Jennifer Leitham. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>The left-handed bassist was at the top of her form throughout the entire festival. Those who had heard her play here for years before declared unequivocally she was better than ever. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>The first number she played -- with pianist Taylor Eigsti and drummer Joe Ascione at the Friday afternoon Patrons Party -- gave a clue as to at least a part of the reason. "Things Ain't What They Used to Be" with Leitham and she couldn't feel better about that. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>When she played in the 2001 festival, Jennifer was John Leitham. Not long after, she decided to go forward with a medical sex change, not an easy choice physically or emotionally but one that she had been contemplating for many decades. "This is the best year ever," she said. "I feel better, I'm practicing better, I'm more patient, I have a lot less tension and I'm saner than I was a year ago ... and I'm working on music I never would try before (Bach)." "People here have been so nice this week," she continued. "Fear has always been my biggest enemy. I still have fears, but I'm better at dealing with it." </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Since her decision, she has been undergoing hormone treatments and therapy to prepare her for life as a woman. Living as a female before the actual surgery usually is an 18-month requirement. Leitham's doctors recommended her in five months and the operation is set for July.  "It's because I was already accepted in an occupation," she said, adding "I haven't lost a single gig." </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Early in this festival, Leitham was trailed by a television crew from The Learning Channel which is filming a documentary on sex reassignment. Her doctor recommended her, she said, because she was used to dealing with the media and "because I'm not 'stealth.'"  "Stealth" refers to transsexuals who change their names, their locations and their lives in order to start anew without fear of discovery or harassment.  "There are thousands of them," Leitham said. "You have to understand what a joy it is when people treat you with respect and understanding. That doesn't always happen."  Her decision to go public was unavoidable given her high profile in the music profession. But it also was something Leitham wanted to do.  "My career hinges on acknowledgment and accomplishments," she said quietly. "I am the sum of all I have been. Music is my life." </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>With no medical insurance coverage, Leitham is faced with medical bills totaling $80,000 to $90,000, even though additionally expensive plastic surgery was not necessary. Because of the documentary, her doctor is halving his fee, but it still is in the several thousands of dollars. Filming will continue through December and the show will air first on TLC and, eventually, on the Discovery Channel. Work with Doc Severinsen and his band gave her the job security to go ahead. "He told me he would always have a place for me," Leitham said. "I will always be grateful." </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>So far, she has lost 40 pounds of muscle but has gained suppleness and dexterity in her hands. </B></div> <div> <B>"This translates well to playing the bass," she said with a grin. "I'm playing music written for the cello. I have to make flying leaps on the bass to make that happen. The bass is the thing that calls to my heart." </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>The way Leitham plays, it calls to the hearts of many. </B></div> <bR> <div> <I>For additional information: www.jenniferleitham.com </I></div> <div> <I>Contact Marcia Fulmer at mfulmer@etruth.com.</I></div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></B></I></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" height=160 BGCOLOR="#000000" TEXT="#F7F7FF" bgproperties="fixed" background="29100a00dvldtc.jpg"> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="926" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=CENTER COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 52 ><NOBR><div> <A HREF="john_leitham.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="John Leitham"><U><IMG SRC="25b27260.jpg" border=0 width="39" height="38" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A>  <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="HOME"><U><IMG SRC="25c26260.jpg" border=0 width="38" height="38" ALIGN="BOTTOM" 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