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Ladd discovered the magic of performing for an audience at the age of 5 when he got up on stage in a nightclub and sang with his dad’s band.  He learned to read music before he learned to read words, and later --influenced by his father (the best tenor sax man in the Akron, Ohio area)-- began playing the saxophone at age 12.  From then on he knew music was to be his life's work.  

In college he formed his own big band and wrote everything they played winning a slew of awards along the way.  After moving to Los Angeles, Ladd started his 18-piece big band which has performed at numerous venues throughout Southern California.  The Ladd McIntosh Big Band is made up of studio pros with a staggering amount of credits.  Ladd has composed or arranged the band’s entire library and conducts the band with expertise and enthusiasm resulting in outstanding performances.

Throughout his career, Ladd has explored the many facets of big band arranging and composition. He has long admired the big bands of Stan Kenton, Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Gerald Wilson, Gerry Mulligan and others; and though all of these influences flow through his pen he has forged a unique style as evidenced by the music on the band’s four CDs. There is a great variety of color and style in his writing, all of it top-notch.

 Ladd is currently involved in film work as head orchestrator for Harry Gregson-Williams, Toby Chu and David Buckley, and has orchestrated for notable composers Hans Zimmer, John Powell, Klaus Badelt, Heitor Pereira, and many others.  His orchestrations can be heard on 125 major motion pictures.

To read more about Ladd, check out the article on All About Jazz ... Meet Ladd McIntosh.