Philadelphia - "American Idol" will have an easier time replacing Simon Cowell than "The Tonight Show" will filling the shoes of Kevin Eubanks.

For the last 15 years, Eubanks has kept the late-night institution purring, serving as Jay Leno's bandleader, second banana, and comedy-sketch sidekick. (Prior to that he was a member of the Tonight Show Band for three years under Branford Marsalis.)

With his amused manner, winning smile and easy chuckle, Eubanks has made it all look so easy that viewers tended to take him for granted.

Until, that is, the guitarist announced last week that he will be stepping down at the end of next month.

What led to his decision?

"I've been trying to put my finger on it," he said by phone Monday. "It kind of creeps up on you after that long - 18 years on television, five days a week, 46 weeks a year and never missing a day of work. It's a lot to keep that energy up every day."

Some in the press have speculated that Eubanks' departure was precipitated by the ugliness surrounding Leno's recent supplanting of Conan O'Brien on "The Tonight Show" throne.

"It really didn't have anything to do with it," insists Eubanks. "That situation was a strain on the entire show, not just Jay but on the crew. On me. But you still have to do your routine. My job was to make sure (the band) stayed focused and didn't get caught up in things we had no control over. I just need a change of pace."

For the moment, he's keeping his post-"Tonight" options wide open.

"I want to play some music and not just jazz," he says. "Other genres, too. It's weird but I don't consider myself just a jazz musician."

So there's a good chance he'll put together an ensemble and take it into the recording studio or out on tour. But surprisingly, Eubanks, 52, is also determined to stay active in television.

"People say, 'Oh, we thought you would go back on the road.' Well, I learned a lot, and I'm proud of being able to work in this medium," he says.

"I don't feel it's necessary to abandon one to do the other," he continues. "There are some shows that tape only four months out of the year, so there'd be time to do a variety of things."

In the short term, maybe he'll just return to his parents' house in Philadelphia and act like a slugabed, an indolent role he likes to play several times a year anyway.

"I lay on the couch and act like I'm helpless and can't possibly get to the kitchen," he says with his infectious laugh. "'I know it's just in the next room, but could you bring me some food, Mom?' She seems to enjoy it."

Growing up in that house, Eubanks was steeped in music. His mother, Vera, is an accomplished pianist. His uncle, Ray Bryant, played keyboards with Miles Davis, Coleman Hawkins and Sonny Rollins. As a boy, Eubanks thought it was nothing out of the ordinary to have visitors such as Sarah Vaughan and Nancy Wilson singing in the parlor.

As he prepares to leave TV's late-night arena, Eubanks is proud of his contribution.

"It's a continuum. The bandleader tradition goes back to Doc (Severinsen) and all his flamboyancy," he says. "(Johnny Carson) made the band a character, let it be part of the formula.

"Every band since likes to think they started something. For me, that was being part Ed McMahon and a bandleader and appearing in skits."