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Carolyn Lee Jones

A sophisticated jazz vocalist with a sense of style all her own.

About Me

Born and raised in Nebraska, Jones moved to Dallas as a young adult and began a successful career in retailing traveling the world as a Buyer for luxury stores. Fortunately, she had opportunities to perform while on the road for her day job. Opportunities arose performing with a trio at numerous intimate NYC cabarets with noted NYC musicians ; Ted Firth (p), Wells Hanley (p) , Saadi Zain (b) Paul Beaudry (b) and Jacob Melchior (d ). Trudi Mann a well known vocalist was Jones' mentor. Five Album Releases - 2008 Bon Appetite! / featuring the late great Bob Dorough arranging, singing and playing on 3 songs, 2013 The Performer / title track by Kenny Vance, 2016 In A Long White Room / celebrating the pop genre with a jazz sensibility, 2019 Close Your Eyes / all about love in it's many stages 2021 Christmas Time Is Here / some old favorites & a few very seldom heard Five Single Releases - Sister Sadie / A Child is Born / You'd Be So Nice To Come Home to / I Never Meant To Hurt You- White Christmas 2008 to current - Independent label / Catn'round Sound. 2018 to present - THE SATIN DOLLS BAND - my all female jazz quintet 2008 to present - FRESH VINTAGE JAZZ ENSEMBLE - duo to big band Awards - 2017 - The Sammons Center For The Arts / Dallas, TX - “Cabaret Artist Of The Year”. Cabaret- Jazz Shows 2012 to present- Developed and performed six themed shows for the Sammons Center For The Arts / Dallas Cabaret Series 2012 -Songs From My Mother's Piano Bench ( from my mother's original sheet music ), 2014 -Too Marvelous For Words ( the music of Johnny Mercer ), 2015 - I'd Rather Lead A Band - ( jazz and more jazz), ( Denise Lee Cabaret Series ) 2017- Girl Talk ( the music of Bobby Troup and Julie London), 2019 -Hooray For The Girls ( celebrating female composers and lyricists of the 20th century) 2024 - In Development - Ladies Of The Night ( celebrating female jazz singers from the 20th century )

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My Jazz Story

I love jazz because it is a very free and personal interpretation of music. Starting some of my songs with the verses that are rarely heard is a bonus gift! I was first exposed to jazz as a child but didn't totally realize at the time what I was hearing. My mother was a pianist playing songs from her youth now known as The Great American Songbook. The 60's pop band Chicago had a marvelous big band style recording of famous jazz standards. In my previous life as a Buyer for Neiman Marcus, I met Shirley Horn in NYC for one of her last performances and it was spell binding. Blossom Dearie and Annie Ross too at their NYC residencies back in the early 2000's . Karrin Allyson and Jane Monheit previewed here in Dallas. I brought Nora Jones all of the Dallas articles about her when I was traveling in Europe (for Neiman Marcus) as she debuted in London at Soho Pizza and Jazz. Julie Bonk, well know pianist in Dallas was her piano teacher. The best show I ever attended was Shirley Horn in NYC up close, three feet away from her piano. The first jazz record I bought was by Anita O'Day. She really swings! My advice to new listeners... listen to everything, all types of music. It broadens your perspective.

My House Concert Story

House concert in DALLAS hosted by a wonderful friend. She had a lovely baby grand piano and an intimate space provided. 30 people attended and each person brought either wine or an appetizer to lay out on the beautiful table. It was a grand evening and the show theme was "Songs From My Mother's Piano Bench". My mother was a pianist and met my dad playing for the Navy Service Men in Chicago. When she passed away, I acquired her original sheet music from the late 20's - 50's. It was my first house concert in her honor.