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Lauren Lee

Lauren Lee is a forward-thinking vocalist, pianist, and composer based in New York City. A native of the St. Louis (MO) metropolitan area, her foray into creative music began as a teenager in the St. Louis Symphony Chorus, an experience that lead her on a wild goose chase of sorts to find her own sound in the adventurous music scene as a young innovator in a special brand of improvisation she calls “Vocal Instrumentalism”. Likened to female jazz pioneers that came before her like Carla Bley and Jen Shyu, Lee’s music has been described as, “equal parts hip jazz, avant adventure, and… something completely different” (John Pietaro, Dissident Arts). Her work intentionally inhabits this place of “between”, and in Lee’s case, the “between” is nestled between where jazz has been and where jazz is going.


Tags

6
Album Review

Lauren Lee: Windowsill

Read "Windowsill" reviewed by Jerome Wilson


Lauren Lee is a talented pianist and composer, and a singer with a flexibility and sense of adventure in her voice which give her music a light, optimistic feel, although repeated listening reveals it has surprising depth and complexity. She brings elements of art song into the realm of pop-jazz as if she were Meredith Monk invading a Steely Dan recording session. The opener, “Windowsill," establishes the concept, with Lee's wordless voice drifting airily through her band's shifting ...

2
Radio & Podcasts

New Music from Lauren Lee, Eric Wyatt, Manuel Dunkel and More

Read "New Music from Lauren Lee, Eric Wyatt, Manuel Dunkel and More" reviewed by Bob Osborne


This week we feature loads of new releases, including music from Lauren Lee, Eric Wyatt, Manuel Dunkel and Mark Fox. Playlist Eric Wyatt “Bud Powell" from The Golden Rule, For Sonny (Whaling City Sound ) 00:00 fo mo deep “Move On Up" from Szygy (RH Media) 09:10 Lauren Lee “Windowsill" from Windowsill (ears&eyes Records) 14:49 Manuel Dunkel “The Endless Path" from Discoveries (Eclipse Music) 24:03 Mark Fox “Iridescent Sounds" from Iridescent Sounds (Humble Genius Records) 32:13 Kris ...

10
Catching Up With

Lauren Lee: On Being Uncool

Read "Lauren Lee: On Being Uncool" reviewed by Suzanne Lorge


Lauren Lee is one of a new breed of singer-songwriter. She has all the bona fides of a traditional jazz singer and pianist, but she needs to do things her own way. As a singer and composer, she gives her imprimatur to cross-cultural experimentation and off-the-beaten-track forms of vocal expression, never straying far from the post-bop mother ship. All About Jazz: Since you released your first album of jazz originals, The Consciousness Test, in 2016, your profile as ...

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5

Recording

Resolute Vocalist Lauren Lee Reminds Us She's 'Still Here' With New EP

Resolute Vocalist Lauren Lee Reminds Us She's 'Still Here' With New EP

Source: Lauren Lee

What happens when you pour your emotions into music? You get this latest EP, (I Am) Still Here, from Lauren Lee, which takes us on a journey through her fears, frustration and her joy in knowing that through it all, she is still here. The catalyst for this musical journey was a unique experience of deja vu from 10 years ago, causing her to ask the question, “what would past Lauren think about current Lauren?” Taking the time to reflect ...

“music without a net” Jazz Weekly "Wayne Shorter described jazz as a challenge, and we believe that Lauren has addressed this challenge most successfully, especially with her vocalese, which is firmly rooted in the trio's instrumental texture"- Jose, www.lahabataciondeljazz.com (Spain) " 'Voyager' is a particularly exceptional track. Brilliant work, creativity, composition, and concept"- Zem Audu, jazz saxophonist (USA) "The line between genius and insanity is never knowingly underserved. Like a boxing glove in a box. Four Stars!" - Fiona Ord-Shrimpton, www.allaboutjazz.com Interview on "Divergent Paths" with Dan Dunford , aired February 8, 2016, talking about "The Consciousness Test", life in NYC, and music in general: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/episode­26­singer­lauren­lee/id1028839 596? i=362366161&mt=2 www.facebook.com/divergentpathspod Live performance and interview on WKCR­ NYC Columbia University Radio, aired November 22, 2015, https://soundcloud.com/velocityduo/sets/wkcr­live­constructions

Primary Instrument

Vocals

Location

New York City

Willing to teach

Advanced only

Credentials/Background

Creative and fun teacher, specializing in jazz voice, jazz improvisation, basic vocal technique, composition, and jazz piano Bachelor of Music (Jazz Studies): Webster University, 2009; Master of Music (Jazz Studies): New York University, 2011. $100/hourly Lessons available online: Mondays, Thursdays, and Sundays

Clinic/Workshop Information

Sing Like a Horn, a comprehensive approach to playing your voice like an instrument

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Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

If

Self Produced
2022

buy

(I Am) Still Here

Self Produced
2022

buy

The Queen of Cups

Ears And Eyes Records
2021

buy

Windowsill

Ears And Eyes Records
2019

buy

The Consciousness Test

Self Produced
2016

buy

If

From: If
By Lauren Lee

Is It Future or Is It Past

From: Is It Future or Is It Past
By Lauren Lee

Up in the Air

From: The Queen of Cups
By Lauren Lee

Aback

From: Windowsill
By Lauren Lee

Voyager

From: The Consciousness Test
By Lauren Lee

The Consciousness Test

From: The Consciousness Test
By Lauren Lee

Absence/Excess

From: Dichotomies
By Lauren Lee

Videos

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