Lisa Markley’s music is an exuberant blend of Jazz, Folk and Blues--her diverse style defies labels. A multi-instrumentalist, Lisa graduated from the University of North Texas with a degree in Music Composition. In the year 2000 Lisa received “Honorable Mention” in the John Lennon Songwriting Contest for two of her songs (in both the jazz and in the folk categories). She went on that same year to win the B.W. Stevenson Songwriting Contest. Lisa was a semifinalist in the Wildflower! Festival Performing Songwriter Contest in 2003, and was one of 10 “regional” singer/songwriters chosen by the Kerrville Folk Festival in 2001 and in 2004. A former member of the band Akoustik Nerve, Lisa recently released the album, Markley & Balmer with her husband, singer/songwriter and guitarist, Bruce Balmer. She tours with Bruce and performs locally with her jazz trio. She also tours internationally with the eclectic folk trio The Malvinas. Her solo projects include Goddess of Groove, and The Sky Is Blue and Sometimes Cries and the 2009 release, One Word.
Lisa Markley returns a second time to the jazz genre with this new release, which features the lush and present sound of each individual instrument alongside her acclaimed vocals. In "One Word" Lisa brings her unique sensibility to jazz standards, songs by up and coming songwriters, and two new songs by the artist herself. Songwriters appearing on "One Word" include ; KERA's J. Paul Slavens, formerly of Ten Hands; Little Jack Melody of Little Jack Melody and the Young Turks; Amy Speace, Jagoda and Tom Prasada-Rao; and Buddy Mondlock. The talented array of musicians featured on this album include: Grammy-winner Jeffrey Barnes of Brave Combo on clarinet, flute and tenor sax; J Paul Slavens on piano; and Bach Wilder Norwood on Bass. One Word was recorded sy Russ Berger designed Soona Songs Studio by engineer/producers Graham Duncan and Marilyn Duncan, and mastered by Grammy award-winning engineer Bob Katz.
"the key instrument on The Sky Is Blue is Ms. Markley's lovely, understated voice, which fits jazz ballads and Latin-tinged folk tunes perfectly." -The Dallas Morning News, January 24, 2007, Thor Christensen, Pop Music Critic
"Simultaneously pensive and playful, Lisa Markley's mellow The Sky is Blue and Sometimes Cries is as seductive as a fine glass of wine sipped sometime after midnight in a quiet, favorite bar." -Buddy Magazine, February 2007, Tom Geddie
"It's no exaggeration to say that Lisa's voice is the stuff of stardom. She packs more emotion into a single phrase than many musicians pack i nto an entire album
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"the key instrument on The Sky Is Blue is Ms. Markley's lovely, understated voice, which fits jazz ballads and Latin-tinged folk tunes perfectly." -The Dallas Morning News, January 24, 2007, Thor Christensen, Pop Music Critic
"Simultaneously pensive and playful, Lisa Markley's mellow The Sky is Blue and Sometimes Cries is as seductive as a fine glass of wine sipped sometime after midnight in a quiet, favorite bar." -Buddy Magazine, February 2007, Tom Geddie
"It's no exaggeration to say that Lisa's voice is the stuff of stardom. She packs more emotion into a single phrase than many musicians pack i nto an entire album. The power of her vocals, not to mention the artistry of her lyrics and phrasing, make the album a joy for lovers of jazz and singer-songwriters alike." -Cliff Dweller magazine, February 2007, Melody Townsel
"Lisa Markley has a world-class voice." -Paul Slavens, KERA Dallas
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