Lee has been described as “An important and inimitable voice of the 21st Century.” Art of Life will re-release her sophomore album Anima on the Art of Life Label in 2009. The album combines Lee’s vocals in duo and ensemble settings.
Liza has assembled a remarkable group of musicians for the album, some of which include Bruce Barth, David Cook, Art Hirahara, Michael Kanan (Piano), Pat O'Leary (Bass), Michael Petrosino, Eric Halvorson (Drums), Scott Robinson, Jim Clouse (Tenor Saxophone), Adam Kolker (Soprano Saxophone, Alto Flute), Scott Robinson (Bass Clarinet), Kelsey Warren (Guitar) and Shayna Steele (Guest Vocalist). Liza is the first female vocalist signed to the nine-year-old independent label Art of Life Records.
Art of Life Records was created with the purpose of providing recording artists with the opportunity to create and record their music as they see fit without any undue pressures placed upon them via the typical major record label approach. Our goal is two-fold.
Firstly, it's absolutely imperative that the recording artists have complete control over their musical output and be 100% satisfied with the final released product. To this end, we work with each and every artist on every detail of their release from the production, recording, audio mastering and graphic design of their album artwork to ensure that the music they've worked so hard to create remains intact and is preserved throughout the production and final release process.
Our second objective is to provide our customers with the highest possible quality product that we can produce and to make this music easily available to anyone interested in our artists' musical output.
I am so excited to be working with Art of Life Records. I am thrilled to be a part of Paul Kohler’s label which is all about providing artists with a platform to truly express themselves artistically and without censor.
Liza Lee
For Anima Liza chose to record songs that are fresh, unpredictable and innovative. Most of the songs were composed or co-composed by women including Joni Mitchell’s “Blue," “A Thousand Kisses Deep” by Leonard Cohen and Sharon Robinson, and Kate Bush’s “Wow.” Liza is particularly haunting on “Silver Dagger” a song about confounding expectations. She also presents a unique and memorable interpretation of the Peggy Lee hit “Is That All There Is?”
Anima also includes some of Liza’s highly praised yet controversial original compositions. She co-wrote “Revolving Mattress” with New York writer, arranger, producer and pianist David Cook and penned “Sorry Child” and “Lay We Down” with bassist and composer Pat O’Leary.
Liza has chosen to donate the proceeds of Anima to The Society For Women's Health Research (SWHR), a non-profit organization whose mission is to improve the health of all women through research, education and advocacy.
Liza is currently finishing up her Alternative-Pop project Houses of Detention as well as writing and preparing to record a new jazz project entitled The Lover-Less Chronicles. Lee will be touring Japan and Europe this summer. Lee will also record at Burning Mountain Studio in Australia and perform there as well in early 2010.
