Vivian Lee
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Vivian Lee

Antelope, California, United States | Established. Jan 01, 1998 | SELF

Antelope, California, United States | SELF
Established on Jan, 1998
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This band has not uploaded any videos
This band has not uploaded any videos

Music

Press


"Jazz Singer Vivian Lee"

People who think they're too old to start something anew should talk with 51 year-old Vivian Lee, who began her singing career at age 40 and is hotter than a jalepeno pepper.

Cathy Cassinos-Carr - Sacramento Magazine


"Sunday Night At Savanna's"

Willis and I were sorry to hear about Bobbie Norris's accident. We wish her a speedy recovery and look forward to a reschedule at Savannah's but WOW what a consolation prize the Vivian Lee Quartet gave us last night. Sammie Award star-quality at its best.

That striking aqua-colored evening gown that she wore complemented the adventurous and independent spirit she put into her extensive repertoire of musical creations. Vivian’s shimmering and sashaying presented a delightful image of class and "sass" and her excitement with the music and the band was obvious.

Of course you can't go wrong with a line-up like Kerry Kashiwagi, Dave Bass, Jimmy Robinson and Glenn Hair. Their unique talents rank them high on the list of the area's finest musicians. They backed you up with spirited homages to Duke Ellington and Dave Brubeck, to name a few. The multi-talented Dave Bass surprised us with his own wonderful compositions and Jimmy Robinson's opening solo on percussions set the pace for the rest of the evening.

Vivian and the band gave us exhilarating selections by choosing standard favorites like "Green Dolphin Street, Take Five, The Man I Love, God Bless the Child That's Got Its Own, Why Don't You Do Right and You Don't Know What Love Is."

The music and the gentle jokes and banter on the stage created an atmosphere of participation and warmth that made the evening's performance a special event.
Flora Jones
Resident Music Critic for Sunday Evening Jazz - Weekly Review of Scarlett Productions Presents Sunday Evening Jazz


"Sacramento Jazz Jubilee 2007"

Vivian Lee infuses each song she sings with her own style while remaining true to each classic such as "Moon River" and "Body and Soul". Souful, yet sassy, she projects her delight in the music immediately to her fans as well as those hearing her for the first time. - And All That Jazz


Discography

Scarlett - 2000
Where Is Love - 2002
Have You Met Miss Lee - 2004

From Miss Lee To You - 2013


Photos

Bio

Jazz vocalist and recording artist Vivian Lee is truly a child of the world having grown up in a military family, then pursuing a twenty year military career herself.   She specializes in the standards – Gershwin, Ellington, Berlin, Mercer, Jobim, and the like, with a little Brubeck, Gillespie and Monk thrown in.  Her main venues have been the cabaret/supper clubs and nightclubs such as 7-Mile House in San Francisco, Piatti, Headhunters, Harlow’s, and JB’s Lounge in Sacramento, Tsakopoulos Galleria, and Three Stages Theater in Folsom. She has also been a mainstay at the Sacramento Music Festival. 

 Ms Lee has played with such notable musicians as bassists Bill Douglass and Buca Necak, drummers Ed Thigpen and Eddie Marshall, pianist Joe Gilman  trumpeters Al Molina and Dave Bengdekeit, and alto saxophonist Jeff Clayton. She has assembled a top notch ensemble of players from the area.  Her current band consists of Joe Gilman or Brenden Lowe on piano, Buca Necak on bass and Jeff Minnieweather on drums. Together with her unique style, phrasing and magical stage presence, they have been captivating audiences from Lake Tahoe to the Bay area. Known for her story-telling and banter with the audience she will pull you into the world that she creates on stage.   

 As a recording artist she has released three CDs - her 2000 debut CD, “Scarlett”, 2002 release, “Where is Love”, and 2004 “Have You Met Miss Lee?” all of which have made the  rounds of national public radio jazz stations. She released her fourth CD – From Miss Lee To You in March 2013.

 The 2007 SAMMIE (Sacramento area music awards) award winning Miss Lee is also an active promoter of jazz in the Sacramento area in contacting and arranging venues in the Sacramento area to create a budding jazz scene.

Ms Lee has three times (2005, 2006, 2007) been voted one of Sacramento’s top jazz groups and top local entertainer by subscribers in Sacramento Magazine’s annual “Best Of Sacramento issue and is the 2009 Sacramento Magazine editor’s pick as “Best Jazz Diva”.  In 2014 the Black Music Association of America Sacramento Chapter inducted Ms Lee into the Hall of Fame as a Music Icon and also selected her as Jazz Vocalist of the Year for 2014.

Band Members