Keiko Lee
Keiko
Lee
เป็ นศิลปิ นแจ๊ส
ลูกครึ่ งเกาหลี-ญี่ปุ่นคนแรกของเอเซีย
ที่สามารถก้าวข้ามเส้นกั้นระหว่าง ความเป็ นตะวันตก และตะวันออกจนโด่งดังไปทัว่ โลก
ได้แสดงคอนเสิ ร์ต อย่างเต็มรู ปแบบครั้งแรก และครั้งเดียวในประเทศไทย ซึ่ง Keiko Lee
ได้นาบทเพลงอันไพเราะจากอัลบั้มรวมเพลงฮิต อาทิเพลง Imagine, The Greatest Love of All,
Human Nature และเพลงเก่าเพลงดัง We Will Rock You ของวง Queen
ที่ผฟู ้ ังยังคงชื่นชอบมารี อะเร้นจ์ใหม่
ให้แฟนเพลงแจ๊สชาวไทยได้สัมผัสกับ
น้ าเสี ยงและลีลาดนตรี อนั ไพเราะ
 3rd album “Beautiful Love” surpasses 35,000 units, winning
the Best New Star Prize on Swing Journal’s 31st Jazz Discs
Award
 4th album “If It’s Love” surpasses 30,000 units, winning the
Best Vocalist Prize (domestic artist) on Swing Journal’s 32nd
Jazz Discs Award
 5th album “Day Dreaming” surpasses 35,000 units, winning the
Best Vocalist Prize (domestic artist) on Swing Journal’s 33rd
Jazz Discs Award
 #1 domestic female jazz vocalist on Swing Journal’s readers
poll for 1997, 1998, 1999 and 2000
[discography]
release title
1995 Imagine
1996 Kickin’ It
1997 Beautiful Love
1998
1999
2000
2001
If It’s Love
What a wonderful world (mini album)
This is Keiko Lee and more (* best album in Asia)
Day Dreaming
Keiko Lee LIVE
A LETTER FROM ROME
Wonder Of Love
[artist profile]
date of birth:
place of birth:
favorite color:
favorite place:
favorite albums:
February 17, 1965
3rd generation of Korean residence in Japan
Handa City, Aichi Prefecture, Japan
green
Manhattan, New York
Miles Davis/Bags Groove
Stevie Wonder/Songs In The Key Of Life
Jimmy Scott/All The Way
Art Farmer feat. Jim Hall/To Sweden With Love
favorite musicians: Alberta Hunter, Louis Armstrong, Jimmy Scott
dream musicians to perform with: Jim Hall, Stevie Wonder, Akira Miyazawa,
Dave Grusin, Oscar Peterson, Ray Brown, Jean Harris, etc, etc.
[live appearances abroad]
1996 Paris
La Villa
London
The Pizza Express
1997 Hong Kong
Jazz Club
1998
1999
2000
2001
Beijing
Seoul
Seoul
Seoul
Hong Kong
Bangkok
Seoul
Kuala Lumpur
Singapore
Taipei
Kaohsiung
Seoul
Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Kaohsiung
Taipei
Beijing Jazz Festival
Grand Hyatt Seoul
Muju Jazz Festival (cancelled due to heavy rain)
Jazz Club
Seom Yu center event hall
Embassy Entertainment
Music Festival
Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall
Chih The Hall
LIVE kwan
art center
t.b.c.
Chih The Hall
Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall
[biography updated on Oct. 2001]
Keiko Lee was born in Japan in 1965, as the third generation of Korean.
Her first encounter with music was at the tender age of four, by listening to her
mother’s Perez Prado Orchestra record. At age 10, she started taking electronic
organ lessons and then at high school, she formed a fusion band, copying Weather
Report, Chick Corea, etc. She began teaching herself the piano at age 21, and after
side-playing for a variety of music from jazz, chanson to canzone at clubs in Nagoya,
she started her professional career as a pianist.
Keiko travelled the US from LA to New York, which made her discover her love
in jazz. Back in Japan, reflecting upon her experiences in the US and being
encouraged by her friends who had heard Keiko singing at wedding receptions, she
gradually changed her profession to a singer. Since then, Keiko has been taking
opportunities by performing with great musicians such as Terumasa Hino. She
has also been praised as an artist, whose voice perfectly matches with the
instruments.
In 1994, Keiko started singing at clubs in Tokyo and in the following year, she
recorded her debut album Imagine in New York with Kenny Barron, Grady Tate
and Ray Drummond. This was released from Sony Music Japan in October 1995,
and received good reputation in Japan and Korea. In 1996, she recorded and
released her second album Kickin’ It with Ron Carter, Grady Tate, Lee Konitz and
producer John Simon. This album, besides Japan and Korea, was released in eight
European countries such as France, UK, Germany, etc. Later that year in
November, Keiko performed at “La Villa” in Paris and “The Pizza Express” in
London, successfully growing as a worldwide jazz artist.
In March 1997, she successfully performed a 7-day club shows at a legendary
club “DUG” in Tokyo, performing with alto sax master Lee Konitz as well as a new
and lively trio led by French pianist Laurent de Wilde. They also DSD-recorded
an album together, which resulted as Konitz’ leader album “Dig Dug Dog”.
Her third album Beautiful Love was released in July 1997, featuring Kenny
Barron, Cecil McBee, Grady Tate, Mino Cinelu, Art Farmer, and Jiro Yoshida. This
year was a big one for her; she performed a five-night club shows at Hong Kong’s
“Jazz Club”, and have participated in Beijing Jazz Fesitival. In the same year, she
also received an honor of the #1 Japanese female jazz vocalist in Swing Journal
magazine’s readers’ poll.
In 1998, Beautiful Love won the Best New Star award on Swing Journal’s 31st
Jazz Discs Award, as well as her second certification of the #1 Japanese female jazz
vocalist on the magazine’s readers’ poll.
Her fourth album, If It’s Love, was recorded in New York in March 1998, with
guest musicians Kenny Barron, Ron Carter, and Joe Henderson. She made a
soul/contemporary-oriented approach, covering beautiful pop classics by The
Beatles, Todd Rundgren, Stevie Wonder, Carole King, etc, besides her original
songs.
In 1999, Keiko won Swing Journal’s Jazz Discs Award again with If It’s Love; this
time she won the Best Vocalist prize (domestic artist category).
Her wish comes true with her fifth album - Day Dreaming released on June 1999
in Japan. She recorded with the string section in New York with various prestigious
musicians including Kenny Barron, Ron Carter, Drady Tate and Jimmy Heath. The
album features strings, and she covers songs which were her favorite jazz giants’
favorite repertoires.
In the same year, This is Keiko Lee (May 1999), her first best album in Asia
(excluding Japan) was released, followed by This is Keiko Lee and more (April
2000), the sequel which has sold 25,000 copies in total so far. And furthermore,
she performed sold out concert in 2 cities in Taiwan, at 2000 seats halls, which
shows her rising popularity in Asia.
On March 2000, she released Keiko Lee LIVE, a collection of her vigorous live
performances, which includes Keiko Lee’s incredible improvisations. On April, she
was voted number 1 domestic female jazz vocalist on Swing Journal for 4
consecutive years since 1997.
Today she is the most noteworthy jazz vocalist whose forthcoming activities are
being anticipated.
People who listened to Keiko’s deep and soulful voice for the first time wonder
how long she has been singing, and those who repeatedly listen to her songs
question why her voice sounds so fresh every time. Keiko Lee’s voice is truly
fascinating and greatly entertains her audience!
A LETTER FROM ROME
01. New York State Of Mind
02. What A Difference A Day Made
03. Exactly Like You
04. Superstar
05. Tennessee Waltz
06. Do You Know What It Means To Miss New Orleans
07. Saving All My Love For You
08. Tears In Heaven
09. I left My Heart In San Francisco
10. On The Street Where You Live
11. Fly Me To The Moon
12. What’s New
13. All In Love Is Fair
Nov. 2000 release in Asia
Keiko Lee, the most popular and talented singer of today.
Her attractive singing/piano performances exclusive during live shows…her deep
and pure mind., now available on her newest album.
Experience her piano performances and deep voice, that swings brilliantly with a
colorful expression. The piano performances recorded on this album is something
you shouldn’t miss. Sometimes soft, sometimes melancholic, which touches ones
heart ever so deep.
The album covers various types of music from standard numbers to pop numbers,
the best selection of songs from the 20th century.
The recording took place at “Forum Music Village” in Rome. The romantic studio,
which was once an old church, has been used to record various magnificent sound
tracks such as “New Cinema Paradise” and “Life Is Beautiful”. This album which
includes singing/piano performances was accomplished in Rome, the city with a
long history, surrounded by historic structures, stone pavements and light-hearted
people. You will definitely feel the aroma of Rome, that quite different from the
recordings done in New York.
Somewhat like a letter from Keiko Lee during her journey in Rome. Enjoy it, and
feel her messages implied in each and every note.
-- NEW ALBUM -
KEIKO LEE
WONDER OF LOVE
-OUT ON JULY 18, 2001!!
Keiko Lee and her regular live band, “The DokiDoki Monsters” have officially
completed their studio album “Wonder Of Love”!!
It’s SOULFUL, it’s POP, and it’s JAZZY!!
This is the 8th album for Keiko Lee and her first to record with her regular live band,
the DokiDoki Monsters. Featuring Jiro Yoshida (g), Soichi Noriki (p, synth, Fender
Rhodes), Benisuke Sakai (b) and Yuichi Togashiki (ds, per), these highly
accomplished musicians have an extremely high profile on the live circuit. And
they really know how to rock an audience, causing everyone to get up from their
seats and have a wonderful time together.
To date, Keiko has presented us with some beautiful jazz albums, collaborating
with New York’s top jazz musicians. But with “Wonder Of Love”, she ventures into
new ground, by covering some of her favourite artists such as Stevie Wonder,
George Benson, Whitney Houston, Ivan Lins, Bruce Springsteen, Randy Crawford,
The Commodores and TLC. She even arranged each number herself and
collaborated with the band members to make this album a true group effort. This
album is truly a
kaleidoscope of sounds ranging from pop to soul to jazz.
She has also re-recorded one of her most popular original numbers “If It’s Love” in
21st century style, using sequence programming.
All in all, “Wonder Of Love” is a groundbreaking album for Keiko Lee. Sit back and
be amazed by Keiko’s awesome talent – this is an album that will be sitting in your
CD player for a long time to come.
WONDER OF LOVE
１．
２．
３．
４．
５．
６．
７．
８．
９．
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
The Wonder Of Love (Keiko Lee)
Pink Cadillac (Bruce Springsteen)
Turn Your Love Around (George Benson et al.)
Almaz (Randy Crawford)
The Bump (The Commodores)
Send On Your Love (Stevie Wonder)
What You Do (Keiko Lee)
If It’s Love 2001(Keiko Lee – new recording)
Greatest Love Of All (Whitney Houston et al.)
Even You And I (Ivan Lins)
Don’t Go To The Strangers (Standard)
Waterfalls (TLC)
Alfie (Burt Bacharach)
Good Night (Lennon/McCartney)
Musicians：
Keiko Lee and DokiDoki Monsters
Keiko Lee (vo, p, cho, Fender Rhodes)
Jiro Yoshida (g)
Soichi Noriki (p, synth, Fender Rhodes)
Benisuke Sakai (b)
Yuichi Togashiki (ds, per)
Guests：
Issei Igarashi (tp) <track #13>
Yujiro Okazaki (sequence programming) <tracks #5, #8>
Takashi Kato Strings <tracks #4, #9, #13>
Produced by Kozo Watanabe & Keiko Lee and DokiDoki Monsters
Arrangements by Keiko Lee and DokiDoki Monsters, Gil Goldstein, Yujiro Okazaki
Orchestra strings arranged by Soichi Noriki, Jiro Yoshida
Recorded at Sony Music Studios Tokyo ”Nogizaka”, during March - May 2001