Vocalist/Producer/Composer/Entrepreneur: Jazz & Blues

Jessica Lee’s musical background includes years of experience performing in blues and jazz clubs, charitable and corporate events, and festival and concert series throughout the country.  Her studies with legendary jazz and blues mentors, prior classical piano and vocal training, and years of constant live "gigging" have given Jessica a unique voice and made her a welcome performer at prominent music venues, both locally and nationally.

Jessica’s performances give voice to the up-lifting energy, power and messages that were the trademarks of early artists in gospel, blues, jazz and soul.  Her musical motto is to study and perform "something old, something new, something borrowed . . . but always blue."  As four-time Grammy-winning engineer Jay Dudt said of Jessica’s recordings, “If you appreciate the heart of American music, you will treasure Jessica Lee's CDs.” However, only by attending a live performance can you fully appreciate the talent and power of this emerging artist.

Bluebird Fly, Jessica's debut CD, received both national and international airplay, and enjoyed strong sales and reviews and, recently, song licensing into the international markets for inclusion on emerging artist compilation CDs.  The recently released From a Silent Heart album was recorded with one of Jessica's jazz mentors, legendary jazz guitarist and educator, Tony Janflone, Sr., who has performed and recorded with many R&B and jazz & blues greats throughout the country.

In October of 2010, Jessica was honored to have been selected as the featured emerging artist to perform a live, nationally-broadcasted concert to benefit the Make-a-Wish-Foundation by Mondavi Winery, Morton’s Steakhouse and Velocity Broadcasting.  In 2011-12, Jessica plans to produce and release several recordings in collaboration with musicians and industry partners in Pittsburgh, New York City and Chicago.

Jessica Lee's mentors have included the following "living legend" jazz and blues performers, educators and artist-entrepreneurs:  Tony Janflone, Sr. (guitarist), James Johnson, Ph.D. (pianist), Nelson Harrison, Ph.D. (trombonist), Anne Kopta (vocalist), Etta Cox (vocalist), Al Dowe (club owner and trombonist), Roger Humphries (drummer and leader), Paul Jeffrey (saxophonist), Clifford Antone (club owner) and many others.  Jessica's musical influences are too numerous to list, but include the above mentors and the following greats: Ray Charles, Donny Hathaway, Sam Cooke, George Benson, Luther Vandross, Robben Ford, Sarah Vaughan, Patti Austin, Nancy Wilson, Etta James, Ernestine Anderson, Yolanda Adam and Eva Cassidy.

Jessica is also an experienced artist-entrepreneur and educator, with a B.A. from Duke University in North Carolina, where she studied music, creative writing and business, and a J.D. from Duke University School of Law, where she studied entertainment and business law.  She has focused much of her entrepreneurial energy, not only on her own music, production company and recording label, but also on several high-profile social entrepreneurial efforts in connection with Pittsburgh Gateways Corporation, including the non-profit America's Music Crossroads Center which focuses on incubating and accelerating education, mentoring and entrepreneurship initiatives for professional artists and musicians, the saving and renovation of the historic Crawford Grill jazz club, and various educational, career and entrepreneurial ventures which are designed to “pass on” the American Music and Creative Art forms to the next generation with a special emphasis on serving youth in at-risk situations and communities.