Jack Lee - [Asian*ergy] (2006)

Jack Lee is Korea’s most recognized world class Jazz musician, and has been at the vanguard of promoting Jazz in his hometown of Seoul, Korea, as well as in the Asian territory through his performances and recordings with many of the top name in Jazz today for almost twenty years.

With roots planted firmly in his Asian heritage, technique and sensitivity honed by his schooling and experience in New York, and with a singular voice propelled by an intense desire for a more complete artistic expression, Jack Lee combines formidable technique with a penchant for gentle, flowing lyricism that makes his music eminently appealing to both musicians and non-musicians alike.

Born in Seoul Korea, Jack absorbed the sounds of rock guitar heroes such as Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, and Jeff Beck before discovering the jazzier sounds of Pat Metheny, Larry Coryell, and Miles Davis. At 17, he traveled to the United States to pursue his passion and later enrolled as a computer science major at Columbia University. A stint as a disc jockey at the well-known station WKCR-FM exposed him to an extraordinary breadth of jazz music. Being a student in New York allowed him to experience first hand the living legends of jazz in the city’s renowned clubs, and also enabled him to study first-hand with such guitar luminaries as Larry Coryell, Emily Remler, Bill Connors, and John Scofield.

Becoming a professional musician after graduation, Jack has performed and toured all over the world with many top names in Jazz, and started making his mark in NY jazz scene, as the formidable Asian musician/ producer.

Currently Jack is involved as a producer/ guitarist on several noteworthy projects, which sets him apart from a conventional jazz musician.

On his project with the exciting new world music ensemble Asianergy, Jack summons up some of his most heartfelt, emotionally moving playing on record to date. Spurred on by an international cast of sidemen; Academy award winning Pianist Dave Grusin, Grammy winning pianist, Bob James, Bassist, Nathan East and a grammy winning drummer, Harvey Mason to record as well as another good friend , very talented multi instrumentalist, Norihito Sumitomo, a master of EWI (electric wind instrument) from Japan, under-rated percussionist from India-Malaysia, Lewis Pragasam and a great acoustic guitarist/composer from Brazil, Toninho Horta, and another great pianist from New York, Mr.Charles Blenzig.

At the core of this superb recording is the chemistry between Lee and kindred spirit Pragasam, whose powerfully polyrhythmic approach to hand percussion and the drum kit fuels the momentum of these sessions.