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Mike Lee

Originally from Cleveland, Ohio, saxophonist Mike Lee has established himself in the New York City/Northern New Jersey area for many years. He balances a thriving performing career with a distinguished teaching resume. He performs regularly in New York City as a member of a wide array of jazz ensembles. His current associations include The Jimmy Heath Orchestra, The Dizzy Gillespie Orchestra, Wallace Roney’s Universe Orchestra, The Oliver Lake Big Band, The Loston Harris Trio, The Nat Adderley Jr. Quartet, Josh Evans Big Band, Dave Stryker, Frank Lacy, TS Monk, and The Roy Hargrove Big Band. He performs regularly at venues such as The Bluenote, Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola, Smalls, The Jazz Gallery, Fat Cat, and Bemelman’s Bar at the Carlyle Hotel. Recent tours have taken him up and down the East Coast, to California and Beijing, China.

Mike Lee is Professor of Jazz Saxophone at The John J. Cali School of Music at Montclair State University. In 2009, Lee helped found and develop Jazz House Kid’s in-house jazz education program. As the instructor of the first class at the Jazz House and Director of the JHK Summer Workshop he oversaw the growth of the program from one class to a thriving jazz school. Mike’s private students have also excelled winning national awards from the Grammy Band, Next Generation Jazz Orchestra, Downbeat Magazine, and Young Arts. He has had several students go on to attend The Juilliard School, Berklee College of Music, Manhattan School of Music, William Paterson, Rutgers, Miami University, and Northwestern University. Lee has presented clinics and workshops throughout the country. Mr. Lee is endorsed by Conn-Selmer saxophones and Vandoren mouthpieces/reeds.

Lee’s musical accomplishments are shared and enjoyed by his musical family. Along with his wife, Violinist Rebecca Harris-Lee, they are raising three active young musicians. Their oldest son, saxophonist Julian, a graduate of The Juilliard School, has a thriving career in and around New York City having performed with ensembles including the Mingus Orchestra and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra.

Gear

Selmer Super Balanced Tenor Vandoren Java 9. Selmer Series III Soprano, Vandoren V16

Mike Lee Quartet at the Metuchen Public Library

by David A. Orthmann
May 11, 2022

Mike Lee Quartet Metuchen Public Library Metuchen, NJ April 30, 2022 Tenor saxophonist Mike Lee is well into his middle years, a time when many jazz musicians fulfill the promise of their youthful endeavors. Lee's live appearances as a leader convey a deep-seated belief in the music, an impressive skill set, the desire to keep growing as a musician, as well as a genuine stage presence. These factors have a way of engaging audiences, ...

Radio & Podcasts

Mike Lee has a Song for All of Us

by Lorens Chuno
June 23, 2019

Mike Lee's compositions draw from an eclectic mixture of inspirations and yet are still rooted in the Jazz tradition. This can easily be felt on his latest album, Song for All of Us. The album features Mike Lee on tenor saxophone; Lenny White on drums; Ed Howard on bass; George Colligan on piano; Dave Stryker on guitar; Bruce Williams on alto saxophone; Julian Lee on tenor saxophone; and Matt Lee on drums. Join Mike and Lorens as they talk about ...

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Take Five With...

Take Five With Mike Lee

by Mike Lee
March 1, 2011

Meet Mike Lee:Mike Lee is a tenor saxophonist originally from Cleveland, OH and now living in Northern New Jersey. He's currently leader of the Cecil's Monday Night Big Band at Cecil's Jazz Club in West Orange New Jersey and co-leader of the acclaimed jazz quartet, New Tricks. He has released five albums as leader or co- leader, recorded as a sideman on albums by such jazz luminaries as Joe Lovano and Eliot Zigmund. Active as a jazz educator, ...

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Album Review

Mike Lee / Ted Chubb: New Tricks

Read "New Tricks" reviewed by Glenn Astarita

by Glenn Astarita
September 8, 2009

New Jersey resident, veteran educator, group leader and session ace Mike Lee pulls some new tricks out of an old bag on this 2009 quartet date with co-leader/trumpeter Ted Chubb. In the liners, Lee mentions that this aggregation found its origins via recurring jam sessions in his basement. They're a young and noble bunch of jazz warriors ready for battle. The proof lies within this hip session, based on crisp arrangements, resonant soloing and a tight-knit line of attack.

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Album Review

Mike Lee: My Backyard

by Glenn Astarita
December 1, 2000

You can add multi-reedman Mike Lee’s name to the lineage of notable jazz musicians who hail from Cleveland, Ohio. Yet these days, the saxophonist spends much of his time in the New York area, where he leads a productive life, performing with Maria Schneider and piloting his own bands along with a seemingly hectic schedule as an educator/clinician. Equally important is that the saxophonist has been gaining a reputation as one of the – baddest – improvisers on the scene ...

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Album Review

Mike Lee: Above The Battleground

by Glenn Astarita
May 1, 1999

Based in New York City, Multi-Reedman Mike Lee has been receiving a good deal of attention these days and deservedly so. Lee’s work with “The Village Vanguard Orchestra”, Maria Schneider, performances with Sax titan Joe Lovano, gigs with Louie Bellson and others find Mike Lee in estimable company.

On his latest CD “Above The Battleground”, Lee enlists Trumpeter Tim Hagans, Bassist Ben Allison, Pianist Matt Lee and Drummer Tim Horner. Here, Lee steps out as a first class composer, fine ...

Recording

Tenor Saxophonist Mike Lee New Release February 18th Song For All Of Us Featuring Lenny White, George Colligan, Dave Stryker & More!

Source: Scott Thompson Public Relations
February 20, 2019

With his new release, Song For All of Us (IYOUWE Records), veteran saxophonist Mike Lee shows the breadth of his musical pallet. Lee works with his wide-ranging musical associations and weaves them together with innovative compositions as well as standard repertoire. There are several different band configurations within this offering. From the core trio of tenor saxophone, bass, and drums, to several different quartet and quintet settings each grouping contributes to the unified sound. Drummer Lenny White, bassist Ed Howard ...
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Recording

"Alternate Side": New CD by Mike Lee & Ted Chubb's New Tricks Due April 5

Source: Terri Hinte Publicity
March 23, 2011

The four members of New Tricks first discovered their uncanny musical affinity more than six years ago, and have been delving into creative possibilities ever since. Their brilliant sophomore CD Alternate Side, which New Tricks Records will release on April 5, is clearly a group effort in which the band mates interact with and complement each other as if they share one mind. “This CD was recorded the way we had dreamed of recording," says tenor saxophonist and co-leader Mike ...
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Education

Mike Lee to Present Free Master Class Sunday, March 28 at Saxquest

Source: St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman
March 25, 2010

This just in: Saxophonist Mike Lee (pictured), whose credits include work with the Village Vanguard Orchestra, Woody Herman's Thundering Herd, Joe Lovano, Bobby Watson, the Maria Schneider Orchestra and many others, will be in St. Louis to present a free saxophone clinic at 2:00 p.m. this Sunday at Saxquest, 2114 Cherokee St.Lee and his quartet New Tricks also will perform that evening at 7:00 p.m. at the Highway 61 Roadhouse in Webster Groves. In addition to Lee, New ...
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Primary Instrument

Saxophone, tenor

Willing to teach

Intermediate to advanced

Credentials/Background

I’ve had the good fortune of teaching some extraordinary young musicians, who have gone on to attend some of the top music schools in the country on full or partial scholarships. Currently, former students of mine are attending The New England Conservatory, Manhattan School of Music and The University of Miami, among others. My current rates are $35 for 1/2 hour lessons, $48 for 45 minutes and $60 for one hour.

Clinic/Workshop Information

Primary Instrument

Saxophone, tenor

Willing to teach

Intermediate to advanced

Credentials/Background

Clinic/Workshop Information

As a clinician for Conn-Selmer Mike Lee presents jazz improvisation workshops for music students of all levels. These sessions range from discussions of principle elements in improvisation and improvisation education to fine nuances of rhythm and interaction among musicians. The major elements of jazz are presented with a special emphasis on two often overlooked aspects of jazz style: blues and ballads. Within these two styles lie the foundation for all jazz playing and the keys to unlocking a student’s individual voice. Students are taken through several playing drills which quickly and dramatically improve ensemble groove on ballads and up tempo tunes, develop group interaction and teach economy and use of space to soloists. Mr. Lee also lectures on music business practices, jazz composition, recording objectives and overcoming destructive thought processes in musical performances. Mike Has Presented Workshops at the following Universities: Akron University Bowling Green State University Cleveland State University Depauw University Eastman School of Music Fresno City College Indiana State University Interlochen Arts Academy Iowa State University Knox College Northern Illinois University Oberlin Conservatory Ohio State University South Suburban College Southwestern Community College St. Petersburg Jr. College University of California- Bakersfield University of California – Fresno University of California – Los Angeles University of Cincinnati University of Colorado, Denver University of Iowa University of Miami University of Minnesota University of Northern Iowa University of Northern Colorado University of Redlands University of South Florida University of Tampa University of Wisc., Stevens Point University of Wisconsin, Platteville University of Wisconsin, LaCrosse Western Illinois University Wichita State University Youngstown State University

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