This week, the Jazz Club brings you the John Lee Trio from Vancouver. His previous Jazz Club performances on piano speak to John’s incredible skill and artisitry, but some may not be aware that he is equally skilled on bass, guitar, drums, and Hammond organ. For this show, John performs on organ, accompanied by Kosma Busheikin on guitar, and Graham Villette on drums.
John’s organ playing is rooted in the classic organ-trio tradition of players such as Jimmy Smith and Jack McDuff, blended with a modern, soulful touch. He has cited the late organ legend Joey DeFrancesco as a primary inspiration for his work on the instrument.
Raised in Nanaimo BC, John continues to be one of the highest acclaimed jazz artists nationwide. After showing great interest in music at a young age, Lee developed into a virtuoso by his late teens. He moved to Boston in 2010 to attend Berklee College of Music in Boston where he was mentored by Ralph Peterson Jr and Dave Santoro. Lee then relocated back to his west coast motherland in 2016 and began his professional career.
Lee's experience as a sideman goes far beyond his years. Raised as a local of Vancouver Island, his early performing experiences were with Canadian artists such as Order of Canada recipient Phil Dwyer and internationally acclaimed Jazz trumpeter Ingrid Jensen. At age 19, Lee made his performance debut in the US with pianist Cyrus Chestnut at Dizzy's Club Coca Cola (Jazz at Lincoln Center) in New York City. Lee spent much of the early 2010's on the bandstand supporting visiting artists in Victoria BC where he performed with American pianists Larry Fuller, George Colligan and Misha Piatigorsky. Starting an association with internationally recognized Jazz saxophonist and impresario Cory Weeds in recent years, Lee was provided many opportunities to share the stage with the who's who of the Jazz world. Since 2017, Lee has performed with many world class visiting artists in Vancouver BC including Terell Stafford, Roy McCurdy, Ralph Moore, Grant Stewart, Jeremy Pelt, Eric Alexander, Joe Farnsworth, Peter Bernstein, Benny Benack III, Alexander Claffy, Mike LeDonne, Lucy Yeghiazaryan, Michael Weiss, Dick Oatts, Jim Rotondi, Nicole Glover and Joe Magnarelli.
With the support of the Cellar Music Group, Lee recorded his first album “The Artist” in 2021 under the Cellar Live record label featuring legendary Jazz drummer Carl Allen. His most recent recording “Second Wind” was released in 2024.
ADMISSION: By donation.
CONCESSION: Coffee, tea and treats are also available by donation.
DOORS: Open at 6:30pm.
