BIOGRAPHY
Robert Lee is an emerging upright bassist, composer, and bandleader in the Toronto jazz scene. His musical interest started with the violin before switching to the bass. He is a graduate from the University of Guelph and Humber College music programs. He obtained his Masters in Contemporary Performance from Berklee Valencia in 2021. Lee has had the opportunity to study and perform with Neil Swainson, Ted Quinlan, Allison Au, Mike Downes, Geoff Young, Lorne Lofsky, Kieran Overs, Pat LaBarbera, Kirk MacDonald, Andrew Scott, Kevin Turcotte, Amanda Tosoff, Andrew McAnsh, Nick Mancini (Los Angeles), Perico Sambeat, Matt Baker, Magda Giannikou, and others.
He has performed at various venues and festivals across Ontario and internationally, including the Toronto Undergraduate Jazz Festival, the Guelph Jazz Festival, the Newmarket Music Festival, the Kensington Market Jazz Festival, Toronto Fringe Festival, Jimmy Glass Off Festival, MusicFest Canada, and the TD Toronto Jazz Festival (2023)
In October 2023, Lee performed alongside the Seocho Philharmonia (Seoul, Korea) and the Glen Gould School Orchestra as part of the Korean War Memorial Concert at Koerner Hall (Toronto, CA), conducted by Jong Hoon Bae . He performed with world-renowned artists Sumi Jo (soprano), Jens Lindermann (trumpet), and Matt Catingub (piano).
Robert performed on the 2024 Juno Nominated album “ Little Bit a’ Love” by vocalist Denielle Bassels.
He has been recognized for his work in composition and arranging, earning the Humber College Duke Ellington Society Scholarship in 2017 and 2018 as well as the James Appel School Creative and Performing Arts Scholarship in 2018. In 2018 he had the opportunity to work with the Artist-in-Residence at Humber College Pat Metheny, arranging the composition "Then and Now" for the Humber Studio Band and performing with the Ted Quinlan Pat Metheny Tribute Ensemble for the Artist-in-Residence Showcase concert. He has also been commissioned by the York Region Chamber Music Society to compose an original piece for the Hogtown Brass Quintet, entitled “Castle in the Sky” which premiered at the Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts in 2019.
Robert in 2017 participated in the Spectrum Music New Voices Composers Residency. He attended the Keep an Eye Summer Jazz Workshop at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam in the Netherlands in 2018, studying under the likes of John Riley, Jay Anderson, Jesse Van Ruller, Frans van der Hoeven, and Dick Oats. He has also been featured on Jazzology with Heather Bambrick on JazzFm91 in 2018, as well as on Big City Small World and Saturday Night Jazz on CBC.
The Robert Lee Group is a unique project consisting of original compositions inspired by Korean folk stories and poetry, spanning various fantasy and romantic narratives. The project aims to develop an artistic identity founded in the emotional provocation of jazz and improvised music while exploring and implementing new musical genres into one cohesive creative theatre.
“Through this new project, I want to celebrate Korean traditional music alongside my passion for jazz and improvisation. I hope to introduce jazz enthusiasts to Korean sounds and instruments as well as draw in Korean traditional listeners to the spirit of improvisation. By shining a light on Asian music, I aspire to celebrate Asian-identifying individuals who are active in the jazz and creative music scenes.”
“Robert is a musical bassist, composer and arranger. I look forward to hearing his story!”
JAZZ FM 91
Canada’s #1 Jazz Radio Station
“How Emerging Jazz Artist Robert Lee
is Finding His Creative Voice"
Radio Interview (Tuesday Lunch With Abe Perlstein)
Producer & Host
Tuesdays, 12-6pm PST 97.3 & 107.9 The Rock
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Press Quotes (Cha-Ran)
“Cha-Ran invites the listener to embark on a conceptual and spiritual journey. Cha-Ran is a multifaceted treasure for personal and public library collections, and also makes a unique gift for music connoisseurs. Highly recommended!” - Midwestern Review
“In his hands, the bass becomes a lyrical solo instrument…” - Art and Culture Maven
““Jade,” about two stars that fall in love with each other, brings vocalist Mateo Falgas into the fold, and his star turn is gloriously romantic. The meditative “Seun-Sul” and the lovely “Sun Petals” follow, setting the stage for the finale, “Kaelo,” in which singer Nina Nicolaiewsky and Lee perform a moving duet on what’s described as a composition “for those who pursue happiness.” Mission accomplished. “ - JAZZIZ Magazine (Michael Roberts)
