Fresh Jazz: Soulfully-savored fresh versions of jazz standards, Latin songs, and more - with groove, swing, scat and improvised explorations.
DIGITAL DOWNLOADS AVAILABLE JANUARY (4-6 weeks to get MP3 downloads on CDBaby, iTunes, Rhapsody, Napster, Amazon, etc.)
Karen Lyu swings, scats and soulfully savors songs. Karen got hooked on jazz when she first heard Manhattan Transfer at the age of 16, and has been a fan ever since! She has performed with musicians such as Robert Robinson (Aretha Franklin), Curly Martin (Etta James), Soli Hughes (Sounds of Blackness), Devon Evans (Bob Marley), and more, and been a member of groups such as Global Jazz, Pacha Mamas, Via Brasil, Bomba, Jazz Transit, Eddie Piccard Trio, and as a solo vocalist since 1993. Karen always gets asked "How does that big voice come out of that tiny body?"
Karen has also written original music since 1992, including songs for several shows, and taught voice since 1997. Karen’s singing has been featured on National Public Radio, MN Public Radio, Democracy Now, documentary film, TV, radio and cable. She has sung at restaurants, clubs, festivals, theaters, schools, churches, conferences, parks, benefits and more. Karen's eclectic experience since 1993 includes storytelling, acting, composing, writing, dancing, voiceovers, producing, one-woman shows, and 2 pivotal years as Executive Director of West Bank School of Music.
Born in Seoul, Korea, Karen grew up with her immigrant family in CA, TX, and MN, got a Jazz Studies degree at Cornell College in IA, sang in MN for 16 years, is now based in TN. She's also enjoyed traveling in South Korea, Spain, France, Guatemala, Panama, El Salvador, and Brazil. As far as she knows, Karen is the first Korean-American jazz singer ever in the US.
Please check out the links for bios, music and info for my wonderful musicians on their websites:
bass - Jerry Navarro (George Clinton)
http://www.navarronation.com
drums - Ron Krasinski (Sheena Easton)
http://www.nashvillemusicpros.com/profile/RonKrasinski
keys - Anthony Belfiglio (Branford Marsalis)
http://www.belmont.edu/music/faculty/faculty_current/belfiglio_anthony.html
http://cdbaby.com/cd/belfiglio2
additional musicians on the Karen Lyu & Fresh Jazz CD:
congas - Billy Ramirez (MuzikMafia)
http://www.myspace.com/speedys01
guitar - Geary Moore (George Clinton)
http://www.gearymoore.com
pandero - Leon Alejandro Berrios Areas (Kacique)
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?v=info&ref=ts&id=632316619
REVIEWS
"Karen Lyu's charismatic and elastic vocals enchant."
-Tom Surowicz, Star Tribune newspaper/KBEM radio
"Lyu's voice is gritty Sarah Vaughn."
-Lydia Howell, Pulse of the Twin Cities
"(Karen Lyu) can be-bop, scat and growl with the best of them; sing wonderful, lyrical jazz favorites...and also throw in an occasional opera number just to keep things interesting." (review for Karen Lyu & Global Jazz)
-Martha Vickery, Korean Quarterly Newspaper
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