Karen Lyu & Global Jazz is a dynamic, playful, multiethnic band out to inspire hearts, move feet and open minds with soulfully savored songs - spreading eclectic global joy from salsa to jazz and Korean to Hebrew.
So what does that mean exactly? Contagiously danceable jazz & Latin a la Ella Fitzgerald & Selena; deeply, eclectic personal style in a soulfully expressive voice a la Eva Cassidy & Bruce Anthony Henry; with the exploratory universal spirit and cultural respect of Paul Robeson & Nina Simone. PS: Karen always gets asked, "How does that huge voice come out of that tiny body?"
This is our live debut CD with a terrific 6-piece band + guest artists Devon Evans from Bob Marley and Soli Hughes from Sounds of Blackness - includes 8-page fold-out liner notes.
BIO
Karen HeaChung Lyu loves to sing everything from salsa to jazz and Korean to Hebrew. As vocalist and bandleader of Global Jazz, she soulfully savors songs in many styles and languages including English, Korean, Hebrew, (Brazilian) Portuguese, Spanish, Italian, French, Iroquis, Igbo (Nigerian), Russian, Vietnamese, Arabic and sign language. Karen has a Jazz Studies degree from Cornell College, and also studied voice with Mira Kehoe (Guthrie Theatre) and Roberta Davis (Manfredo Fest). Born in Seoul, South Korea, Karen grew up in California and has traveled in Central America, South Korea, Canada and throughout the US. In addition to Global Jazz, she has performed with the Karen Lyu Quartet, Via Brasil, Bomba, Minneapolis Community College Gospel Choir, the Eddie Piccard Trio and as a solo vocalist since 1993. She has been featured on NPR "All Things Considered", MPR "Morning Show", documentary film, regional television, radio and cable.
Karen also enjoys teaching supportive, playful voice lessons at West Bank School of Music and her private studio, and has encouraged over 100 students since 1999. She has also taught in the public schools as a roster artist with SteppingStone Theatre, at East Metro Music Academy, Academia Cesar Chavez and Children's Center Montessori. Karen is an eclectic multidisciplinary artist and also performs as a member of Unbound: Asian Women Write!
For more bios and info, visit http://www.globaljazz.net.
NEWS
The Karen Lyu & Global Jazz Live CD got on the KFAI Top 5 Most Played CDs of the Week! (www.kfai.org)
REVIEWS
"Karen (Lyu), you are now my favorite singer since Nina Simone! And ooowweee, your band is hot!
Devon Evans - Bob Marley and the Wailers
"(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. The band's eclectic, multicultural approach delivers a clear, fresh message..."
Korean Quarterly Newspaper
"Some of the most diverse, intense and exotic music you will ever hear."
Matt Zimmerman - Wild Sound
"...Lyu's voice is gritty Sarah Vaughan."
Lydia Howell - Pulse of the Twin Cities Magazine
"Karen Lyu has an amazing voice that spans genres. Global Jazz is a testament to the global nature of music. Their energy brought us up on our feet and had us dancing all over the map."
Andy Pierce - Carleton College
Read more...