Robert Lee Jazz

Event Description

Robert Lee Jazz
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.

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.”

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).