Vancouver native, jazz pianist/composer/vocalist Jillian Lebeck is one of the most dynamic and exciting voices on the Canadian Jazz scene.
Her debut recording "Living in Pieces" (Maximum Jazz/Universal) spent several weeks in the number 1 position on the national Chart Attack radio charts. Jillian has been the recipient of awards like the BMG Jazz Award, Yamaha Rising Star Award, The Fraser McPherson Scholarship for young instrumentalists, and was also awarded numerous scholarships to Berklee College of Music. Jillian Lebeck's groups have been featured in CBC Radio's Studio One Jazz Series during the Vancouver International Jazz Festival and were also featured on CBC's "Hot Air", and "After Hours".
Jillian and her group opened for legendary jazz saxophonist Joe Lovano at the Centre for Performing Arts during the 2004 Vancouver International Jazz Festival and toured Canada including dates at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa, at the Montreal International Jazz Festival and a five night stand at the Top of the Senator in Toronto. Since then she has performed in Sicily for “The Brass Group”, and in the Netherlands as a regular performer at the jazz club “Wakker”, as well as jazz festivals in The Hague “Pure Jazz Festival” and Eemnes “Cooking and Jazz” featuring Patti Austinuri.
Pianist/Vocalist/Composer Jillian Lebeck follows up her critically acclaimed debut with her second album Songs & Melodies (Talie Records). It finds the musician amongst some of her favorite artists - Jon Bentley (saxophones), Paul Rushka (bass), Paul Townsend (drums) with guest appearances by Peggy Lee (cello), Seamus Blake (voice, guitar), Evan Arntzen (clarinet) and Miranda Clingwall (flute and electronics). This album showcases the writing and vocals of Lebeck on a number of Lebeck originals as well as. four carefully chosen vocal covers – Lennon and McCartney’s Julia (a duet with Seamus Blake), Thomas Mendez Sosa’s Cucurrucucu Paloma, Jazz standard Smile, and Emiliana Torrini’s Fisherman’s Woman.
A departure from her first effort Living in Pieces, the musician has further evolved and Songs and Melodies is the start of a new journey for her fans and listeners.
"… a prodigious talent. Living in Pieces exudes depth and imagination." – Chris Wong, Vancouver Courier
"Inevitably Jillian Lebeck will be compared to Diana Krall but this preternaturally sophisticated jazz singer, pianist and composer has perhaps more of a true jazz soul to her." – Vancouver Province
"Jillian possesses everything that it takes to become a star, but she’s got an extreme amount of musical talent. She’s an incredible composer, she’s an incredible singer and she’s a fabulous piano player." – Cory Weeds (Musician, record producer, radio host) |