Gig Preview

Thankful at the Birdland Theater!

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We’re beyond excited to be continuing this return to live music performance at Birdland Theater in the famed Birdland Jazz Club.

As we’ve continued our residency at Bemelman’s Bar this fall, we’ve rediscovered our intimate musical rapport. The music has more meaning and poignancy having experienced the an extended period without each other and without our audiences. 

Now we’re taking it up a notch to play in this beautiful concert setting. This is a true band that has honed our sound and style over years of close interaction on the bandstand. These musicians are some of my closest friend as well as world class artists. 

Loston’s sound is that of a seasoned vocalist reminiscent of Frank Sinatra and Nat King Cole, while also relying  on his pianistic brilliance to elicit distinctive, virtuosic improvisation. 

I hope you will join us this upcoming Thursday, Friday or Saturday for a soulful evening. 

Make your reservation now by clicking on your preferred set time below:

Thursday Nov 25th 8:30 pm

Friday Nov 26th 7:00 pm 

Friday Nov 26th 9:30 pm

Saturday Nov 27th 7:00 pm

Saturday Nov 27th 9:30 pm

Loston Quartet at Birdland Theater

Join us in the Birdland Theater for a weekend with Loston Harris! Catch him November 25th with sets at 8:30pm!
  • Loston Harris : (piano and vocals)
  • Mark Whitfield: (guitar)
  • Gianluca Renzi: (acoustic bass)
  • Mike Lee: (saxophone)

Meet Loston Harris. His piano playing has been described as “percussive” with “incredibly fluid”. His vocals noted as “suave.”

Loston himself will tell you he has worked hard during his career but knows he’s been blessed with the opportunities to play the music closest to his heart, jazz. Loston is doing his part to continue a legacy by blending traditional jazz, gospel and blues with his own unique stylings.

Loston’s musical future began at a surreal pace. After meeting Harry Connick Jr. at the 1st Thelonious Monk Jazz Competition in Washington, D.C., Harry led Loston to study with his mentor, Ellis Marsalis, who encouraged him to switch instruments from drums to piano. And the rest, as they say, is history…

Frank Sinatra, Bobby Short and Nat King Cole can rest comfortably knowing that Loston Harris is keeping the flame alive.

A Blessing from the Pandemic

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As difficult and painful as this period has been for the world, we sometimes see a silver lining emerge in the midst of tragedy. In September of last year, my sons moved out of our house. Our oldest Julian moved to Brooklyn and Matthew started his college experience at Juilliard. Suddenly I found myself home every night and getting to really spend time with my wife and daughter. That was a real treat, but as the days turned to weeks and months, my daughter Jacquie and I found ourselves practicing together for hours on end. Already a gifted violinist and improvisor, this time together allowed her to attain a facility with improvisation language that few teenagers possess.  Her new found talent is a blessing but it is only a glimpse of the real blessing of growing so close to her and having her join me and her brothers on the “Scene.” 

We will celebrate her arrival this Wednesday Night at Clement’s place in Newark joined by her brothers and a couple more members of our extended music family. 

Wednesday, October 20,2021 
Sets at 7:00 and 8:20 
Jazz973 at Clements Place Presents:
Mike Lee Family Band Introducing Jacquie Lee

It’s FREE, but you must secure your tickets here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/192957750827

Featuring Jacquie Lee – Violin with:
Julian lee – Sax
Matthew Lee – Drums
Mike Lee – Sax
Rebecca Lee – Violin
Liany Mateo -Bass
Nat Adderley Jr. – Piano

Back At It With the Loston Harris Trio!

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After a year and a half off, we’re back for our bi-annual residency at Bemelman’s Bar at the Carlyle Hotel! Loston Harris has been a fixture at the Carlyle for almost twenty years and I’ve been with him for most of the past decade. Bemelman’s is an exquisite venue filled with artistes, celebrities and characters of all stripes. Loston is a phenomenal vocalist and pianist. We play a wide range of American Songbook and Jazz Standards. It’s truly a remarkable scene. Please join us! I’ll be with Loston every Thursday Friday and Saturday night through the end of the year. 

Join us as we Celebrate our return to The Carlyle, NYC on Oct.21 – Dec. 31, 2021. Thur. (9:30pm – 12:30am); Fri. & Sat. (9:30pm – 1am)

Candlelight Lounge Trenton

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The Candlelight Lounge in Trenton, NJ, is a gem of a jazz club. It reminds me of the neighborhood clubs I grew up playing at in Cleveland, OH. The folks love the music. It’s a Saturday Matinee schedule so we can make our evening gigs in New York. E C Bradley is the proprietor and bar tender, and his wife, Valerie serves up an amazing meal. 

This Saturday we’ll be performing with Radam Schwartz Quartet featuring Bryan Carrot and Andrew Atkinson. Featuring music from Radam’s “Both Sides of the Organ Combo” CD. 

SATURDAY October 23
Candlelight Jazz Matinee
3:30-7:30
$10 minimum

Candlelight Lounge 24 Passaic Street Trenton, NJ 08618

‘Tis the Season for Gigs!

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Jazz to College Comprehensive

I’m finding that running from gig to rehearsal to gig to concert every day is something that requires endurance. That endurance can expand with regular use. There’s not much time to reflect on what just happened or what’s coming up next week. Even less time to blog or post. All my energy lately has been focused on what is in front of me today. But I’m taking advantage of a temporary lull in action to post about some particularly exciting performances before heading out to drop my daughter at her gig on the way to the first of my two gigs this evening.

Let me start with Bemelman’s bar with Loston Harris and Gianluca Renzi. Even thought this is my “regular hotel gig,” it’s so much more. We play improvised music based in American Songbook for several hours three to five nights a week. This is an amazing opportunity for musical development. Loston and Gianluca are young masters and challenge me constantly. We also have been traveling the globe with this band when we’re not holding court at the famed Carlyle Hotel. Catch us on Dec 19, 20th, 26th, 27th, 28th, and 31st – the end of our Fall run.

This Saturday, December 21st, I am truly excited to be performing again with the Roy Hargrove Tribute Big Band at the Jazz Gallery. This was the venue where we played the final two Roy Hargrove Big Band gigs before he tragically died last year. Roy was one of the true greats who passed way too soon. This band will reflect Roy’s expansive vision and brilliant repertoire.

This Sunday, December 22nd, I’m thrilled to play trio with my bandmate from Loston Harris’ Trio, Gianluca Renzi on Bass with Anwar Marshall on Drums at the Bar Next Door in Greenwich Village

www.gianlucarenzi.com/

Next Thursday, December 26th, my son Julian Lee, bassist Chris Berger, and drummer Alvester Garnett will be hosting my weekly gig at Montclair Social Club. Please note it will be on THURSDAY night rather than our usual Wednesday night.

Friday January 3rd, Loston Harris Trio plays Scullers in Boston.

Sunday January 5th Lenny White’s 70th birthday celebration at Made in New York Jazz Club in Brooklyn, NY. Read more about that here: https://mikeleejazz.com/2019/12/19/lenny-white-70th-birthday-celebration/

Montclair Social Club Wednesday’s (and sometimes Thursday)

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We’re now in our fourth month of Wednesday nights at Montclair Social Club. It’s interesting to hold my weekly gig and jam session at such an upscale place. We are really tasked with making the jam session consumable by their already substantial regular customer base. So the mission for Wednesdays is three fold. 1) present a high level house band set with international artists, 2) provide a space for younger musicians to play with and hang out with the master musicians who stop by every week 3) bring in new listeners from the sophisticated crowd who love the great food, cocktails and stylish decor of the Montclair Social Club.

So far so good. We have really built up a new scene which blends perfectly with this great venue. To keep the flow through the holidays, we are moving the event to Thursday night on December 26th and Jan 2nd. Then we’ll be back to Wednesday nights for 2020. If you haven’t stopped by yet. Please join the fun during this holiday season.

Lenny White 70th Birthday Celebration

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Master drummer and producer, Lenny White turns 70 today, December 19th. I’ve been an admirer of Lenny’s since I started listening to jazz. He appears on many albums that have been influential to me. About five years ago I started playing with him in Wallace Roney’s Orchestra and we did several Wallace Roney Quintet gigs together as well. He plays on my newest CD “A Song For All of Us” and has done several gigs supporting this project.

This January Lenny celebrates his milestone birthday with two weekends of performances at Made In New York Jazz Club in Brooklyn. He as a different band each night. I’m beyond excited to be performing with him on January 5th (sets at 6:00 pm and 8:00 pm). We’ll be featuring music from my CD on this evening along with Ed Howard, Dave Stryker, and, of course, Lenny White. Check out the full schedule of bands that will be performing for this landmark run of gigs. Other musicians featured will be Buster Williams, Christian McBride, Chris Potter, Dave Liebman, and other luminaries.

Mike Lee “Family Affair” at the Jazz Standard Father’s Day

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I’m very excited to present my “Family Band” this Father’s Day, Sunday, June 16th for a special brunch performance at the beautiful Jazz Standard Jazz Club on Manhattan’s East Side. We will be featuring music from my new release – “Song For All of Us” and presenting each of my children, Julian (saxophone), Matthew (drums), and even a cameo/debut from my youngest Jacqueline on violin. We will be joined by two members of our larger musical family – Ed Howard on bass and Brandon McCune on piano.

Sunday June 16th, 2019
One set only: 12:30 – 2:00pm
Cover $20
Click Here for Reservations

For more info click here

“It’s a family affair”at Jazz Standard when we present Mike Lee in a special Fathers Day brunch performance. Originally from Cleveland OH, the saxophonist has led a thriving career in the New York City/Northern New Jersey area for several decades, balancing his steady gig schedule with a distinguished teaching résumé. He’s been a valued contributor to the Jimmy Heath Orchestra, the Oliver Lake Big Band, the Dizzy Gillespie Orchestra, and the Nat Adderley Jr. Quartet, among other outfits. Mike is married to violinist Rebecca Harris-Lee, and this engagement will feature their musically gifted offspring Julian Lee (tenor sax), Jacquie Lee (violin), and Matt Lee (drums). 
Mike Lee – saxophone 
Julian Lee – tenor saxophone 
​Jacquie Lee – violin 
Brandon McCune – piano 
Ed Howard – bass 
Matt Lee – drums 

Mike Lee’s Wednesday Night Jam Session Guest Host

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As we move into our second month at the Brown Bear Pub in West Orange, we are excited that our brilliant friend, Bruce Williams, saxophonist, band leader, and martial arts practitioner will bless our home grown jam session as guest host for the evening bringing along two sensational veterans to round out the house trio: Howard Franklin on drums and Ryan Berg on bass. Let’s show our support for this fledgeling session – and bring your axe!

Wednesday June 12
Brown Bear Pub – 104 Harrison Avenue ● West Orange, NJ ● 07052 973-736-3355
House Band 8:00 pm
Jam session 9:00 pm until 11:45 pm

Bruce Williams – Alto Saxophone
Ryan Berg – Bass
Howard Franklin – Drums

Frank Lacy Plays the Music Of Henry Threadgill (and More)

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Tuesday June 18– We’re back! After two fantastic gigs with this forward thinking group in April, Frank Lacy Septet returns to Smalls Jazz Club NYC. New music penned by Frank Lacy and reworking of Henry Threadgill’s sextet music. Come see his genius in action. Frank Lacy, trombone/trumpet – Mike Lee, woodwinds – Brian Simontacchi, trombone – Akua Dixon, cello – James Robbins, bass – Wen-ting Wu, drums – Brandon Lewis, drums. Smalls Jazz Club|183 West 10th Street|New York City, New York| Smalls does not take reservations – it is a first come/first serve admission policy. Cover:$20 Per Set $10 Students Sets at 10:30 and Midnight.