WA has a vibrant live jazz scene and some great organisations and clubs bringing people together who share a love of jazz. The WA Jazz Directory lists artists, bands & ensembles, composers, arrangers, venues and organisations from all around Western Australia.
If you are a jazz musician and your name or your band is missing from this directory, please submit your details using the ‘submit your listing’ button. Submissions are moderated, so it may take a day or so to see your listing go live. Basic listing (name and contact/web link) is free. To add your image, bio and be added as a featured listing requires paying a small membership fee. (Visit the Membership page for more details).
Brenda Lee
Brenda Lee is an Australian Eurasian of Portuguese, Dutch, Chinese, Malay and Irish ancestry. Born in Kuala Lumpur, Brenda lived as a young child in historic Malacca before relocating to sunny Perth in her early teens. A diverse heritage of Eastern, Western, European and Australian influence adds colour and depth to this performing artist’s warm and energetic personality.
Music was instilled by her late singer-guitarist father, Basil Lee. Brenda played piano, sang and danced at social and community events since the tender age of four and continued her talents into adult life as a professional dancer and choreographer with the Elevation Dance Troupe, performing at many community, fashion and entertainment events in Perth, including Government House and the Hilton Hotel.
Her musical career began in Perth, playing keyboard and vocals in various top forty, pop and funk bands. Trained as a jazz vocalist at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts and the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, Brenda has traveled and performed in Sydney, Kuala Lumpur, New York and Canada with a diverse range of established jazz artists around the globe.
Performing for private, corporate and festival events, Brenda has also held long term residencies in Perth’s well established jazz and entertainment venues - Benny’s in Fremantle and The Universal Bar in Northbridge with regular jazz performances at the Burswood International Resort Casino (VIP & Atrium Cocktail Lounges), The Rose and Crown, Sittella Winery and The King’s Ambassador Hotel. In March 2010, Brenda launched her classic jazz standards album at The Ellington Jazz Club in Perth.
Brenda Lee’s vocal character is deep with sultry tones, exuding an unquestionable trueness of essence in jazz improvisation. Her major musical influences include Shirley Horne, Stan Getz, Joao Gilberto, Wes Montgomery, George Benson, Erykah Badu, Me’shell Ndegeocello and Tania Maria.
Singing from her heart, this artist exudes a quiet sophistication which transforms any space wherein she performs.
