lilli-lewis
Lilli Lewis grew up on a dirt road outside of Athens, Georgia. There, in between playing in her father's garden and going on scavenger hunts, Lilli developed a passion for classical piano. By the early age of 3, Lilli was giving frequent silent "air" piano performances (until the family acquired a piano) and composing songs that had to be transcribed by her mother's hand. Largely self-taught, she became an accomplished student of classical piano and vocal performance but found herself just as enthralled by her hometown's famous musical anti-elite. She credits their independent spirit for placing her on the path to finding her own voice. Names like Alice Coltrane and Cassandra Wilson have been conjured when trying to capture the sound of her debut LP, "The Coming of John." But perhaps the most accurate description may have been coined by poetess Kemi Bennings with "operatic, r and b, folk songbird." Lewis herself maintains her only goal is "to make music that makes sense to me." She does so with an elegant poise that has left her called an "innovative, soulful" singer and composer. As she sings, her versatile voice shows itself in one moment a pure and longing stratospheric pianissimo, the next a low and earthy rumble, dancing across her range with arresting beauty and ease. A two-time 1st place winner in the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) vocal competition, Lewis actively performs in every idiom including classical, jazz, folk, gospel and soul. Lewis has recorded with Laszlo Gardony, John Lockwood, Mark Shilansky, Jerome Duepree & Blake Newman. Bands have included Coriander, The Reverend and ETQ (www.elevatethequest.com) and in 2001 she composed the score for the award-winning documentary "NINE." Her ensemble, The Lilli Lewis Project, which features Lewis on piano and vocals, is augmented by award winning clarinetist and composer Todd Brunel who unfailingly presents "tremendous virtuosity and heart" (Eileen Pfeiffer, Boston Globe). www.clarinetconspiracy.com. Some of her other favorite collaborators include Kemi Bennings, Regie Gibson, Sandi Hammond, Mark Nathanson, PhoenixYZ, Eric Thomas and Patrice Williamson. When she's not travelling, Lilli resides in Atlanta, GA where she performs both as a solo artist and as a keyboardist for ETQ.