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ABOUT LEE
Lee Bartley is a native of Colorado, where he continues to live, work and play. The beautiful surroundings, abundant wildlife and rural connections have been an enduring source of inspiration in his art of playing piano and composing music.
In January of 2000 he released his first solo CD, Adrift in Time, comprised of 15 original compositions performed by him. This solo CD is a diverse collection of songs rich in harmony and technique with a refreshing emphasis on melody.
Early in January of 2010, he released his second solo piano CD entitled, A View From Above. Again, the emphasis is on melody with a strong classical structure and hints of jazz. Though somewhat different from Adrift in Time, this CD continues to display Lee Bartley's unique style of composition and flawless performance.
Prior to Lee’s latest CD release, he joined the Whisperings Solo Piano network in 2009 and began performing solo piano concerts with other artists. He has also performed solo concerts in Albuquerque, Santa Fe and Mountainair, New Mexico; Denver, Silverton and Pagosa Springs, Colorado; and Sheridan, Wyoming. He will be continuing this trend of expanding his reach with solo piano concerts, while continuing to perform locally and creating new musical compositions.
“Many years ago a musical journey began for me. At five years old I was drawn to the piano and music in general. At the age of eight, I found I was born with ‘perfect pitch.’ With this, one is no better a musician but rather is simply more aware of what everyone else chooses to do with harmony. It gave me the desire to be committed to the life-long pursuit of creating and enjoying music.
Fortunately for me, classical music was the order of the day for my first twelve years. In retrospect I’m now very grateful that it was. With classical music there is never too much statement of melody, never lack of dynamics, never an incomplete harmony, never too little harmony. Like nature, it is simply in balance.
Wishing to reach further, at the age of sixteen I proceeded to study jazz, as well as music theory and composition. During the summer between my junior and senior years of high school, I joined a jazz trio and began performing professionally three nights a week. At the same time, I was hired as ‘composer in residence’ at the Stephens Perry Mansfield College Theater and Dance Camp in Steamboat Springs Colorado. During my time there, I composed for jazz, modern, ethnic, and ballet dance classes. One day I might compose a mazurka for ballet and the next day a piece in 5/4 for jazz dance. It was a wonderful experience for me, not just as a composer, but also as an accompanist, for in later years I served as accompanist for the Colorado Ballet, the David Taylor Dance Company, and the Jan Justis Dance Company.”
Lee Bartley is a graduate of Denver University with a degree in music theory and composition. He has also studied at Northwestern University and the University of Southern California.
Beginning in 1981, Lee Bartley, with colleague Rich Sallee, formed a four-piece contemporary jazz group called Images, for which Lee was the principal composer. For the next 18 years this acclaimed ensemble performed throughout Colorado, as well as giving live performances throughout the country, performing at such celebrated events as the Breckenridge Jazz Festival, the Catalina Jazz Festival, the West Palm Beach Jazz Festival, and the Riverbend Festival. They headlined clubs and were on festival bills with artists Kenny G, Earl Klugh, Wynton Marsalis, Spyro Gyra, and Ramsey Lewis. “Images” also opened concerts for The Rippingtons, The Yellowjackets, and Jeff Lorber. The jazz group produced six national releases, among them CDs for both MCA Universal Master Series and Capitol Records, charting as high as #8 in R&R Magazine for national radio airplay. As a soloist and the principal composer for the group Images, Lee has recorded over 40 original compositions on national releases.
Lee Bartley continues to hone his skills as a superb musician through community involvement. He is accompanist for the Mancos Valley Chorus, as well as having performed with New York jazz singer Joyce Lyons at the Community Concert Hall in Durango Colorado. He also continues to perform straight-ahead jazz with other musicians, but most especially his original ‘classical art songs’ as a solo performer. The near future holds the promise of a third solo release, for which the creative process has already begun.
“My solo playing has grown over many years to include aspects of several musical styles. Jazz has given me wonderful harmonic color, but maybe not enough dynamics. Classical music has given me a respect for good melody and balance, but maybe not enough freedom. All styles have something to offer, I believe, as is the rule with art, and with nature.
The piano itself is really my ultimate gift, for it has afforded me the opportunity to share what I feel is important about melody and harmony and dynamics and freedom with respect to music. The piano is simply the way I reach out to all people to help them enjoy life a little more.”