Lisa Young AU

Lisa Young is well known to World and Jazz Music listeners as a creative vocal stylist and improviser, incorporating Indian and African elements in her work. A longtime student of maestro Guru Kaaraikkudi Mani in Chennai, India, Lisa specializes in “Konnakol” - South Indian vocal percussion. She has studied South Indian music since 1994, both in Australia and in India. In 2010 she received the Monash-Pratt Post Graduate Award for her PhD Music Performance candidature at Monash University.

Lisa Young Quartet's album “Grace” won the prestigious “Bell award” for “Best Australian Vocal Jazz Album” in 2007. Following that, In 2008, Young received an Australia Council Project Fellowship enabling her to further her study in India and compose new vocal works.

Her quartet premiered their new song cycle “The Eternal Pulse” at the Melbourne International Jazz Festival in 2011, releasing the CD in 2012 In Australia and in 2013 Worldwide. The album was a finalist in 2012 Bell Awards Best Australian Vocal Album. It features compositions by Young in collaboration with bassist Ben Robertson and K. Mani containing passages of Konnakol and rhythmic recitations, layering Indian elements, rhythmic textures and ensemble dialogue, in an evocative journey of sound and song.

Lisa is a founding member of all female vocal group Coco’s Lunch. Her composition “Thulele Mama Ya” won “Best Folk/World Song” in the prestigious Contemporary A cappella Recording Awards in the USA. Coco’s Lunch has recorded 6 CDs of original music receiving 2 ARIA nominations, and toured extensively, performing to packed houses throughout the world.

Grace by C. Michael Bailey
The Eternal Pulse by Ian Patterson

”Her sophisticated blend of Indian and jazz idioms seduces from the start and never releases its hold.” - Ian Patterson, All About Jazz

“Totally engaging… her art is an awesome rhythmic control. Not to be missed, this is one out of the box.” - Leon Gettler, The AGE, Australia.

“Young has developed a fine vocal instrument, dark and rich, with a rare confidence when improvising… Indeed, it’s a rare vocal album where the wordless tracks… are the most interesting. That’s the case here. But everything on this fascinating session is of interest” - David Dupont CADENCE Mag., USA.

“An intelligent, loving, and unforced marriage of two great musical traditions” - Doug Spencer, ABC radio, Australia.

“Lisa Young revels in jazz and excels in it” - Sunday Mid-Day Profile, Mumbai, India

“Remarkable grace in amazing voice” - Jessica Nicholas, The Age, Australia.

“The topography crosses Jazz, Indian and African terrain..

Primary Instrument

Vocalist

Location

Melbourne

Willing to teach

Intermediate to advanced

Credentials/Background

Vocal Tutor, Contemporary Music stream at Victorian College of the Arts, Melbourne University, Southbank Campus. Northern Metro Institute of Technology (NMIT) VCE solo and group performance. Guest Seminar presentations at VCA, NMIT (industry day).