On 2 November, Australian performers and musicians are throwing a birthday party for broadcaster/pianist Julian Lee’s 80th Birthday, at The Basement Nightclub in Sydney.
Julian Lee was blind at birth and has been involved in music since the age of six. His first major involvement after University was as band leader and arranger for the New Zealand Broadcasting Service, leaving for Sydney in 1956 to work as an arranger for the Australian Broadcasting Service and Channel Seven. He later formed his own company, producing commercials for radio and television.
In 1963 he left for Los Angeles and in the following years arranged for “Greats” such as George Shearing, Frank Sinatra, Peggy Lee and worked on albums for Gerry Mulligan, Chet Baker, Harry “Sweets’ Edison and many other Jazz and light music names. During this period he also arranged for the Pat Boone National Television Show.
During the next three years he worked as a producer for Capitol Records and played in many famous jazz venues around Los Angeles, including Shelley’s Manne Hole, China Trader and Dantes. He then returned to New Zealand to for four years to work for Radio New Zealand and was involved in jazz, directing the Neophonic Society’s Big Band.
Since his return to Sydney in 1978, Julian Lee has staged concerts in the Sydney Opera House, worked as music cocoordinator at Channel Ten, arranged music for various projects for the ABC and has produced and arranged records for artists such as Don Burrows, Billy Field, Johnny Nicol, Ricky May, James Galway, Yvonne Kenny and Kerrie Biddell.
Lee had an eight year stint as resident pianist at the Regent Hotel, Sydney, and more recently the Inter-Continental Hotel and performed with Kerrie Biddell and the Don Burrows Quintet. He also worked with visiting international artists such as Ronnie Scott, Urbie Green, Red Rodney, Phil Wilson and Lee Konitz. Julian has worked with orchestras (Jazz and Classical works), including the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, the SBS Youth Orchestra (an original composition featuring Don Burrows), The Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra and the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra.
Artists confirmed to perform at the party include the legendary Don Burrows, George Golla, Judy Bailey, George Washingmachine, Michael Bartolomei, Graham Conlon, David Martin, Ian Bloxsam, Don Radder, Paula Langlands, Joy Mulligan, Murray Tanner with many more still to be announced.
Venue: The Basement, 29 Reiby Place, Circular Quay
Date: Sunday, 2 November, 2003
Time: 2.00pm to 5.00pm
Ticket Price: $20.00
Bookings: The Basement – 9251 2797
All money raised is going towards the purchase of a PC with speech for Julian Lee.