Carolyn Lee Jones

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Announcing A New Cabaret Show  
HOORAY FOR THE GIRLS

Jazz vocalist Carolyn Lee Jones is presenting “Hooray for the Girls,” a captivating 70 minutes of songs from women composers, lyricists, and singers from the 20th century who have given us a wealth of memorable music. Her sophisticated style led the 2017 Sammons Cabaret Artist Of The Year to produce five themed cabaret shows, four jazz albums and 1200 performances in DFW.

Ms. Jones’ musicians for the evening of December 19th will be; Musical Director Rebecca Cordes (piano), Jeffry Eckels (bass) and Andrew Griffith (drums).

Admission includes; valet parking, light appetizers, a wine and champagne bar and beverages. Refreshments are served from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. in the Mary Anne Sammons Cree Mezzanine Suite (second floor) and again during intermission. The concert begins at 8:00 p.m. in Kurth Hall (fourth floor); doors open at 7:30 p.m.

Please note; physical tickets are not issued for Cabaret.  Guests names are held at the registration table outside of Kurth Hall on the 4th floor beginning at 7:00 p.m.

TICKETS ON SALE NOW 

 

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Carolyn Lee Jones jazz-vocalist new studio album releases today! DOWNLOAD AND STREAM HERE!

Dallas jazz singer Carolyn Lee Jones has a new album release CLOSE YOUR EYES. ” It’s been an exciting, rewarding undertaking. Featuring many of my musical friends.” From a duo to an 8 piece band with wonderful arrangements. “My favorite songs about love or should I say, love in all of its forms?” From a simple piano and bass accompaniment on Confession, to Jones’ 8 piece little big band featuring a favorite Johnny Mercer song, That Old Black Magic. This album incorporates what Carolyn Lee Jones has been doing musically since the last release. “You can purchase an old fashioned CD from my SITE HERE & autographed. ” Get in touch on the contact page and we will email you with payment details for that autographed copy! Of course you can download it from iTunes . Stream it from Spotify and download or buy the CD from CD BABY

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Now celebrating over ten years as a full time vocalist-leader, Carolyn Lee Jones burst onto the jazz scene in November 2008. This is Jones’ “second act” after a long and successful career, travelling the world as a buyer for luxury retailers. She always wanted to sing professionally and has proven that you can do anything if you really want it!

Since launching her music career, Carolyn has recorded and released three studio albums, her first in 2008, Bon Appetit, featuring the late Bob Dorough. This was followed by: The Performer in 2013, In A Long White Room in 2016 and now her newest and fourth release on 09/15/2019 CLOSE YOUR EYES. From Jazz Times to Amazon the reviewers have stated that Jones’ sound is sensual, intimate and silky.

In 2017, she was honoured as Cabaret Artist of the Year by Dallas’ premier arts organization, the Sammons Center For The Arts, where she performs frequently.

Home based in Dallas, Texas, she entertains with her musicians as Carolyn Lee Jones & Fresh Vintage Jazz Ensemble. Her eclectic repertoire of classic jazz standards, retro pop tunes with a jazz twist or experiencing her intimate cabaret-jazz shows, she embraces the music with style, sophistication and panache!

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https://karigaffney.com Press Release August 20,2019 Dallas jazz singer Carolyn Lee Jones is releasing her 4th studio album since joining the ranks (in 2008) with other world-class jazz vocalists. The new album from jazz vocalist Carolyn Lee Jones is a collection of songs about new love, love lost, forever love and a little something in between! From soft and sultry to joyous and upbeat this album says it all about the condition of love. Jones worked with three of her long time musical partners, Brad Williams, Sergio Pamies and Dave Pierce for the arrangements on this album. https://carolynleejones.com/epkpress-kit/

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By Carolyn Lee Jones

It’s finally here  and on October 27th I celebrate my ten year mark as a full time vocalist-bandleader.   These past TEN  blogs in 2018 have been a way for me to share my music projects and thoughts  with you and  to keep me inspired while I remember all that has been accomplished both this year and the past TEN YEARS.   

Many of you know that I had a long, successful and creative career before as a luxury gift buyer traveling the world.  Not many people have had that opportunity and I enjoyed every moment of retailing.   Music has always been a part of my life in some way and I knew that one day I’d make the leap and do it full time.   It is a business for sure and my marketing experience has certainly helped me.   In 2000 I really got serious about this idea and began preparing by 1st throwing myself a big birthday cocktail party & singing with a live band for the first time.  Thanks to Julie Bonk !  It was GLORIOUS and a little scary too!

So here I am, getting ready to have another great big evening to celebrate this occasion as I enter my 10th year.  The Kitchen Cafe is such a great listen room and fantastic dining spot it’s reminiscent of the small lovely music cabaret rooms of NYC.  I’ve put together a backing trio of some of my great musician friends whom I’ve made music with during these past years.  Friends are invited to ” sit in” during the 2nd set to help celebrate

I’m releasing a new single that’s soon to be on iTunes, CD Baby, Amazon and all of the streaming sites.  It’s my GIFT to anyone attending on the 27th.   The song is titled “I Was A Fool”, written by world renowned bassist, conductor and arranger Johnny Pate.  My good friend Jennifer Martin introduced me to him when she was recording one of his songs for her 1st CD.

Johnny arranged and produced Shirley Horn’s Travelin’ Light Album, wrote the music for Shaft In Africa in the 70’s, played with Ahmad Jamal Trio in th 50s and was the ABC- Paramount producer for BB King and many others.  Joe Williams pulled him out of retirement in Vegas to conduct and arrange some of his final projects.  Johnny is 94 now and I am so honored to have recorded this song (given to me in its original handwritten form ) upon my first meeting with Johnny a couple of years ago.  What a thrill! 

Thanks to all of you for your ongoing support these past TEN YEARS by coming to my various gigs, shows, house concerts, jazz festivals and on and on……  I can’t wait to see what 2019 holds for me and look forward to being with you.   Till then…see you around town and THANKS!  Love , Carolyn

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By Carolyn Lee Jones

Today is the last day of September ! As the song goes… see you in September ..see you when the summer’s through. I think this month flew by and I didn’t see many of you!  From a vacation gone awry (yes we were at The Outer Banks of N.C.) and had to fly home a week early, to beginning a kitchen remodel, catching a cold from singing in the rain (the temperature dropped 20 degrees) and being laid up for a week with no voice well, all I can say is …it’s almost October.  A NEW fresh start.

But the great news there is I’ve been COUNTING TO TEN and you know what that means! Yes, my 10 year anniversary full time in music. I have a wonderful evening planned for friends old and new but more on that later!

The highlight that ended this month was singing with a 20 pc. big band DCJB ( Dallas Christian Jazz Band ) for a musical Sunday morning church service. Quite different !My BFF is the pianist for this group and recruited me last year to join them. I told them straight out what my limitations might be but they have embraced me with open arms. This band is jazz all the way with great arrangements. From Woody Herman’s the Preacher to Andre’ Crouch or a little Gershwin to an inspirational arrangement I’m having done for the band of Johnny Mercer’s Ac-cen-tu-ate The Positive.

Oh, I almost forgot to mention that I went in to the studio and recorded 4 new tunes , 2 that I’ll be releasing for the big TEN party the end of October.  My Fresh Vintage Jazz Ensembles are alive and well with lots of great events coming up for the next three months.  That’s it for now!

I thought you’d get a kick out of a throw back VINTAGE photo of me from 1972! Till next month ….I’m COUNTING TO TEN!

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By Carolyn Lee Jones

I had something else planned for August’s blog but this hit me instead so here goes.                     LOVE IS ALL YOU NEED…The Beatles seemed to echo this sentiment and in today’s crazy world I think it’s true now more than ever.  Love for one another regardless of our race, color, creed, political opinions, body size, hair color, religion, economic status or whatever, we need to seek love and see the goodness in people.  I’m not one to blast my opinions on social media , it’s just not me, but I attempt to live my life seeing the good in all things.  Yes, I am a blue skies kind of gal, optimistic in every sense of the word.  So I felt like sharing this little piece LOVE and good word with you and for you …here.  

Okay…so what’s all of this COUNTING TO TEN BUSINESS you say?  To catch yourself up, feel free to read my other blogs 1 through 7  but here it is if you haven’t read this already!   TEN is October when I’ll celebrate 10 YEARS as a full time vocalist and …October is my birthday as well!  There will be a big evening celebration on Oct 27th at The Kitchen Cafe  “After Dark “ with my Fresh Vintage quintet when we will have a night of fun, food, laughter and music.  I’ll also be there on September 7th to kick off  COUNTING TO TEN – Nine!  If you’re so inclined show me some LOVE and join me then as well!  

I’ve been working on a few projects that I’ve loved doing and are really coming together. LOVE LOVE LOVE… it has been a common theme and emotion since the beginning of time and runs rampant through music.  Heart wrenching love, child like love, blissful love, requited love, innocent love and on and on and on.  I love singing about LOVE and am going in to the studio in a few weeks to record a couple of songs about foolish love and wonderful love.  Stay tuned for more about this…when we get to October and   COUNTING TO TEN…Ten!   There will be a special treat for you at the October show!

To close,  here are some lyrics about love…You’ve got to get up every morning with a smile on your face and show the world all the love in your heart, then people gonna treat ya better ….       TILL NEXT TIME    CJ   

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By Carolyn Lee Jones

There’s an old expression …at sixes and sevens with you.”At sixes and sevens” is an English Idiom used to describe a condition of confusion or disarray dating back to the 1300’s. I guess that’s what happened to me in June and now, it’s July. Although, I wasn’t confused or disorganized, just busy and having a very good time.  

The phrase appears in a few songs, including “ Don’t Cry For Me Argentina” from the musical Evita, “Raoul And The Kings Of Spain” from Tears For Fears, and “Playing With Fire” by Stereo MCs.  The eleventh studio album from Strange Music front man Tech 9ne was entitled “All 6’s and 7’s”. The song “Sixes and Sevens” was co written and sung by Robert Plant. It also appears in the Rolling Stones’ song “Tumbling Dice”. There is an album by Norwegian gothic metal band Sirena called At Sixes and Sevens (including a song with the same name) where this phrase is used in several songs. 

So now what?  I’m looking towards TEN…October …the 10th month and it’s getting closer and closer to my TEN year mark in music.  My friends ask me why am I so focused on doing another CD & recording it live. The answer is …I’m event driven.  It could be due to my 30 years in retailing but  honestly,  I simply get a kick out of working towards a goal or an goal for an event that is unique.  Call me crazy but I love it. 

This blog has been a nice way to think about each month in life & music, focus towards the celebrations in October and November and set new goals for 2019 where I’ll be well into the 10th year.  I still intend to take my cabaret – jazz shows on the road.  There is no confusion about this scenario! It will happen.  

Till then stay cool ….with the music and the summer heat! Cheers

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  By Carolyn Lee Jones

INTENTION BEGINS THE DREAM … THEN TAKE ACTION! 

In 2000 I was having one of those “ big birthdays” and decided that before I was “too old”, I’d leave the corporate world to become a singer and lead a band.  That was my INTENTION. For 8 years, I lead a double life working for luxury retailers while studying music and doing an occasional performance in NYC and Dallas.   

For that “big birthday” I threw myself a grand party, sang with a band for the first time, hired the musicians (led by Julie Bonk aka Nora Jones’ jazz piano teacher), got 12 charts together to sing, bought two gorgeous gowns, recorded the evening, my niece videoed the show, invited 80 friends and family came and away we went. ACTION.  Zoom forward to October 28, 2008 …I left the retail world – yep downsized – and I’ve not looked back! THE DREAM began.

What is my INTENTION now?  Counting to Ten, October will begin my 10th year as a full time musician.  Coming from a  retail and marketing background, I’ve always been event driven, which gives me the perfect excuse to throw another party to celebrate maybe with one of the big bands!  It’s also time for another recording session.  Might be LIVE. These things take time to plan so I’ve begun this month to brainstorm.  Four recording projects already sketched out sitting on my desk!  

What intention do you have?  What’s your dream?  Take action! 

Life’s too short not to!