John Lee is a guitarist and composer with a very diverse and ecclectic vision. Masterful and versatile, his style hails from all walks of life in music, such as jazz, rock, blues, African, Indian, classical, etc., combining them all together in one very special sound. It is unmistakable and ethereal, with moments of chaos and madness, and is ultimately unforgettable.
John picked up the guitar at age 10 and never put it down. After practicing for many years, he attended The New School University's Mannes and Contemporary Jazz Program in New York City. There he studied with masters Kurt Rosenwinkel (Jazz Guitar), George Garzone (atonal improvisation), David 'Fuze' Fiuczynski (Jazz and Middle Eastern Studies), Jamey Haddad (South Indian Frame Drumming), and Debashish Bhattcharya (North Indian Slide Guitar). During that time John performed and taught master classes overseas in Israel with Tzadik artist Daniel Zamir, and in Swtizerland with The Keeleaf Aura Quartet. John also performed at John Zorn’s Improv night with the man himself. He also was hired to perform many nights at Phish's Big Cypress Festival New Years Eve 2000 with his Trio at the time (The Swamp Kings).
After College, John formed Caveman with friends John Buck (Transmitters, Keller Williams), Brian Marsella (Cyro Baptista, Marshall Allen, Pharoah's Daughter) and Tim Keiper (Vieux Farka Touré). Caveman toured across the U.S and released 2 albums from 2001 to 2005 with very special following of die hard fans in a short amount of time. After Caveman, John moved back to the D.C area and got the oppurtunity of performing with Matisyahu and the Disco Biscuits alongside gigging regularly in the area.
John with Cyro Baptista's Beat The Donkey at Le Poisson Rouge, NYC 2009.
Currently John performs throughout the U.S. and abroad in several groups including Cyro Baptista's Beat The Donkey, Baye Kouyate and Les Tougarakes, as well as regular shows in the D.C. area and along the East Coast with local groups such as Junior League Band (Bluegrass) and Buster Brown & The Get Down (Indie/Acoustic Pop-Rock). In 2009 John formed his own group again, The John Lee Experience, better known as "J.L.e", playing his original music, and has released his debut solo album “Somewhere Impossible to Find,” featuring acclaimed drummer Bruce Guttridge, John Buck (Transmiters), Steve Zerlin, and Gary Grainger on bass, Will Rast (Funk Ark) on keys, and Matt Rippetoe on flute and sax.