Jeanne Lee

American vocalist, poet, composer, choreographer, and artist.

Born: 29 January 1939 in New York City, New York, USA.
Died: 25 October 2000 in Tijuana, Mexico (aged 61).

Lee graduated from Bard College with a focus on child psychology, literature, and dance choreography. During the mid-1960s, she adopted Fluxus-influenced multidisciplinarity and composed music for California-based sound poets David Hazelton, Dick Higgins, and Alison Knowles.

In the late 1960s, she returned to the east coast jazz scene and started performing and recording, distinguishing herself as one of the most independent and creative artists in the field. Lee had a major role in Carla Bley's magnum opus, "Escalator Over The Hill" (1971), and recorded albums with eminent musicians including Anthony Braxton, Archie Shepp, and Marion Brown.

In 1967, while in Europe, Lee began a long association with vibraphonist and composer Gunter Hampel, whom she eventually married. Other artists Lee has collaborated over her long career include Ran Blake, Andrew Cyrille, Mal Waldron, et al.

Lee was married to second husband Gunter Hampel, and they had two children; son Ruomi Lee-Hampel (dancer), and daughter Cavana Lee Hampel (vocalist). She was also a core member of Hampel's Galaxie Dream Band. Previously she was married to first husband Dr David Hazelton, and they shared a daughter Naima Hazelton.