Born and raised in Seoul, Korea, Joonsam Lee....

Born and raised in Seoul, Korea, Joonsam Lee started playing the electric bass guitar at age 19 after listening to the great Jaco Pastorious.  Two years later he switched to acoustic bass under the influence of Ray Brown, Paul Chambers, Christian Mcbride and Avishai Cohen.  He privately studied classical bass with Yeong-Seok Seong of the Seoul national symphony orchestra while  simultaneously playing with the Yeon Namgung jazz band in T.V shows, radio station and concert halls.

In 2007 he moved to New York City to study in New York University.  While at school he had privilege of studying and performing with Joe Lovano, Brian Lynch, Ralph Alessi, Kenny Werner, John Scofield, Wayne Krantz, Don Friedman, Lenny Pickett, Andy Gravish, and Jean-Michel Pilc. Upon graduating from NYU with Masters Degree, he immediately became busy performing and recording within the city's fertile jazz and contemporary music scene.

Joonsam currently lives in New York.  In his so far short time living in town, he has played with some of the finest musicians in NYC. Appearances includes some of the major venues in New York and festivals around the world such as Blue Note Jazz Club (New York), Jazz at Lincoln Center (New York), Smalls (New York), Fat Cat (New York), Jazz Gallery (New York), Grand Tour Jazz Festival (Terni, Italy), Jazz Di Marca Festival(Terni, Italy) and the Jarasum International Jazz Festival (Korea).

Joonsam has led his own group "Joonsam Lee Quintet" and has also appeared as a sideman.  He is currently performing with a wide array of material and musicians.  He has toured and played jazz music, broadway musical, as well as appearing with a Symphony Orchestra (NYKSO).



Joonsam Lee Quartet @ Cleopatra's Needle // Feb. 26th 2010

All tunes written and arranged by Joonsam Lee
Bass - Joonsam Lee
Piano - Jeremy Manasia
Trumpet - Greg Glassman
Drums - Lawrence Lo Leathers