About

As a performer

Vocalist Lee Engele fronts local big bands, and her active solo career has put her in the company of both local and national artists, with east coast shows that include the Metropolitan Room in New York. She has a number of self-produced CDs to her credit, which have received savory reviews praising her “warm and sensuous voice” by both local and national reviewers including LA Jazz Scene Magazine, and Twin Cities legend Leigh Kamman, former Jazz Image™ host on MPR. She has been featured internationally on a number of jazz and pop compilation CDs. Lee has also appeared at numerous festivals including the Twin Cities Jazz Festival, and other concerts have included shows at Bloomington and Hopkins Centers for the Arts, Old Log Theater, and the Landmark Center.

Past Performances

Festivals, Showcases & Conferences

Landmark Center Annual Gala, November 2017, 2020, 2021, 2022
Duluth Art Institute Annual Gala, (DJ show), October 2021, 2022, 2023
Twin Cities Jazz Festival, performer, 2000 - 2019, 2022 through 2025
NEMAA Fall Fine Art Show Opening, 2013, 2014
Art A Whirl Opening night – California Building, 2013
Midtown Global Jazz festival, Performer, 2012
Midtown Global Jazz festival, Director, 2011
Twin Cities Jazz Society’s 30th Anniversary – Dakota Jazz Club, 2009
The Cabaret Conference at Yale, 2008
Grand Marais Jazz Festival, 2008
Weisman Art Museum, New Deal Exhibit Opening, 2008
Jazz Vocalist Showcase, Winter JazzFest – 2008
Jazz Vocalist Showcase, Twin Cities Hot Summer Jazz Festival - 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010
Jazz Vocalists of Minnesota Showcases: 2006 – 2010; Artists Quarter, Dakota Jazz Club, Dakota County Steakhouse
Jazz on the Prairie Jazz Festival (with Just Friends Big Band) – 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 (as a part of the Hot Summer Jazz Festival)

Concerts

Summer Nights in Rice Park, July 2023, Moonlight Serenaders Big Band
Music in the Café, Landmark Center, August 2021
Landmark Center "Jingle in the Halls", (Virtual), December 2020
Heart of the City, Party on the Plaza, Nicollet Commons, 2019
Music in the Café, Landmark Center 2018
“The World in WWI” Concert/Lecture Series, Roseville Library, February 2015
“Boozy Ballads and Temperance Tunes”, Maplewood Library Concert series, November 2014
Jazz at St. Barney’s Jazz Concert Series – January 2014
“The Stage Door Canteen: Sounds of WW II”, Maplewood Library Concert series, 2013
Bloomington Center for the Arts, with Butch Thompson’s St. Paul Trio – September 2013
“Jazz In June”, MN History Center, with Butch Thompson’s St. Paul Trio – August 2013
“A Hot Christmas”, Bloomington Center for the Arts, Producer, vocals – December 2012
“Adieu Summer”, Como Lakeside Pavilion, featured vocalist, 2012
“9 Nights of Music”, Minnesota History Center, vocalist with the Moonlight Serenaders Big Band, 2012
Hopkins Center for the Arts, Concert with national clarinetist Evan Christopher. Producer, vocals, May 2012
“Swing Set”, Songs of the swing era, Bloomington Center for the Arts, Producer, vocals - 2011
Metropolitan Room - New York, 2012
“Chanteuse Diaries”, Burnsville Performing Arts Center Black Box Theater, co-star with Maud Hixson, 2010
“Jazz American Style”, Old Log Theater, 2010; Producer, vocals
“Jazz American Style”, Hopkins Center for the Arts, 2010; Producer, vocals
“A Tribute to Birdland: Celebrating 60 Years”, Twin Cities Jazz Society “Jazz From J to Z Concert”, wrote & produced this show, Bloomington Center for the Arts, 2010
Woman’s Club of Minneapolis, 2009
Battle of the Big Bands, KBEM Radio- Jazz 88, 10thAnniversary of Big Band Scene, Appeared with the bend in the river big band, 2009
Burnsville Performing Arts Center, Pre/Post Concert Entertainment for Melissa Manchester Concert, 2009
Northrop Auditorium Summer Concert Series, 2008
“I Get A Kick Out of Cole”, Twin Cities Jazz Society “Jazz From J to Z Concert”, developed & produced this show, 2008
“Cole Underground”, Artists Quarter, 2008

Outdoor Music in the Parks, Wineries, Farmer's Markets

Alexis Bailly, Anoka, Centennial Lakes, Chaska, Como Park Pavilion, Crystal, Downtown Lakeville “Wednesday’s on Main”, Eagan Rotary Park, Excelsior, George Green Park, Landmark Center Christmas Bazaar, Minnesota State Fair, Minnetonka Music in the Parks, Normandale Lake – Bloomington, Music Tuesday’s – Stillwater, Roseville Central Park, Southwest Station, Staring Lake, Augsburg Park Richfield, Wolfe Lake, and many many more.

CDs

Discography

Without Christmas, digital single release December 2024
All I Ever Wanted, CD single, 2016
Jazz Bar II, Compilation, EQ Music, 2016
Movies Classic Jazz, Compilation, EQ Music, 2012; Volume 2 – 2014
A Little Pop, A Little Jazz, Compilation, EQ Music, 2013
The Best of Pop Jazz - Compilation , EQ Music, 2013
Jazz Bar – Compilation, EQ Music, 2012
A Hot Christmas, EP, 2011
Greatest Audiophile Voices Vol. 4, Compilation, EQ Music 2011
Female Jazz II (The Greatest Vocal Collection), Compilation, EQ Music 2011
Absolute Jazz Voice, EQ Music, 2011
Burt Bacharach In Jazz, EQ Music, 2011
In The Key of “L” - EP, 2010
Perhaps - EP, 2009

Bands

Lee Engele, solo Jazz Vocalist, Present
Moonlight Serenaders Big Band, January 2010 - present
Somewhat Dixie Land Band, 2006 – 2009, vocalist
The Just Friends Big Band, 2000 – 2006, vocalist
Miscellaneous appearances - (Featured vocalist): Buddy Koopman Big Band (2006), Bend in the River Big Band (2009), Minnesota Jazz Orchestra (2009, 2010), Tim Patrick Big Band (2016-2021), Vic Volare Band 2019, North Star Big Band 2021

Stage

Theatre

Jesus Christ Superstar Concert Experience, Theatre 55 Production, July 2022
Hair! The Concert Experience, Caponi Art Park, Theater, Theatre 55, July 2021
The Medium Was Rare, Theatre 55 live-stream radio production, October 2020
Hair! – Mixed Blood Theater, Theatre 55 Production January 2019
Dudley Riggs’ ETC. – Nice Faces of 1943, The Moon Shines Tonight, Nocturnal Admissions
Chimera Theatre – Twelfth Night, The Royal Hunt of The Sun
Children’s Theatre Company School, 2 years

Radio & Television

Summer Music in the Parks, Wolf Lake, Park TV, SLP 2016
Swing Set, Bloomington Access, Channel 14, 2012
Tribute to Birdland Show – Bloomington Access, Channel 14, Aired January 2010
Arts in the Parks Live Concert Series, Bloomington Access, Aired Summer 2009
KARE 11 Saturday, 2009
Baby Blue Arts - cable access/internet television special, 2008
Big Band Scene, Live - 2 concerts with the Just Friends Big Band, 2003, 2004, aired on 88.5 FM-KBEM
CD Radio Play: Penthouse Radio – NY, Modern Jazz Radio – NJ, KBEM FM – MN, WTJU – VA, WTJU – VA, RUM 97.5 – Portugal, KFAI, & more! 2009-11

Venues

Public Clubs and Private Events:

American Swedish Institute, Artist’s Quarter, Barbette, Bayview Event Center, Calhoun Beach Club, Birdland, CAMP, Campus Club, Cinema Ballroom, Club Saratoga, Cov, Crave, Crowne Plazas, Dakota County Music Café, Dakota Jazz Club (5 appearances), Disney World, Domino Lounge – Chicago, Gale Mansion, Golden Valley Country Club, Hell’s Kitchen, Holiday Inn, Hotel Sofitel, HONEY, International Market Square, Jaxx Café, Jensen’s Supper Club, Loring Kitchen, Mattie’s on Main, Millennium Hotel, Mason Jar, Metropolitan Room - New York, Minnesota State Fair, Minnesota Zephyr, Mudd Room, NEMAA Gallery events, Parma, Peachtree Plaza – Atlanta, Rossi’s, Red Stag, Saint Paul College Club, Saint Paul Hotel, Sawatdee, Tapestry Folkdance Center, The 925, Third Bird, Time Out New York Lounge-NY, Tryg’s, Veteran’s Hospital, Wabasha Street Caves, Windows on MN, Woman’s Club of Minneapolis