LEE KANEHIRA
Miss Lee was born and raised in Tagawa city, Fukuoka Prefecture, South Japan. She started to play classical piano in childhood. After graduating from a music college, she met the blues. Since then she taught herself and consistently playing the blues piano.
In 2004, she started to play with local blues bands as well as the musicians who are visiting her hometown on tour.
She is visiting Chicago every summer since 2008 and playing with great musicians, such as Kenny”Beedy Eyes”Smith, Billy Flynn, The Cash Box Kings etc.
Lately, she moved to Kanto area, and is playing many clubs in Tokyo with professional bluesmen including Takashi “Hotoke” Nagai, Kotez, Hitoshi Koide and Shun Kikuta.
Her first leader album “THE UNION MEETIN’” was recorded with great musicians in Chicago and released in July 2014. In 2016, She made 45 rpm single record “THESE BLUES KEEP DOGGIN’ ME/ BLUES IS EVERYWHERE” with Billy Flynn(g). The latest album “LEE’S BOOGIE”, which was focused on her solo piano playing, was released on 25 Nov, 2017.
She is also playing on album of many blues musicians, such as the blues.the-butcher-590213, Shun Kikuta & Blues Company, Shoji Naito and The Cash Box Kings, etc.
Miss Lee became the 2018 Chicago Blues Piano Contest winner. She is a lady blues pianist who is dedicated to playing old school Chicago blues, a rare kind in these days.
Her main influences are: Leroy Carr, Big Maceo, Otis Spann, Memphis Slim, Pinetop Perkins and Barrelhouse Chuck