Eddie Lee

Eddie Lee is a pianist and composer from London, he teaches keys on our CertHE Popular Music Performance and BA Creative Musicianship programmes.

Eddie specialises in Jazz, pop and improvised music, and studied on the prestigious BMus Jazz course at the Royal Academy of Music, where he received the tutorship of top international pianists such as Gwilym Simcock (ACT) and Kit Downes (ECM). This gave him the unique blend of melodic creativity and harmonic dynamism that his performances showcase today. Eddie’s work as a performer and composer draws from a range of influences that goes wide and deep. From the experimental indie-rock of Radiohead, to the ambient piano explorations of Nils Frahm, to the pioneering sampling work of J-Dilla, and all the way back to Eddie’s roots in the jazz tradition - from Oscar Peterson to Herbie Hancock, Brad Mehldau and beyond. This immense blend informs Eddie’s versatility and ever-evolving creative vision.

In 2020 Eddie was the recipient of the prestigious Dankworth Prize for Big Band Composition. His prize-winning submission, Dean, is an epic interpretation of Jack Kerouac’s trailblazing novel, On The Road, and features soaring vocals underpinned by weaving counter-melodies and powerful horn-writing. Today, Eddie’s compositional palette is brooding, melancholic and always cinematic. Writing and recording from his own bedroom, Eddie’s next EP, To Be Heard, promises to be a deeply personal exploration of these moods. It is set to be released in early 2023.

When he’s not at home composing, Eddie can usually be found performing across the UK and Europe, and collaborating with artist after artist in London’s electrifying jazz scene. Since 2021 Eddie has been performing with virtuoso guitarist Mansur Brown, including headlining the 2021 Barbican X Boiler Room for 2000 people at the legendary Barbican Hall, as well as performing on the main stage at Gala Festival 2022. He also performs regularly with London-based avant-garde  jazz powerhouse Alistair Martin, and in Europe with Maria Rehakova’s Topol’ana. Eddie’s eclectic style and skill-set mean that he is in demand with collaborators from all corners of the music scene; poets, producers, pop singers, instrumentalists and more.

All of this translates into Eddie’s work as a teacher and workshop leader. Having had so many inspirational teachers of his own, he is passionate about passing his skills and knowledge and experience on to the next generation of performers and artists.