Biography
Jazz is an art form into which Heather Lyle was born. She grew up listening to the songs of her great uncle, Buddy DeSylva. Along with founding Capitol Records, Buddy was famous for his hits of the 30's and 40's written with Al Jolsen, Henderson and Brown, and Gershwin. Lyle was also influenced by her mother, a New York City musician's agent who handled W.C. Handy and was also a writer for Downbeat Jazz Magazine. Lyle's mother constantly played jazz standards written by the musicians she managed until jazz was in the blood of her children. A musical background and a bachelor and master's degree in music have given Lyle a successful multi-faceted career as a vocalist, musical director, composer and educator. Lyle has sung every kind of music from jazz to traditional Middle Eastern music, to opera. In 1980 she met Louise Caselotti, one of the voice teacher's of Maria Callas, who introduced her to the world of opera and musical theater. Lyle went on to perform leading roles and soloist parts with Long Beach Opera, Long Beach Chamber Chorale, Hollywood Wilshire Symphony, Glendale Civic Light Opera, and Santa Monica Opera. In the 1990's Lyle began to long for the jazz music she was raised on and decided to embark upon a career as a jazz vocalist. The intense years of opera training combined with the jazz influences of her youth have given Lyle the ability to produce a strong stirring performance in which the smooth flow of her voice easily accepts any melodic challenge, be it ballad, bop, or samba. Lyle sings in seven languages and has compiled a repertoire with international flavor. Throughout her sets, she will smoothly shift from an American jazz classic to a French jazz chanson by Nougaro, to a Brazilian samba. In 2002 Heather Lyle co=founder the band The Bluecat Express. The Bluecat Express is an 8 piece New Orleans inspired jazz band that includes many extraordinary local LA jazz musicians. Earl Alexander on guitar, Leslie Baker on bass, Steve Rawlins on piano, Robert Kyle on sax, Andrew Carney on trumpet, Dan Weinstein on trombone and violin, Michael Lyle on drums and Heather Lyle on vocals. In 2005 The Bluecat Express released their first CD, “Spirit of New Orleans,” on Rhombus Records (www.rhombus-records.com). “Spirit of New Orleans" has been well received by jazz radio throughout North America and was been high on the charts in many cities. The Bluecat Express plays a wide variety of west coast performances and returns to the Playboy Mansion every July 4th to entertain “Hef” and his gang. In 2006 The Bluecat Express was at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival, where they shared the stage with Herbie Hancock, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Delefayo Marsalis, the Rippingtons and Carmen Lundy. In 2007, The Bluecat Express was picked to play as part of The Playboy Jazz Festival.
Lyle is also still a regular performer in the LA jazz scene, performing in more intimate venues with a jazz trio. She is featured monthly at The Millennium Biltmore Hotel Gallery Bar in downtown Los Angeles with a quartet of swinging cats. Lyle is currently recording a solo albumn that will be released in the Fall of 2008.
For booking info: email bluecatmusic@verizon.net
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