Biography:

vocals - Karen Lyu ~ www.karenlyu.com, www.holisticvoicecoach.com/about.html

Karen Lyu swings, scats and soulfully savors heartfelt, brave and quirky songs about life, love and things that matter. Her music is touched by jazz, folk, pop, funk, Motown, 80's, Broadway, classical, Latin, and Korean folk songs. Her vocal jazz inspirations include Ella Fitzgerald, Janis Siegel, Nina Simone, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Eva Cassidy and Bobby McFerrin. Born in Seoul, Korea, Karen grew up with her immigrant family in the US (CA, TX, and MN), got a Jazz Studies degree at Cornell College in IA, sang throughout the Midwest, and now sings in South Korea. She's sung with 12 groups, including the Yoo and Karen Duo, Fresh Jazz, Global Jazz, Pacha Mamas, Via Brasil, Jazz Transit, and Eddie Piccard Trio since 1993 and also with Soli Hughes (Sounds of Blackness), Devon Evans (Bob Marley), and Bruce Henry (Natalie Cole). Karen’s singing has been featured on National Public Radio, Democracy Now, film, TV, radio, cable and all kinds of stages. She's also traveled and performed in Korea, Europe, Central America and Brasil. She has won a Minnesota State Arts Board Grant, a $10,000 arts patron sponsorship, a NashvilleMuse Songwriter Award, and a MusiCares/Grammy Foundation Grant.