Lisa Sokolov is a frontline groundbreaking New York jazz vocalist, improviser and composer. She is an Associate Artist Professor and legendary educator at NYU Tisch School of the Arts and at Institutes Internationally. She is the inspiration for many young singers on the scene today. Her work embraces the best of new music, free and straight ahead jazz. Her recordings angel Rodeo, Lazy Afternoon and Presence have all received Best CD of the Year citations and press kudos. DownBeat magazine cites her last CD “Presence” as 5 stars "Masterpiece" and Best Release of 2004 (the only new CD to get this acclaim) ”As far removed stylistically from the reigning royalty of female jazz vocalists as John Coltrane is from Grover Washington, Lisa Sokolov …exceptionally expressive, dramatic, ecstatic …playful …highly compelling …a tour de force …masterful …stunning, life-affirming This is jazz vocalizing filled with passion and commitment.” five stars ***** DownBeat Magazine 2005 DownBeat critics poll adds Sokolov onto their rising star vocalist list. “Lisa Sokolov is a wildwoman of jazz. Nothing is predictable when she sings. And Sokolov can be compared to no one else. For Sokolov, a true original whose singing involves the consideration of previously unconsidered possibilities, as well as their means of expression, must be accepted on her own terms. There are rewards to spending time with Sokolov’s music. Indeed, Sokolov’s talent possesses such force, even when she holds back…An extraordinary singer… .” jazzreview.com angel Rodeo was Sokolov's first release as Band Leader What the critics are said about "angel Rodeo" Editors Choice Best CD of The Year 1993 Cadence Magazine “master singer/improviser Lisa Sokolov again was brilliant at Vision Festival 2003, causing me to again pull out her disc angel Rodeo, and again got goosebumps from her sound and her ideas. You should get it anyway you can. It’s different from and as near perfect a disc as Jeanne Lee’s Nuba or Cassandra Wilson’s Blue Skies.” Steve Koenig Jumps Arts Journal "Here's an artist that makes genres disappear. Sokolov hammers together a unique box of sounds on an instrument she has developed to great effect...her voice breathes fire." CMJ "Most adventurous. Sokolov brings the full force of mature musical intelligence to bear on these songs. Never less than excellent." Cadence "Her voice spirals through the lyrics, effecting a confluence of Meredith Monk and Betty Carter. The gypsy strains and constant caprice give her glide plenty of slide." Musician "Lisa Sokolov displays incredible vocal range, versatility and creativity on her wild interpretations. This album is like a ticket to an avant-garde vocal extravaganza. It will make you sit up and listen until curtain-fall." Victory Review “A strong voice and daring intelligence. Holy ferocious...” Howard Mandel "Hilarious and entrancing" Riverfront Times "Sokolov makes you feel anything in life is possible" Boston Phoenix What the critics say about performance “A visionary improviser and a strikingly original innovator… Sokolov can truly be said to be pushing the envelope of the jazz idiom into the Post Modern Era.” Royal Stokes OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS Sokolov also is known internationally as a pioneer in the field of music therapy and the application of voice in the field of Human Development. She is devoted to the power of art as a force to make the world a better place and presently is working in collaboration with the UN Development Program to help shift the paradigm of the role of Art in Culture lisasokolov.com