Elise Lebec

Early years

Born Tabitha Lebec (Elise) in San Diego, CA, Lebec was interested in music as a young age. At the age of four, she began playing the piano and developed an interest in the classical genre. She was interested in pop and rock music in high school. Becoming a young traveler she visited New Zealand for two years and then it was off to Australia where in Sydney she met painter Charles Billich. That meeting ignited a fire that produced her debut album Tabitha Plays Billich. The CD displayed the artwork of Mr. Billich, thus allowing two art forms to adapt in mutual significance. Next it was off to England where, for five years, formed and played with her band the Post Pop Federation. Joined on stage and in studio with Mike Lindup of the band Level 42 and Roland Chadwick, the band birthed their debut album PPF on the Warner Brothers label.

On her arrival back to the states, Lebec was embraced within a work-study process. Playing with such gifted musicians as Peter Bernstein, Robert Johnson, and Pat Robinson to name a few. The projects were a blend of writing and recording various sounds. Out of those years a new CD release was to take shape in 2004, “Back to Innocence”, again under her birth name of Tabitha Lebec. At that time she returned to her roots on the piano and changed her name to Elise Lebec. In 2006 her new identity and new sound took form in her release of Possible Dreams” “Impressions of a Solo Piano”

Her first husband was Nigel Portman-Lewis who died from lung cancer in 2001. Lebec's first marriage has a very interesting journey attached to it and she elaborates on it in this way, "When I was 18 I met a man named Nigel who was from London traveling around the world. I met him through my boss at the time. We fell madly in love from the moment we met. He was however much older than me and so I refused to date him. After about six months he had convinced me to leave my family and friends and to travel the world with him. At the time I was a very naïve young lady who played piano at home but was too shy to perform my pieces for anyone other than very close friends. Nigel and I travelled to New Zealand where he bought 65 acres of ocean front property and a very old "Pianola" that no longer had working parts. This piano I played for two years while living in a concrete building on the South Island Of New Zealand in a town called "Seddon". While other teenagers were out partying and exploring things I was playing piano on an isolated beach with a farmer up the road and a British lover who was old enough to be my father. It was during this time that Nigel came up with the word "Clage" because we needed a way to describe my music as it was a perfect mix of classical and new age. It was these two years in New Zealand that really set the ground for my piano compositions and my confidence to pursue music as career."

Lebec's parents are Bryant Crouch and Linda Elliot Jones. Ms. Lebec was raised by her father and mother and was greatly influenced by her grandmother Beverly Ann Crouch who was a native of Boston Massachusetts, who passed in 1993. Her extended family consists of a younger sister named Rachelle Winder and a half sister named Havilah Crouch and a half brother named Justyn Jones.

Over many years as an artist, composer, writer and pianist, Lebec's dream was to compose full time. Lebec is currently working on a film called Sum Total of Our Memory directed by Barbara Klutinis.

Some of her all-time favorite pieces are listed below.

Sydney Symphony From the album "Tabitha Plays Billich" 1997

This composition was inspired by the artwork of Charles Billich. Ms. Lebec was living in Sydney at the time and performing piano at the Ritz Carlton and at Charles's waterside gallery. She created the composition instrument by instrument on one of the very first keyboards that talked digitally to a software product called Logic. Logic at the time was brand new thing and so was the idea of recording a composition by performing it into a keyboard, which would then record the notes for you. She would compose by sitting down and designing the string section, then go back and perform the horns and then trumpet or whatever sounds she envisioned.

No Ordinary Day 2003

This song was written while living in London but wasn’t properly recorded until meeting Peter Bernstein (Elmer Berstein’s son) and L.A. producer Richard Young. Peter and Richard took this song and reproduced it from the ground up with guitar harmonics on it from the band ToTo. The song was written in response to Lebec’s personal life experience living in London and working in the music industry there.

Tabitha Plays Billich (1997)

Sydney Symphony, Clock Work, Ring of Confidence, Medalists. Record Breakers, La Cite, Obelisk and Violin, Victory, Lovers

Post Pop Federation (1999 EP)

Magical Day, I will be there for you, Morning Song, All In A Daze

Back to Innocence (Self) (2004)

Hold Me, Breathing Still, Show Me Love, Little Deaths, Never be the Same, Butterfly, Goodbye, Little Missunderstood, Over It, This in My Planet

Possible Dreams (Lebec Entertainment, LTD) (2006)

Before Awakening, Behold, Possible Dreams, The First Time, Meeting You Again, Letter from Elise, A Drive Through Sunflowers, Colors of the Heart, Imaginary Kisses, Remember When..., Dark Before Light, Beyond Desire, Moonlight Dance, Cloudless Sky