Lee Tomboulian

Early life and career

Born in New York City into a music-loving family(the youngest of four raised by Clyde Tomboulian and sculptor Norma Tomboulian, née Lamb), Tomboulian displayed an affinity for music, and for the piano in particular, by age seven. He was encouraged in this pursuit with several years of private instruction, eventually attending the University of Arkansas, where he earned a BA in composition while minoring in theater arts. He continued to live and work in Arkansas for more than a decade; it was there that he met his wife-to-be, jazz singer Elizabeth (Betty) Elkins, in the late eighties.

In 1989 he formed the ensemble Circo Verde, featuring original material steeped in the music of Latin America, especially that of Brazil and Uruguay. In fact, a particular inspiration for the group was Brazilian percussionist Airto Moreira's 1973 album Fingers, whose Uruguayan rhythm section would go on to form their own influential jazz fusion trio, Opa. One of Opa's founding members, Hugo Fattoruso, produced the debut recording of Tomboulian's self-described "pop-latin-jazz" ensemble more than a decade later.

In 1992, Tomboulian and Elkins were wed, and the following year they departed Arkansas so that Tomboulian could pursue his graduate studies at the University of North Texas, where he earned a Master of Music in Jazz Studies in 1997. At some point during the Tomboulians' 12-year stay in Denton, Circo Verde became simply Circo, the name under which its two albums were recorded. While earning his degree, he also performed and recorded with the university's One O'Clock Lab Band, appearing on the CD Lab '97; the album also features one track, "B.B.", composed and arranged by Tomboulian.

In 2005, the Tomboulians moved to Wisconsin, with Lee serving as Instructor of Jazz Piano and Improvisation at Lawrence University Conservatory of Music. He continued to serve in this capacity until 2011, when the couple again relocated, this time to New York City. Since then, Tomboulian has released a solo piano CD, Imaginarium (with a number of tracks also incorporating his overdubbed accordion), and has performed frequently, becoming a familiar presence at such venues as Smalls Jazz Club, the Lenox Lounge, and Kitano Jazz.

As leader

As sideman

With Kelly Franklin

With Little Jack Melody and his Turks

With Trout Fishing in America

With Brian Moore

With The One O'Clock Lab Band

With The Two O'Clock Jazz Band

With Al Gibson

With The UNT Jazz Repertory Ensemble

With Tony Hakim

With Pete Brewer

With Mary Ellen Spann

With Susan Colin

With Faith to Faith

With Colin Boyd

With Lisa Perry

With John Adams

With Wycliffe Gordon

With Maria Schneider

With Stuart Dempster

With Terrell Stafford

As arranger/composer

With The One O'Clock Lab Band

With Al Gibson

With The Lawrence University Conservatory of Music