Julie-Leonora Kesch is a singer from France and a Silver member on JVL. 

What instrument(s) do you play?

I’m a singer. I sometimes play drums and piano but that’s just for fun. I’m also learning trumpet. But let’s be realistic, so far it’s not really playing… 

How did you start learning music?

I’ve started around 6 with piano. I’ve started singing when I was ten. I began with classical studies first. 

What are your top 5 albums?

Hard to pick up just 5 ! I definitly love to listen to a lot of different music ! To answer the question I would say Tehillim of Steve Reich, Saxophone Colossus of Sonny Rollins, Criss Cross of Monk, The Kick inside of Kate Bush and one more recent Gently Disturbed of Avishai Cohen.

What are your current project(s)?

I’m working on a jazz quartet. I’ve also got some projects with my gospel choir. 

What are some of your musical goals?

I would like to prove that playing and listening to jazz means more than a lot of people can think. I’m often told that I should not play just jazz, that I should open myself to pop and rock coz jazz is too elitist and not “listenable” by everyone. I don’t see things that way. I see jazz as a very rich music that mix hundreds of different influences. In a way, I would like to play the music I love and earn a living with it without compromises… It’s important to stay utopian sometimes 🙂

How long have you been a JVL member and how did you hear about it?

Since October 2015.

What do you like about it? How has it helped you?

For a singer it’s a great thing to learn from a saxophonist. It’s an other point of view. It gives the possibility to experiment a different learning. As if your voice were exactly the same than a physical instrument. Plus, Alex is a great pedagogue. His videos are very clear and well edited. That’s important.  

What’s your favorite video on JVL?

Actually I don’t have any favorite. I’m picking up one video then another, according to what I need in the moment. 

Any other thing you want to share with us?

If you feel like looking what’s going on with my quartet, it’s there (Facebook) https://www.facebook.com/julieleonorak/ and there  www.julieleoquartet.com and there too (Youtube) : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pSVsGH2WuB8 🙂 

Do you want to join Julie-Léonora? Register now and get access to the free lessons plus some cool bonuses!