There’s much more to the average public school music teacher than meets the eye and ear. Justin Lee, a Bordentown Township resident and educator at John P. Stevens High School in Edison, is a prime example — something that will be demonstrated with two upcoming events.
As an acclaimed acoustic and electric bassist specializing in classical and jazz, when the school day is over, Lee can be found performing with groups like the Capital Philharmonic of New Jersey and the New York-based Chelsea Symphony. Or, he might be commuting to New York City to play in such venerable clubs as Birdland.
If that’s not enough activity for Lee, he’s also an active substitute in the orchestra for various off and on-Broadway shows, for example, the recent revival of the musical “Caroline, or Change,” at Studio 54 RoundAbout Theater. Plus, he still takes private lessons, and he’s working on an album of original music.
He can also be heard around Bordentown, playing in such events as the city’s recent PorchFest! and at local taverns, such as the HOB.
So, what exactly is his career: teacher, performer, composer/arranger?
“For most musicians, it’s a little bit of it all,” Lee says. “What defines us is what makes us happy. We all give back, so teaching for me — which I’ve been doing for about 20 years — is my way of giving back.”
Area music lovers will get several chances to sample Lee’s varied talents.
On Friday, May 12, Lee and guitarist Raul Abbad will play jazz standards, original compositions, and a touch of world music at Old City Hall in Bordentown during an evening of music presented by the Old City Hall Restoration Committee.
He says to listen for a combination of originals, jazz standards, and two kinds of Peruvian musical styles: the lando or ballad, and the festejo, an Afro-Peruvian dance akin to the samba.
Then, on Sunday May 28, Lee and his wife, Elizabeth, a cellist, will perform with Collegium Musicum to launch Bach on Hilltop Park, the summer chamber music concerts at Hilltop, also in Bordentown. This series, now in its second year, will present Bach and other classical music, but also a mixture of jazz, as well as the ensemble’s take on pop classics. “Bach, Beatles and Baroque,” as Lee describes it.
The free concerts at Hilltop will be on the last Sunday of each month: May 28, June 25, July 30, and August 27.
Alexei Yavtuhovich is the founder, president, and artistic director of Collegium Musicum, a nonprofit founded in 2018 and based in Old Bridge.
“Our theme for the 2023 concerts is ‘Culture for Understanding and Tolerance,’ and we will be highlighting the history and development of music from different cultures and nationalities from around the globe,” Yavtuhovich says, adding that young student musicians have been encouraged to play with the ensemble, and may be showcased as soloists at certain concerts.
Lee is on the executive board of Collegium Musicum as director of Jazz Ensembles.
“Bach on Hilltop was my idea,” Lee says. “Ever since I moved to Bordentown, I wanted to bring more music to this area to contribute to the art and culture scene. I partnered up with Alex so we could combine our talents and bring more musicians and friends together.”
Currently a lower strings specialist and assistant orchestra director at Stevens High School (which boasts one of the top high school orchestras in the country), Lee says being an educator actually helps enhance his performance skills.
“I teach during the day, but at night I become a musician,” he says. “(Music) is a craft, so you have to be proficient and play at a high level, and that in turn helps you teach.”
“I’m traveling up and down New Jersey, but I do it in moderation,” he says, adding that when classes are over at Stevens, he can just hop on a train and head to the city. And while Bordentown is a little south of the Big Apple action, he finds it ideal.
“We’ve lived here for about four years, and for us it’s perfect, right in the middle between New York and Philadelphia, and we love the community,” he says. “I choose when I can play in New York, for example at Birdland with Charu Suri. We’ve also played at Carnegie Hall, and more locally, at the Lyceum in Burlington.”
Lee and guitarist Abbad, another music teacher at Stevens High School, are working on a recording to be released later this year filled with traditional jazz, world music, and a few originals. The music draws from Lee’s Italian-American background, as well as Abbad’s Peruvian heritage.
The bassist/composer likes to borrow melodies and themes from the Italian folk songs he heard from his immigrant grandparents and blend them with his own compositional concepts. Lee reflects that the Peruvian sounds Abbad contributes have a similarity to the Italian songs.
Lee savors exploring the array of sounds of non-Western music, noting that, “As a bassist, I can play all styles of music, and I have my hand in a bunch of different (world music projects). It all helps you understand the life and culture of other countries.”
Growing up in the Toms River/Brick area, Lee hails from a musically enthusiastic Italian-American family, with roots in the Calabria region of Italy. Lee says his father played rock and roll/R&B trumpet and bass guitar, notably for parties at Rutgers. The story goes that his dad was good enough to be invited by a young Bruce Springsteen to join The Boss’ band, but Lee’s dad turned down the opportunity.
Professionally, Lee’s father taught math at Middlesex County Vocational Schools, then worked for the New Jersey State Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired. His mother was a home economics teacher in the Jackson Township school district.
His dad’s musicianship, as well as his collection of 1960s rock records, were a big influence on young Justin.
“My dad was playing Vanilla Fudge and stuff like that, and I was listening to Led Zeppelin and the Beatles when I was just a kid.” Lee says, adding that he picked up the electric bass in eighth grade. “My dad taught me some basic scales, and I just said to myself, ‘I want to be a musician.’ My parents were OK with it.”
Acoustic/upright bass came later, when Lee studied music education at Montclair State University. Thanks in large part to master teacher Linda McKnight, Montclair was where Lee really sharpened his skills and intensified his dedication to music.
“She’s very famous in the bass world,” he says. (Indeed, McKnight is part of the music faculties at the Manhattan School of Music, Columbia University, and New York University, in addition to Montclair State.)
Lee received a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education from Montclair, and a Masters of Music in Bass Performance from Rutgers University. Aside from McKnight, he praises such teachers as Kevin Brown, Tim Cobb, Lou Kosma, and Rufus Reid for their wisdom and mentorship.
Lee also names late jazz geniuses Charles Mingus and Jaco Pastorius as influences, as well as Israeli bassist Avishai Cohen and Philadelphia native bassist/bandleader/composer Christian McBride.
“He’s my role model, because he’s not only an amazing player and teacher, he’s a radio host and a producer, he’s so multi-faceted —and he also happens to be a really good person.”
Lee balances his time between the CPNJ and the Chelsea Symphony with the Bob Page Jazz Trio, and he is also co-owner of Allemande Ensembles, LLC.
In addition to his work on Broadway, Lee performed with the new off-Broadway musical “Camp” at Theatre Row, and has appeared on two episodes of “Mozart in the Jungle” on Amazon Prime. In the fall of 2021, Lee played the U.S. premiere of Jeff Beal’s Concerto for Six-String Electric Bass and Double Bass.
Lee’s wife, Elizabeth, is also a longtime performing musician and private cello teacher. The couple has two young daughters.
They were living near the Jersey Shore, and knew they needed to relocate, but were being urged by friends toward north Jersey, with its proximity to New York. The Lees discovered Bordentown by accident, driving around, exploring this side of the state. The “energy” from the town’s restaurants, independent shops, and a handful of friendly people they met really put the hook in them.
“We were out on a drive and found ourselves in Bordentown for the first time, and we thought it was awesome, we fell in love,” he says. “Then we moved here and learned the history and I was even more impressed.”
“I saw that Bordentown was near a train station, so it would be easy to get to New York and Philadelphia,” Lee says, imagining inviting his musical friends from the city to come on the train, visit and play in Bordentown. “It just seemed to us that the people who live here really care about their city, and there’s a warm, welcoming vibe.”
Justin Lee and Raul Abbad will perform as a duo at Old City Hall, 13 Crosswicks Street, Bordentown, Friday May 12, 6 p.m. Tickets cost $5 at the door, and all donations and fees will be used toward renovations and upgrades for Old City Hall. www.facebook.com/OldCityHallRestoration.
Collegium Musicum presents Bach on Hilltop Park, a free chamber music series, the last Sunday of the month, 6:30 p.m., Hilltop Park, near the intersection of 2nd and Bank streets, Bordentown. The first concert will be Sunday, May 28. 732-874-0871 and www.collegiummusicumnj.org.
For more on Justin Lee, visit www.justinleebass.com.
