Leah Tysse

July 21, 2009

Leah Tysse, vocals (Taj Mahal, Michael Franti)
Mike Blankenship, keys (Lauryn Hill, Lyrics Born)
Cedricke Dennis, guitar (Ledisi, Narada Michael Walden, Braxton Brothers)
Eric Smith, bass (Lalah Hathaway, Legally Blynd, Rhianna, Fantasia)
Ronnie Smith, drums (Tommy Castro, Ledisi, Goapele, Gospel Hummingbirds)
Lynette Williams, Hammond B3/keys (Will.i.am, Mariah Carey, Ashlee Simpson)
Sarah Williams, background vocals (Ledisi)

8pm show
$10/advance
$14/day of show

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Connecting music and spirituality:  Leah Tysse makes her debut @ Yoshi’s SF and donates 20% of proceeds to Glide Memorial Church.

Leah Tysse makes her debut at Yoshi’s San Francisco on Tuesday, July 21 for a not-to-be-missed performance at 8:00PM.  Joining Tysse is her world-class band comprised of musicians who have played with everyone from Lauryn Hill to Rihanna.  When you see her perform, listen to the songs and hear that voice, you will be convinced that Leah Tysse's arrival brings something fresh and unexpected to music today. Tysse, an awarding winning songwriter and performer, features a rich, sultry voice with emotion that transcends her years. Leah Tysse is an original American voice.

Tysse writes impressively and produces original, soulful music that continually takes her audiences on emotional journeys to the heart of rhythm-and-blues.  Audiences and peers have compared Tysse’s voice and stage presence to such artists as Aretha Franklin, Joss Stone and Susan Tedeschi, yet she maintains a fresh originality that sets her apart from virtually anyone currently performing.

“Boy, that Leah has got a beautiful voice!”  ~Frank Somerville, KTVU Channel 2

Hailing from Madison, Wisconsin, Tysse (pronounced TY-See) was firmly rooted in American Roots music by her father, who taught her the cannon of folk songs while strumming his guitar.  Tysse’s first regular job was singing classic American songs every night in a Paris nightclub for six months.  She missed the 24/7 culture of The States and moved back to the U.S. in 1998, landing in The Bay Area.

Since her arrival to The Bay, Tysse has formed different bands and worked with a wide array of musicians and artists from Taj Mahal to Michael Franti. For the past ten years, Leah has also been a featured soloist in the Glide Memorial Church Choir.  Tysse was “moved to join Glide Memorial Church and its choir by the amazingly inclusive message of The Reverend Cecil Williams, the lively community of faith, and the incredible/unparalleled service that Glide provides to the homeless/marginalized community of San Francisco.”  Tysse truly understands the importance of giving back to the community and is donating a portion of the proceeds from her Yoshi’s SF performances to Glide Memorial Church.

“When I can, I do these kind of donations. I really want what I do to benefit others somehow.” ~Leah Tysse

Tysse quickly earned the reputation of being an undeniably powerful presence on stage and a respected bandleader, taking her band to venues across the country. The high level of musicianship in the Bay Area has allowed her to easily make her musical vision a reality.  Her first album “Real Good Fire” released in 2007 was a big success receiving song-writing awards from Billboard Magazine and airplay across the country and in Europe. 

“R&B/Blues winner Leah Tysse and her smoking hot band charged through her original ‘You Don’t Scare Me’ with impressive authority.  It was a lesson in the Blues, as they say; and a fine one at that.  Her voice, her songs, and her band are making huge strides in their state of California and beyond.  DO NOT miss this girl when their bus rolls into your town.” 
~Official Billboard Press Release-Post Billboard World Song Awards Show

Leah Tysse’s sophomore album, due to be released later this year, features an accomplished line-up of players and a new soulful collection of 14 tracks, 11 of which are original compositions written by Leah Tysse, in collaboration with Lynette Williams, Sundra Manning, Mike Blankenship and Jim Moore.    According to Tysse, the impetus for the sophomore CD began in the early stages of working with Mike Blankenship and Lynette Williams, a collaboration she says was “made in heaven.” 

“The songs came together so magically.  This album represents the sounds that are totally authentic to who I am musically, and although I am very proud of my first album, these new songs are me to the core.  They have been brewing for several years and have come together more perfectly than I ever could have dreamed of.  They are soulful, emotional, spirited and lyrical.” ~Leah Tysse

When asked to describe Leah Tysse and her band, Leah’s response: 
“Think Brand New Heavies meets Nikka Costa with a heavy dose of The JBs.” 


www.LeahTysse.com