From Mild to Wild

March is National Women’s History Month! We’ll be sharing stories about some of the most accomplished women in jazz, both nationally and locally. We hope you enjoy this tribute to the women of jazz. 

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Lenore Raphael was born in New York City in 1942 and trained as a classical pianist. She studied at Manhattan’s renowned High School of Music and Art and received a BA in music from New York University. A teen prodigy, she performed a classical concert at Carnegie Hall. Her career began as a music teacher – something she has continued to do all her life – but after hearing jazz musician Oscar Peterson in concert one night, the proverbial flip switched. Move over classical, jazz had captured Raphael’s heart.

She went to work learning this new genre with passion and commitment, studying diligently under Barry Harris and Mike Longo. Before long she was performing with the likes of Lionel Hampton, Illinois Jacquet and Clark Terry. When Oscar Peterson passed away, Raphael composed a musical tribute, called “Blues for OP,” which premiered at a memorial concert for him at the International Association for Jazz.

While still continuing to teach, Raphael found her jazz stride with relative ease. She often recorded with bassist Hilliard Greene and drummer Rudy Lawless. Some of her most popular albums include “The Whole Truth,” “Reflections,” “A Beautiful Friendship,” and “Class Act.” Grammy nominated, she was nicknamed  “the blond ambassador for Steinway.”

She took seriously her mission to introduce the next generation to this musical genre and created a program specifically for elementary schools students about the history of jazz – a model program that is still used in curricula around the country. She also developed a book-and-tape series called “Scat Cat’s Adventures in Jazzland” and a jazz theory book for senior students.

Additionally, she has taken her love of jazz to radio with a one-hour weekly program called “Lenore Raphael and Jazzspot.” Broadcast over purejazzradio.org, the format is simple: Raphael interview guests — and often things get very lively on the piano.

Despite her classical training, Raphael’s place in the jazz world is now firmly established. Said jazz critic John Gilbert of AllAboutJazz.com, Raphael is “simply one of the pianists in the jazz mainstream today.”