Lee Townsend
Lee Townsend is an American independent music producer, curator, artist manager and co-owner of Songtone, specializing in recordings of singer-songwriters, contemporary composers, improvising musicians, and cross-cultural musical collaborations. He is also a psychotherapist in private practice in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Background and career
Since 1983, Townsend has produced albums by Bill Frisell, John Scofield, Loudon Wainwright III, Kelly Joe Phelps, Rinde Eckert, Vinicius Cantuaria, Shweta Jhaveri, Dino Saluzzi, Gabriela Anders, Petra Haden, Viktor Krauss, Elvis Costello/Bill Frisell, Choying Drolma & Steve Tibbetts, Pat Metheny/John Scofield, Joey Baron, Charlie Hunter, T. J. Kirk, Dave Holland, Hank Jones, John Abercrombie, Jerry Granelli, Marc Johnson, Jonah Smith, Noe Venable, Crooked Still, Paul Dresher, Marty Ehrlich, Dusan Bogdanovic, Paul Sprawl, Blue Rubies, and Stephen Yerkey.Townsend is a member of the cooperative group, Floratone, with Bill Frisell, Matt Chamberlain, and Tucker Martine. He has collaborated on motion picture soundtracks and theater music. Additionally, he has been producer of the Century of Song program for the Ruhr Triennale Arts festival in Germany, Vice President of Artists and Repertoire for Verve/Polygram Records in New York, General Manager and Director of United States Operations at ECM Records in New York, Producer of Music Programming at the Montalvo Arts Center in Saratoga, California, and a staff producer at National Public Radio affiliate, KCRW-FM in Santa Monica, California.
Townsend graduated from the University of California, Santa Cruz, majoring in psychology and earned his graduate degree in psychology from The Wright Institute, Berkeley.
Discography
Bill FrisellLookout for Hope Before We Were Born This Land Go West: Music for the Films of Buster Keaton The High Sign/One Week Quartet Gone, Just Like a Train Good Dog, Happy Man Ghost Town Blues Dream With Dave Holland and Elvin Jones The Willies The Intercontinentals Further East/Further West Download-onlyEast/West Frisell/Carter/Motian Download-onlyBill Frisell, Ron Carter, Paul Motian Floratone History, Mystery All Hat, Disfarmer Beautiful Dreamers Lágrimas Mexicanas Sign of Life All We Are Saying Floratone II Big Sur Guitar in the Space Age! When You Wish Upon a Star Music IS Harmony Valentine FOURBill Frisell/Elvis CostelloDeep Dead Blue The Sweetest Punch
Petra Haden and Bill FrisellPetra Haden and Bill Frisell
Carrie RodriguezWe Still Love Our Country Love and Circumstance Give Me All You Got Lola
Kelly Joe PhelpsSlingshot Professionals Tap the Red Cane Whirlwind
Loudon Wainwright IIIHere Come the Choppers
John ScofieldHand Jive Groove Elation A Go Go Bump
John Scofield/Pat MethenyI Can See Your House from Here
Rinde EckertFinding My Way Home Do the Day Over Story In, Story Out The Natural World
Shweta JhaveriAnahita
Ani Choying Drolma/Steve TibbettsSelwa
Dino Saluzzi/Anthony Cox/David FriedmanRios
GabrielaDetras del Sol Viento Rojo El Viaje
Vinicius CantuáriaVinicius Lagrimas Mexicanas
Viktor KraussFar from Enough II
Dave HollandTriplicate
Hank Jones/Dave Holland/Billy HigginsThe Oracle
John AbercrombieGetting There
Joey BaronDown Home We'll Soon Find Out
Charlie HunterBing, Bing, Bing! Ready...Set...Shango Natty Dread Return of the Candyman Friends Seen and Unseen
T. J. KirkT. J. Kirk If Four Was One
Marc JohnsonRight Brain Patrol The Sound of Summer Running
Jerry GranelliA Song I Thought I Heard Buddy Sing Another Place News from the Street Broken Circle Sand Hills Reunion Dance Hall
Crooked StillShaken By a Low Sound
Jonah SmithJonah Smith
Doug WambleDoug Wamble
Dusan BogdanovicEarly to Rise Yano Mori
Quentin DujardinDistances
David Soler DengaBotanicas
Kalaban CouraKalaban Coura
Blame SallyNight of 1000 Stars
Noe VenableNo Curses Here
Real Vocal String QuartetFour Little Sisters
Paul SprawlBlue Suitcase
Will BernardMedicine Hat
PotholeDirty Picnic
Stephen YerkeyConfidence, Man
Zubot and DawsonChicken Scratch
Laughing StockUnderskin
Fred Hersch/Bill FrisellSongs We Know
Living Daylights'
- ''Electric Rosary''