Lisa's New Album project:
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A message from Lisa:
"I am in the process of making a non-gamelan album, which is long overdue for me as a serious singer-songwriter, guitarist and composer. It will be an eclectic album, as I go back to my music roots and share with you my compositions inspired by popular music genres as the blues, rock, jazz, funk, punk, and everything in between - the kind of world music that I grew up with. If you would like to support the making of my non-gamelan album, please check out its page on Bandcamp and listen to a demo of the first track called Something You Can’t Do Without. This song started when I was teasing Paul, who used to walk around without a cellphone :) I would love to get funding for it and the other 11-14 songs in this album, so I can employ “real musicians” to play the drums, bass, and other instruments like a horn section, etc." |
Click on the album cover below to listen to the demo track:
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Singer, songwriter and guitarist Lisa Graciano grew up in 3 South East Asian cities, spending some years in the alternative music scene of Manila. She lived in the Netherlands with her mother and played in the folk, jazz and blues music circuit of Amsterdam. Now in Oakland, she leads the gamelan-infused band Purnamasari. Lisa also performs her non-gamelan songs as Lisa Graciano & Friends with a line-up of seasoned musicians. At the Jazzschool in Berkeley, Lisa studies and performs well-known music along with a community of musician friends. She is a self-proclaimed citizen of the world and cultivates the Earth identity.
Lisa Graciano and Purnamasari performing the song Amazeum at the Indonesia and India in California Festival on April 19, 2025.
Video courtesy of Jody Diamond - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jody_Diamond More about Purnamasari here: www.purnamasarimusic.org
Connect with Lisa on Social Media:
Lisa Graciano & Jazzschool Friends on Quaranpalooza, May 31, 2025
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From Nov. 2022- July 2024, Lisa Graciano was part of an Asian American Pacific Islander women singer-songwriter group
PANDAN LEAF COLLECTIVE with Katherine Park, Mjoy, and Frances Ancheta May 9, 2024 as part of San Francisco International Arts Festival at El Rio in San Francisco. Video courtesy of William Lee and Susie Willemsz-Geeroms.
www.facebook.com/Quaranpalooza - Lisa appears regularly in Quaranpalooza Online Festival, a monthly livestream showcase of amazing musicians benefitting Bay Area Cancer Connections.
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Way back in Amsterdam:
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The Waterhole Amsterdam 2005
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Cafe 1614, Monnickendam 2006
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OTHER RECENT COLLABORATIONS:
Lisa has composed a music piece for a collection of photos of the Indisch Monument in The Hague, Netherlands, created by author Astrid Berg in 2022, to accompany her book Mixed Blood. More info: theindoproject.org/the-indisch-monument-in-the-hague-netherlands/
Lisa helped her mom Grace Rorimpandey in 2022, to self-publish her romance fiction book based on her childhood experiences of life in the former Dutch East Indies Minahasa, right after the revolution, when the region became part of Indonesia. More info at: gracerorimpandeybooks.weebly.com/
Lisa was one of the guest lecturers at Dee Spencer's Women in Jazz and World Music (2023) vocal training course for high school students. More info: www.sfiaf.org/women_in_jazz
Lisa's Le Gong and Amazeum album art covers created for the gamelan rock fusion band Purnamasari was part of the Art Gado Gado Exhibition 2025 at Gardensia Archipelago Designs in Berkeley, California. More info at www.artgadogado.com/
Upcoming concerts:
Sunday July 6, 2025 - Outer Sunset Farmers Market at 1994 37th Ave, San Francisco, California, (Lisa Graciano and Friends performs at 12PM - 2PM PDT sunsetmercantilesf.com/outer-sunset-farmers-market-mercantile/
Thursday May 29, 2025 - (Lisa performs with the New Orleans World Groove Ensemble from 7:10-7:40 PM PDT) Jazzschool Berkeley concerts.jazzschool.org/jazzschool-spring-festival-featuring-adult-music-program-student-performances
Saturday May 31, 2025 - (Lisa Graciano & Jazzschool Friends performs well-know music from 11:15-11:45 AM PDT) at the Jazzschool as part of Quaranpalooza Livestream Music Fest) www.eventbrite.com/e/may-2025-quaranpalooza-livestream-music-fest-tickets-1368056727499?aff=efbevent
Thursday May 29, 2025 - (Lisa performs with the New Orleans World Groove Ensemble from 7:10-7:40 PM PDT) Jazzschool Berkeley concerts.jazzschool.org/jazzschool-spring-festival-featuring-adult-music-program-student-performances
Saturday May 31, 2025 - (Lisa Graciano & Jazzschool Friends performs well-know music from 11:15-11:45 AM PDT) at the Jazzschool as part of Quaranpalooza Livestream Music Fest) www.eventbrite.com/e/may-2025-quaranpalooza-livestream-music-fest-tickets-1368056727499?aff=efbevent
Past concerts:
Saturday April 19, 2025 - (10:30AM -10PM PDT) Indonesia and India in California Festival (with Purnamasari performing at 1:30PM - 2:15PM PDT) indo-india-cal-festival.org/
Saturday March 29, 2025 - (Lisa performs with the Blues and Groove Ensemble from noon-1PM PDT) Jazzschool Berkeley concerts.cjc.edu/jazzschool-adult-music-program-student-performances
Monday October 14, 2024 - Zaal 100, Goeie Zin, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Saturday December 7, 2024 - (6PM PDT) Last Supper Party, San Francisco www.sfiaf.org/last_supper_party
Saturday December 14, 2024 - (2PM PDT) Jazzschool Winter Festival https://concerts.cjc.edu/jazzschool-winter-festival-features-adult-music-program-student-performances-5
Sunday September 15, 2024 - Arts & Eats Piedmont Ave Lollapalooza, Oakland, CA
Saturday August 31, 2024 - Quaranpalooza Online Festival, online!
Saturday July, 27, 2024 - Quaranpalooza Online Festival, online!
Sunday May 12, 2024 - (2PM-4PM) Purnamasari shared bill with Gamelan Sekar Jaya concert as part of San Francisco International Arts Festival 2024, Mission Cultural Center San Francisco, CA
Thursday May 9, 2024 - (6PM-7PM) Pandan Leaf Collective concert as part of San Francisco International Arts Festival 2024, El Rio, San Francisco, CA
Wednesday April 10, 2024 - (5:30AM-7:30PM) guest lecturer, Women in Jazz and World Music, San Francisco, CA
Friday March 29, 2024 - (10:30AM) duo concert, Oakland Health and Wellness, Oakland, CA
Saturday Oct. 28, 2023 - Pandan Leaf Collective at Chit Chat Cafe, Pacifica, CA
Saturday Oct. 29, 2023 - (11AM-4PM) Pandan Leaf Collective at Harvest Festival, UC Gill Tract Community Farm, Albany, CA
Sunday Oct. 29, 2023 - (8PM-10PM) Pandan Leaf Collective at Hotel Utah Saloon, 500 4th St., San Francisco, CA
Monday Sept. 25, 2023 - Zaal 100, Goeie Zin, singer-songwriters special, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Tuesday Sept. 26, 2023 - Café Langereis, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Sunday June 11, 2023 - Purnamasari Amazeum, Brava Studio, San Francisco, CA
Friday July 7, 2023 - Pandan Leaf Collective Asian American Songwriter Showcase, The Lost Church, San Francisco, CA
Friday July 29, 2023 - Pandan Leaf Collective at The Unofficial Alameda Porch Fest, 1242 Park Street, Alameda, CA
Wednesday May 31-June 28, 2023, Women in Jazz and World Music led by Prof. Dee Spencer, San Francisco, CA
Sunday April 23, 2023 - UC Gill Tract Community Farm B'Earth Day Event, Albany, CA
Saturday Aug. 27, 2022 - Quaranpalooza Online Festival, online! (my special Amsterdam performance!)
Monday Sept. 5, 2022 - Zaal 100, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Sunday, Oct. 9, 2022 - Art House Gallery, Berkeley, CA
Saturday Nov. 13, 2022 - Kapwa Gardens, San Francisco, CA
Saturday Dec 31, 2022 - Quaranpalooza Online Festival, online!
Saturday Jan. 7, 2023 - Last Supper Party, San Francisco, CA
Sunday Jan. 8, 2023 - Spotlight on Pan-Asian Artists: Virtual Fundraiser Concert for Folk Alliance International, online!
Saturday Feb. 11, 2023 - L 12 Loft Space Songwriter Showcase, Oakland, CA
Saturday Feb. 18, 2023 - Quaranpalooza Online Festival, online
Saturday March 25, 2023 - Quaranpalooza Online Festival, online
Saturday March 29, 2025 - (Lisa performs with the Blues and Groove Ensemble from noon-1PM PDT) Jazzschool Berkeley concerts.cjc.edu/jazzschool-adult-music-program-student-performances
Monday October 14, 2024 - Zaal 100, Goeie Zin, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Saturday December 7, 2024 - (6PM PDT) Last Supper Party, San Francisco www.sfiaf.org/last_supper_party
Saturday December 14, 2024 - (2PM PDT) Jazzschool Winter Festival https://concerts.cjc.edu/jazzschool-winter-festival-features-adult-music-program-student-performances-5
Sunday September 15, 2024 - Arts & Eats Piedmont Ave Lollapalooza, Oakland, CA
Saturday August 31, 2024 - Quaranpalooza Online Festival, online!
Saturday July, 27, 2024 - Quaranpalooza Online Festival, online!
Sunday May 12, 2024 - (2PM-4PM) Purnamasari shared bill with Gamelan Sekar Jaya concert as part of San Francisco International Arts Festival 2024, Mission Cultural Center San Francisco, CA
Thursday May 9, 2024 - (6PM-7PM) Pandan Leaf Collective concert as part of San Francisco International Arts Festival 2024, El Rio, San Francisco, CA
Wednesday April 10, 2024 - (5:30AM-7:30PM) guest lecturer, Women in Jazz and World Music, San Francisco, CA
Friday March 29, 2024 - (10:30AM) duo concert, Oakland Health and Wellness, Oakland, CA
Saturday Oct. 28, 2023 - Pandan Leaf Collective at Chit Chat Cafe, Pacifica, CA
Saturday Oct. 29, 2023 - (11AM-4PM) Pandan Leaf Collective at Harvest Festival, UC Gill Tract Community Farm, Albany, CA
Sunday Oct. 29, 2023 - (8PM-10PM) Pandan Leaf Collective at Hotel Utah Saloon, 500 4th St., San Francisco, CA
Monday Sept. 25, 2023 - Zaal 100, Goeie Zin, singer-songwriters special, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Tuesday Sept. 26, 2023 - Café Langereis, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Sunday June 11, 2023 - Purnamasari Amazeum, Brava Studio, San Francisco, CA
Friday July 7, 2023 - Pandan Leaf Collective Asian American Songwriter Showcase, The Lost Church, San Francisco, CA
Friday July 29, 2023 - Pandan Leaf Collective at The Unofficial Alameda Porch Fest, 1242 Park Street, Alameda, CA
Wednesday May 31-June 28, 2023, Women in Jazz and World Music led by Prof. Dee Spencer, San Francisco, CA
Sunday April 23, 2023 - UC Gill Tract Community Farm B'Earth Day Event, Albany, CA
Saturday Aug. 27, 2022 - Quaranpalooza Online Festival, online! (my special Amsterdam performance!)
Monday Sept. 5, 2022 - Zaal 100, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Sunday, Oct. 9, 2022 - Art House Gallery, Berkeley, CA
Saturday Nov. 13, 2022 - Kapwa Gardens, San Francisco, CA
Saturday Dec 31, 2022 - Quaranpalooza Online Festival, online!
Saturday Jan. 7, 2023 - Last Supper Party, San Francisco, CA
Sunday Jan. 8, 2023 - Spotlight on Pan-Asian Artists: Virtual Fundraiser Concert for Folk Alliance International, online!
Saturday Feb. 11, 2023 - L 12 Loft Space Songwriter Showcase, Oakland, CA
Saturday Feb. 18, 2023 - Quaranpalooza Online Festival, online
Saturday March 25, 2023 - Quaranpalooza Online Festival, online
Manila underground music scene back in the 80's.
Lisa's Musical History:
Lisa Graciano grew up in a family that moved back and forth between 3 cities, namely Jakarta, Manila and Singapore, which cultivated a sense of nomadic, cosmopolitan and worldly feel in her. Lisa has been in and out of bands, playing the underground circuits and making her own songs since her school days. Late 1989, she relocated to Amsterdam with her mother and youngest sister. Until 2002, next to work and her own family, she kept music on the side, making songs and playing with a local band in Den Helder.
"As a child," she said, "I was very open to all kinds of music, being exposed to music from different cultures, such as gamelan, krontjong, Chinese opera, Indian sitar music and tagalog folk songs like 'Anak' by Freddy Aguilar. At home, English was the spoken language and Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Everly Brothers, Connie Francis and the Beatles the music. I hummed my own tunes while playing with dolls and was fascinated by the sounds I got from my toy piano. At the age of 12 I picked up the acoustic guitar and I started to go through the self-study book. Before I knew it I could play chords. Next I'd sing my song for my sisters and brother: "We're going down, eat our lunch there...."
Lisa Graciano grew up in a family that moved back and forth between 3 cities, namely Jakarta, Manila and Singapore, which cultivated a sense of nomadic, cosmopolitan and worldly feel in her. Lisa has been in and out of bands, playing the underground circuits and making her own songs since her school days. Late 1989, she relocated to Amsterdam with her mother and youngest sister. Until 2002, next to work and her own family, she kept music on the side, making songs and playing with a local band in Den Helder.
"As a child," she said, "I was very open to all kinds of music, being exposed to music from different cultures, such as gamelan, krontjong, Chinese opera, Indian sitar music and tagalog folk songs like 'Anak' by Freddy Aguilar. At home, English was the spoken language and Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Everly Brothers, Connie Francis and the Beatles the music. I hummed my own tunes while playing with dolls and was fascinated by the sounds I got from my toy piano. At the age of 12 I picked up the acoustic guitar and I started to go through the self-study book. Before I knew it I could play chords. Next I'd sing my song for my sisters and brother: "We're going down, eat our lunch there...."
More Manila Rock n Roll
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In another interview she said,"Then there was music from the 60's, 70's and 80's on the radio and Latin music my Dad used to listen to. My own discoveries though, were triggered by the death of John Lennon in 1980. I had already been playing acoustic guitar and writing songs for a year. I remember being deeply affected when Lennon got shot and died just when I was getting into his music. My instinct was to get into the root of his music. Lennon was into rock n roll. The blues had a baby and they named it rock n roll. So that's how I got to the blues, from Muddy Waters to Bonnie Raitt and Memphis Minnie. And during my time in the Manila underground music scene, I got exposed to a lot of Bob Marley reggae, ska and punk. A musician friend gave me a tape with world music from Olatunji and Osibisa. I remember my sister and I used to listen to that tape for hours."
At the suggestion of her parents, Lisa studied some music after finishing Secondary School in Singapore and got diplomas in Grade 4 Piano-playing and Grade 5 Theory of Music from the Associated Board of The Royal Schools of Music. Still, the guitar was her first instrument of choice and ever since she started playing it, she has learnt from other guitar-players and loves experimenting with open-tuning, finger-picking and slide technique. |
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After returning to Amsterdam, Lisa did a lot of semi-acoustic performances as a solo artist in 2004 and co-assisted the Blues and Bluesy Open Session held every Wednesday night at Cafe Sappho in Amsterdam. After that, she helped organize and was host of a semi-acoustic show called Fire Valentine on Valentine's night in 2005, at Pre Cafe, in Amsterdam's Leidseplein area. She then went on to host showcases for singer-songwriters every month in that same cafe as well as in Cafe Ponteneur in East Amsterdam. In the summer of 2005, even though she did many shows with her new band as well as solo performances, she also took the opportunity to become a weekly band session-leader for two months in a row at Maloe Melo, a well-known cafe in the heart of Amsterdam. She closed the year with the birth of an EP entitled 'The Singles' containing 4 songs. It got good reviews and copies of the cd were sold on CdBaby.com and during performances.
Amsterdam in the 90's
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The highlight of 2006 was the change of musicians in her band, again teaming up with some of the finest in Amsterdam and not only playing shows but also recording some tracks which were included in the 'Citygirl Blues' album released in the late summer of that year. The songs in this cd reflect various influences from country, gamelan, funk, pop and rock injected into her bluesy style. Some lyrics to her music convey emotions felt from a woman's perspective while others have a one-world theme.
From 2007 up to now, her journey continues as a performing singer-songwriter, setting up her base in California, playing in different cities, inspiring and being inspired by people and connecting with them. Her new CD album entitled ‘Seeds Of Life’ and current live performances are sure signs of her interest in playing various musical instruments, such as the flute but also non-western instruments like the suling and gong. This 2013 album is the start of her collaborations with multi-talented musicians from the Bay Area and beyond, giving food for the soul to everyone who is hungry for cross-cultural, cross-genre music. |
Back in 2006, live on radio KCSN Los Angeles
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Cross- Cultural in Berkeley 2013
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