Dee Carstensen

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Dee Carstensen (born February 18, 1956 in Maryland) is a New York City-based Pop/alternative harpist, singer and songwriter.

1 Early years
2 Being Extraordinary Singer-Songwriter
3 Patch of Blue
4 Impact on Harp Music
5 Discography
6 External links

[edit] Early years

Being the daughter of Professor Dr. Edwin L. Carstensen, a biomedical engineer and one of the world's leading authorities on ultrasound in University of Rochester, NY, Dee was influenced by her father with his music talents on piano and clarinet. Dee and her four siblings began to take music lessons, with Dee started on piano first.

At the age of eight, Dee was selected as one of only five children tapped to study harp with a classical harpist from the New York Philharmonic Orchestra by the Eastman School of Music's experimental program. Despite the program being only one year, Dee studied the harp for nine years, which had made the root of her mastery of harp playing, as did her growing attraction to singing and songwriting. The latter even attracted her away from conventional Conversatory path and launched the new way of singer-songwriter role.

[edit] Being Extraordinary Singer-Songwriter

Dee's talent was discovered by renowned vibist Mike Mainieri (later become her husband in 1993) on her singing and songwriting talents. The debut album Beloved One was released on 1993 with distinguish guitar work of Mark Knopfler of Dire Straits. Mark had commented her as "the successor of Joni Mitchell".

Her second album, Regarding the Soul 1995, marked her integration of singing, songwriting and harp playing more prominently to the forefront. Her rendition of Jimi Hendrix's Angel had become one of her signature songs.

The Map 1998 had ever seen the well collaboration of her and Mike, as show in the song Be My Man for expressing her love to her husband whom she calls "my biggest musical influence". Their first daughter, Ruby Anna, was born at November 19, 2000.

Besides her role of singer-songwriter, Dee also recorded children album Can You Hear Lullaby 2001 with a number of artists. The disc features guest vocalists Everett Bradley, Curtis King and Julie Dansky along with instrumental performances by her husband, jazz vibraphonist Mike Mainieri.

[edit] Patch of Blue

After 7 years of her last solo release The Map, Dee went back to studio and recorded her 4th solo album Patch of Blue in April 2004. The whole album was completed at mid 2005 and the album would be released at November 2005.

The main difference between this album and her previous solo albums is that all 8 songs are all written with music and lyrics by Dee herself except Fly Away whose music is co-written with her husband Mike Mainieri. Secondly, there has entirely no guitarist appeared throughout the album. Instead, Dee's harp and vocal is very significant here, together with Tosca String Quartet [1] and several woodwind players. Also Mike's vibraphone is also the focus of the album.

Although the album has not released yet at the time of writing, a critic has commented that " This is one hell of a recording with musical and vocal performances that are superb, with lyrics that mean something and lay perfectly within the track. I hear traces of Norah Jones, Jonatha Brooke, Shawn Colvin, and Andreas Vollenweider (Harp), which ain't shabby company to be in. But to me, Dee takes it up a notch and delivers a feel and sound that you can "wrap your arms around". Better said, the music wraps its arms around you. She just makes me feel good. Her new CD, Patch of Blue, contains eight remarkable compositions, with songs that are honest, heart-felt, and emotion-laden. This is honest, “from the soul music” performed by someone who has been in places we all know about but are sometimes reticent to share." (Bruce Bressack, HippoPress)

[edit] Impact on Harp Music

Dee had completely changed the stereotype of harp in the pop music. She had pioneered the role of harp music in pop and alternative music and her signature harp and vocal sounds become the beloved from her fans. She was the first pop singer participating Lyon and Healy Jazz and Pop Harp Festival in Year 1999, shared the same stage with jazz harpists Park Stickney, Deborah Henson-Conant.

Dee plays Lyon and Healy electric harp in her recordings and live performances.