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From teacher to student and back again, Lee has learned from and played with the best

By Keith Ryan Cartwright

PROVIDED

Singer/songwriter Amos Lee will play a show Monday night at The Music Farm.

Like many, Amos Lee graduated from college and found employment as an elementary school teacher. That is, until he became his own one and only student.

It wasn't until he was attending the University of South Carolina that the Philadelphia native started playing the acoustic guitar, and it was then that he began to immerse himself in the history of Miles Davis after finding a job at a jazz record store.

"I would listen to eight hours of music every day," he said. "That was sort of a crushing blow to my ego, but it was an amazing inspiration."

No longer was it about teaching others. Instead, it became more about his self-discovery of music as a form of communication and storytelling.

In just over three years, the singer-songwriter self-released a pair of EP's before emerging on the national landscape with a trio of albums: "Amos Lee" (2005), "Supply and Demand" (2006) and "Last Days at the Lodge" (2008).

He cultivated a following for his amalgamation of jazz, soul and folk.

His latest record was produced by Don Was and aside from Lee on guitar, it features the stellar musicianship of Doyle Bramhall Jr. (Eric Clapton), Spooner Oldham (Neil Young, Aretha Franklin, Drive-By Truckers) and Pino Palladino (The Who, D'Angelo).

Having just released "Lodge" late last month, the 30-year-old is already on the road and makes his way to Charleston this week for a show at The Music Farm.

Touring is nothing new to Lee. Ever since he quit his job as an elementary school teacher he's been in the night clubs, when not touring with the likes of Bob Dylan and Noah Jones, honing his craft as a live performer.

Lee's break came three years ago when he was tapped by Jones as a supporting artist on her widely successful tour in 2005. Soon thereafter, he toured with Dylan and another influence of his, John Prine.

"It's always good to work," he said in a Rolling Stone interview.

Initially, he was mischaracterized as a male counterpart to Jones, but has since drawn comparisons to Tracy Chapman. Lee, however, especially with his subsequent albums, has received his share of criticism.

A number of critics have written that in spite of his strong vocal presence, which is often compared to Al Green, he has forgone his strong suit in favor of trying to establish himself as a songwriter.

In either case, the pupil remains a student of his craft.

Keith Ryan Cartwright is a Colorado-based freelance entertainment journalist.