While studying music at San Francisco State University and the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, Lisa began developing strong roots in straight-ahead jazz performing early on with some of the most talented and creative jazz trios and quartets in the Bay Area.

Premiere pianist and arranger Merrill Hoover who accompanied vocalists such as Anita O’Day, Ernestine Anderson, and Chris Connor became Lisa’s first vocal coach, mentor and accompanist enabling her to build a solid repertoire while instilling the essential qualities that makes a great performer. Developing strong roots in straight-ahead jazz, Lisa performed with Merrill at many venues around the Bay Area in trios that included jazz heavyweights such as Harold Jones drummer for Sarah Vaughn, Donald Bailey, saxophonist Benny Miller, and bassist Jeff Chambers.

Years later she broadened her learning and experience by including a variety of lyrical music from Brazil. She attributes a natural style and tasteful repertoire in Bossa Nova by performing and recording with legendary Brazilian pianist Marcos Silva, world-class drummer Celso Alberti, bassist Gary Brown, and guitarist Ricardo Peixoto who helped to instill her fundamental Brazilian “swing” before moving to Brazil to study, perform, and explore its many diverse musical rhythms and styles.