Born: November 21, 1954 Primary Instrument: Vibraphone
Kathy Kelly has been playing the vibes professionally since 1979 when she made her debut performing in Chicago-area jazz clubs.
A Different Vibe is Kelly's debut CD featuring twelve original jazz compositions. Featured along with Kelly on the CD are guitarist John McLean, bassist Dan DeLorenzo, and drummer Jim Widlowski.
A review in Cadence magazine says of Kelly, “She stretches out with a fluid improvisational style that combines coolness with intricate details.” Jazzreview.com praises the CD, saying, “This is a spunky, lively, feel-good collection of original songs... A Different Vibe is a winner, excellent.” Kelly uses her original jazz compositions to showcase the vibes and lend the group a distinctive sound. Influences from Jazz artists (Thelonious Monk, Eddie Harris, Gary Burton) as well as world music (African, Brazilian, Latin and Middle Eastern) can be heard in her varied compositions. Kelly's tunes have a strong tie with musical tradition; listeners often comment that the tunes “sound familiar” on the first listening.
Besides performing with her groups Vibrafon and the Kathy Kelly Quintet, she performs with Tudo de Bom, vocalist Hinda Hoffman, and Steve Hashimoto's jazz group Mothra. Kelly has performed at the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland with the Chiacago State University Jazz Ensemble, and has twice entertained audiences at the Chicago Jazz Festival with her quartet. Kelly is the founder and artistic director of the Chicago Jazz Composers Collective, sponsor of monthly jazz composers concerts at the Green Mill jazz club in Chicago
“...she stretches out with a fluid improvisational style that combines coolness with intricate details, while the quartet’s timbres are as familiar as old friends.”.... “Highly recommended and eclectic”. Cadence Magazine
“This is a spunky, lively, feel-good collection of original songs by Kathy Kelly, and it is something you can play any time and receive enjoyment from listening to it”....”A Different Vibe is a winner. Excellent.” jazzreview.com
“Each cut has a musical message to deliver different from the track that preceded it and all that follow. The one absolute is the resonance created by Kelly’s four-mallet style.” All Music Guide, www.allmusic.com
“Kathy’s music has a positive happy feel that will improve your day and bear repeated listening.” Jazz Institute of Chicago
Primary Instrument:
Vibraphone
Location:
Chicago, IL
Willing to teach:
Beginners
