Primary Instrument: Trumpet
Greg Kelley began studying the trumpet at age 10. He attended the Peabody Conservatory of Music in Baltimore, where in addition to studying the Conservatory curriculum, he also immersed himself in a deep study of avant- garde and experimental music, eventually coming to the conclusion that his musical focus fell outside of the academic sphere. After his studies, Kelley moved back to his native Massachusetts, quickly insinuated himself into the local avant-garde circles and soon commenced a period of intense travel and collaboration, bringing him across the United States, throughout Europe, Japan and South America.
He has appeared on over 60 albums and despite a more limited travel schedule, he still manages to play in a number of groups including Nmperign (as abstract improvisatory duo and as horn section for ex-Galaxie 500-ers Damon & Naomi), Heathen Shame, the undr quartet and the BSC, among others.
Other collaborators have included Jandek, Keiji Haino, Donald Miller (Borbetomagus), Anthony Braxton, Kevin Drumm, Christian Wolff, Pauline Oliveros, Joe McPhee and Lionel Marchetti. In addition to playing the trumpet,
Kelley has also recorded music using electronics and musique concrete elements, sometimes utilizing trumpet based sound sources, other times not.
--Gordon Marshall, All About Jazz
Nmperign, Ommatidia (Intransitive, 2010)
Hair Police, Our Minds Problem Vol. 4, quadruble cassette (self- produced, 2009)
Weasel Walter, Apocalyptic Paranoia (Gaffer, 2009)
Life Partners, Men Are Talking, LP (Ride The Snake, 2009)
Alex Neilson/Greg Kelley, Passport to Satori, LP (Goldenlab, 2009)
Anthony Braxton, Nine Compositions 2003, DVD (Rastascam, 2008)
Greg Kelley, Self-Hate Index (Semata, 2008)
Greg Kelley, Religious Electronics, LP (No Fun, 2008)
Cold Bleak Heat, Simitu (Family Vineyard, 2007)
Nmperign/Jason Lescalleet, Love Me Two Times, 2CD (Intransitive, 2006)
Greg Kelley, One hour as something that didn't turn out the way I intended it to (I'm not Anti-Music, Music's Anti-Me), CDr (Chocolate Monk, 2006)
Heathen Shame, Speed the Parting Guest(Twisted Village, 2005)
Axel Doerner, Greg Kelley, Andrea Neumann, Bhob Rainey, Thanks, Cash (Sedimental, 2004)
Nmperign, We Devote Every Effort TO Offer You The Best That You Deserve To Have For Your Enjoyment, 2LP (Siwa, 2003)
Nmperign/Gunter Muller, More Gloom, More Light (Rossbin, 2003)
Greg Kelley, If I never meet you in this life, let me feel the lack (Rossbin, 2002)
Bhob Rainey/Greg Kelley, Nmperign (Selektion, 2001)
Greg Kelley/Jason Lescalleet, Forlorn Green (Erstwhile, 2001)
Greg Kelley, Trumpet (Meniscus, 2000)
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