JULIE
KELLY is one
of the most acclaimed vocalists on the West Coast jazz scene. The
veteran singer is now releasing her ninth album, FREEDOM JAZZ
DANCE, an eclectic collection of 11 lesser done tunes
including jazz, pop, and Brazilian standards, as well as one
original. FREEDOM JAZZ DANCE follows her 2014 release Happy
to Be. All About Jazz says, “Her supple and well-trained
pipes can match wits with horns, effortlessly traveling the curves
and contours of this music, but she never fails to also pay great
attention to the meaning of lyrics and the emotional direction of a
song.”
Kelly
is known for being one of the hippest song stylists on the scene. She
does not need vocal gymnastics to draw you in. With her naturally
laid-back feel and great phrasing, she can swing like a horn or plumb
the emotive depths of a ballad. She also has a special affinity for
Brazilian music.
Kelly
grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area, where she and her twin sister
Kate learned to love music when they sang in choirs in Catholic
school. The two of them formed a folk singing act in the 1960s and
spent several years playing in coffee shops and hootenannies, which
were popular at the time. They performed as the opening act for
Peter, Paul and Mary and eventually caught the attention of young
Bill Graham, the legendary rock impresario who was at the very
beginning of his career. Graham liked their act and invited them to
sing at the Fillmore Auditorium
The
late 1960s and early 70s were heady times, when young people were
exploring new avenues of expression and often took to the road,
seeking new experiences and alternative lifestyles. In 1971, with
just a few dollars in her pocket, Kelly packed a backpack and took
her guitar to pursue new adventures in South America. Her adventures
began when she and a friend flew down to Mexico City. From there she
took buses and boats down the Amazon, visiting several countries
before landing in Rio de Janeiro.
Kelly
spent a remarkable year in Brazil. She landed a regular gig at a
café, where they wanted an American singer to sing American songs.
Carlos Lyra, the great singer and composer, heard her sing and
befriended her. Lyra brought her home to meet his family and
introduced her to legendary musicians like Milton Nascimento and Luis
Eca. When she returned from Brazil, she had not yet shaken her
wanderlust and wound up in New York City, where she immersed herself
in the city’s vibrant music scene, where she heard great artists like
Jim Hall, Ron Carter, and Kenny Burrell.
She
returned to the San Francisco Bay area in 1980 and decided to
dedicate herself fulltime to a music career. She became a member of
John Handy's World Music Ensemble, one of the earliest world music
groups. The ensemble featured acts like an African dancer and a koto
player. Kelly played guitar and sang Brazilian music.
Kelly
moved to Los Angeles in 1980 and soon began her recording career,
releasing her debut record, We're on Our Way, on Pausa
Records. She has been a favorite with many of the top Los Angeles
musicians and has worked with luminaries such as Benny Green, Nat
Adderley, Ray Brown, John Clayton, Ross Tompkins, Bobby Ojeda, Gary
Foster, Alan Broadbent, among many others. Leonard Feather included
her in his “Encyclopedia of Jazz.”
For
FREEDOM JAZZ DANCE, Kelly brought on board some of the
leading lights of the younger generation of Southern California jazz
artists, including pianist JOSH NELSON, who arranged all but
one of the songs, guitarist LARRY KOONSE, bassist LUCA
ALEMANNO, drummer DAN SCHNELLE, percussionist AARON
SERFATY, saxophonist and flutist DANNY JANKLOW, and
guitarist ANDREW SYNOWIEC, who plays on one number. The album
was co-produced by Nelson and Kelly’s old friend, BARBARA BRIGHTON,
who also produced Kelly’s previous album, Happy to Be.
Kelly
opens the album with “Sunday in New York,” her homage to the time she
spent in the city. It was a significant time of her life, which she
honors with her painting of Central Park that graces the back cover.
Kelly loves the feel and message of Gregory Porter’s “Take Me to the
Alley.” It makes her think of Pope Francis, who, in his early days as
head of the church used to go down to the subway in Rome to mingle
with the common people.
Kelly
learned some Brazilian Portuguese during her stay in Rio and often
sings Brazilian songs in their original language. She sings two
numbers in Portuguese, “A Ra” (The Frog), a spritely tune that is
quite is popular in Brazil, and Edu Lobo’s “Ponteio.” She also sings
“Al Otro Lado del Rio” (The Other Side of the River) in Spanish. The
song is from the soundtrack of the 2004 film “The Motorcycle
Diaries,” and received the Academy Award for Best Original Song.
Kelly
wrote two arrangements for FREEDOM JAZZ DANCE,
including the title track, “Freedom Jazz Dance,” on which she recites
the poetry of Jon Hendricks, and a sweetly gentle version of Gordon
Lightfoot’s “In the Early Morning Rain,” accompanied by Larry Koonse
and Andrew Synowiec on guitar. Kelly was attracted to the
vulnerability and tenderness of Sting’s ballad, “A Practical
Arrangement,” and co-wrote “River People” with Brazilian-American
singer Catina DeLuna to honor her experiences on the Amazon River.
Kelly
can really swing, as evidenced on the Bob Dorough and Fran Landesman
tune, “Nothing Like You.” “Funny How Time Slips Away/Hello Like
Before” is a mashup of songs by Bill Withers and Willie Nelson. She
introduces the song with a few bars from the Withers’ song because
she felt that it enhanced the story of the song.
Julie
Kelly is known for her refined musical sensibilities and impeccable
taste in choosing songs that cross musical genres. With its hip
arrangements, top-notch musicians, and, of course, Kelly’s velvety
tones, FREEDOM JAZZ DANCE is another beguiling project
from the seasoned and esteemed vocalist.
# # #
FREEDOM
JAZZ DANCE will
be released on February 8, 2024 and will be available at Juliekelly.bandcamp.com
and on all streaming platforms.
Online:
Juliekellyjazz.com
Facebook.com/JulieKellyMusic
@Juliekellymusic
(IG/Twitter)
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