Since moving to Philadelphia five years ago, Jonathan Kelly has become an established bass player in the down town jazz scene. At the young age of 22, Jonathan has already performed and recorded with such Philadelphia jazz legends as Jimmy Bruno, John Swana, and Richie Cole.
Jonathan Kelly was born in Boston and lived most of his life in Maine where he began playing piano at the age of 10. By the time he was 17, the instrument changed to electric bass and a year after that, he began to play acoustic bass in his high school orchestra. Being in Maine provided Jonathan the opportunity to play with such jazz icons as trumpeter Don Stratton (Woody Herman Band), guitarist Gary Wiftner and also the experience of recording his first CD (with Ukranian guitarist Oleg Galanin) at the young age of 19. After one year at the University of Maine, where renowned guitarist, composer, and author Tom Hoff man called him, "one of the most talented, young musicians I've had the pleasure to work with", Jonathan left for Philadelphia to continue his studies at the University of the Arts.
After two years of study with bassist Craig Thomas, Jonathan, with a calendar full of gigs, left school and began to focus on composing and arranging for his own band. The Jonathan Kelly Trio, a replica of the classic jazz quartet of the 50's and 60's minus the piano, meshes the intelligence of modern jazz with the energy and listenability of R&B.
Now studying with Philadelphia Orchestra member Douglas Mapp, Jonathan Kelly remains as busy as ever. The past year has found Jonathan playing with Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra members Wessell Anderson and Wyclef Gordon; composing an 11-minute suite for modern dance (premiered Dec. 10 and 11th at Philadelphia' Drake Theater); and releasing his debut CD of original music: DAG!
