| Juliet
Kelly
@ the Barbican
17 November 2006
Click an image to enlarge.
Biography
UK based, Juliet Kelly discovered her talent for singing while
studying for an economics degree at university, but it would take
Kelly some time before she found her true voice and musical identity.
"Whilst a lot of my peers were recording albums of standards,
I delayed, waiting and hoping to find my own voice and to record
an album of my original material. This resulted in my debut album
"Aphrodite's Child". Although I love jazz standards and
often include several in my live performances, I wanted to share
my own perspective of the beauty, freedom and expression of jazz-influenced
music - music that can appeal to a younger and more diverse audience
as well as to more mainstream jazz fans."
Kelly’s acclaimed debut album “Aphrodite’s Child”,
released in 2003, features some of the UK’s finest Jazz musicians
such as Tony Kofi (saxophone) Mike Gorman (piano) Tom Barlow (acoustic
bass) and Seb Roachford (drums).
“Delicious Chemistry”(released 2005) is a fine collection
of Kelly’s self penned laid back jazz grooves. This album
also features many of Kelly’s earlier collaborators such as
Seb Roachford and Tom Barlow, as well as invaluable input from Australian
guitarist Carl Orr, Kate Williams, Omar Puente, Roger Beaujolais,
trumpeter Byron Wallen and award winning saxophonist and composer
Courtney Pine.
As well as the above recording achievements, Kelly’s live
performances have also raised an eyebrow or two after supporting
artists such as Ahmad Jamal, Lonnie Liston Smith, Nat Adderley,
Hugh Masekela, Carmen Lundy and Ron Carter.
Kelly has worked with many high profile UK musicians including
Gary Crosby, Seb Rochford, Tony Kofi and Talvin Singh with whom
she performed in Courtney Pine's band for a live broadcast for the
BBC's Jazz Britannia season at the Barbican in 2005. This was followed
by two successful sell-out concerts in Russia and her debut US performance
that took place at Sweet Rhythm jazz club (formerly the legendary
Sweet Basil's) in New York.
Review
Meeting Ms Kelly and listening to her soothing tones at her Barbican
gig was therapy for my ears, mind and spirit. The 2006 London Jazz
Festival was a commercial success for promoters, musicians and venues
alike. Travelling too and from the many venues was a nightmare for
most ‘from a working perspective’. Kelly’s music,
manner and smile were a welcome tonic from what was becoming a mundane
routine job. She is definitely a diamond in a city, which occasionally
can become a little a rough.
Musicians:
Juliet Kelly – vocals
Carl Orr – guitar
Tom Barlow – bass
Chris Wells - percussion
Robin Francis
© Michael Valentine Studio Ltd.
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