Lisa Kelly

With a career of nearly 40 years, Lisa Kelly is regarded as one of the premier jazz vocalists and mentors on the jazz scene. With a mother who sang opera and a father who played harmonica with the famous Harmonicats, she was drawn to the challenging creativity and historic legacy of jazz, developing her signature smooth-toned, intimate style and improvisational ‘horn-like’ scatting approach. Based in Jacksonville, FL, she has performed throughout the greater U.S. to internationally as a featured soloist and band leader for jazz societies, clubs, resorts, concert halls, college jazz programs, jazz societies, cruise ships, radio and TV, to major music festivals. Receiving many recognitions, Lisa was profiled in the 2010 international book, The New Face of Jazz, was an 8-time DownBeat Magazine award winning jazz vocalist, composer and arranger, the 2000 IAJE Sisters in Jazz combo vocalist and a 2013 Jacksonville Jazz Festival “Hall of Fame” Inductee. Lisa has been the featured vocalist with the legendary Larry Elgart Orchestra, UNF JE I big band, FMEA Directors Reading Band (17 years), St. Johns River City Band, Chris Riddle Orchestra, Pescara (Italy) Big Band and the USMC All-Star Big Band. As a soloist, to fronting her own small groups and co-leading the big band, The Florida Swing Orchestra, she has sung in major clubs and halls that include the Vienna State Opera House (AUS), Kennedy Center (DC), Van Wezel (Sarasota), Jazz Corner (SC), Good Times Jazz Club (GA), Partners and Grenemyers Jazz Club (Jax). Lisa’s many festival appearances have included the Montreux Jazz Festival, Monterey Jazz Festival, North Sea Jazz Festival, Festival Vien, Pescara Jazz Festival, Mary Lou Williams Women In Jazz Festival, Jacksonville Jazz Festival, Savannah Jazz Festival, Clearwater Jazz Holiday, Elkhart Jazz Festival, Sacramento Jazz Jubilee, Mammoth Lakes Jazz Festival, Suncoast Dixie Classic, Sun Valley Jazz Jamboree and the prestigious Midwest Band & Orchestra Clinic (Chicago).

Featured on countless recordings, Lisa has sung on four noteworthy UNF JE 1 CD recordings, two historical St. Johns River City Big Band projects, and 6 successful self-released CD projects. She has appeared with many jazz notables, including Ed Calle, Arturo Sandoval, Slide Hampton, Claudio Roditi, Jane Monheit, Mulgrew Miller, Bunky Green, Danny Gottlieb, Lynne Arriale, Bill Allred, Bill Prince, Dennis Marks, Clyde Connor, Allan Vache, Maceo Parker, Dave Steinmeyer and Carmen Bradford. Appearances frequently include her husband, renowned Warburton Trumpet Artist, JB Scott, her piano accompanists have included Jeff Phillips, Bob Alberti, Joshua Bowlus, Aaron Lehrian and Per Danielsson. Earning her B.M. and M.M. in jazz studies at the University of North Florida, Lisa taught music theory and voice formally at LaVilla Middle SOTA, Douglas Anderson High SOTA, First Coast Community Music School and interim at UNF. A much sought after vocal coach, guest artist/clinician and adjudicator, she has served at jazz camps, presented clinics and residencies at schools and major music conventions and pioneered state-level vocal competitions. She created the Jacksonville Jazz Festival’s official jam session in 1997, hosting it for 20 years, and in 2019, created an annual multi-generational jazz camp in Jacksonville, for middle school to adult ages. Now in its 6th year, she directs the Swingin’ Summer Jazz Camp which hosts over 70 regional to international attendees, instrumental and vocal, aspiring to pros. Lisa enjoys a heavy schedule of performing, recording and mentoring the next generation of jazz musicians. Website: www.kellyscottmusic.com