KELLY GREEN is a pianist/vocalist/composer whose compositions, playing, and singing exhibit a heightened understanding of the jazz tradition. Join Kelly and Lorens as she talks about Jacksonville, recording vocals and piano simultaneously, Shirley Horn, and many other related stuff. (Music credit: ‘I Sing’, ‘Little Daffodil’, ‘Culture Shock’ by Kelly Green).

Follow Kelly Green

More Episodes of Doing Jazz

Support Doing Jazz

More About Kelly Green

Kelly Green is an up and coming jazz pianist vocalist who currently resides in Harlem, New York City. Born and raised in Florida, she began singing as a toddler and started piano lessons at age seven. At age eleven she became interested in jazz and began attending the Jamey Aebersold Jazz Workshop every year with her father, who is a professional bass player. Her senior year of high school she recorded and produced her own album of twelve original songs called “Aspire”.

She received her Bachelors in Jazz Studies- piano performance at the University of North Florida. She studied piano with accomplished jazz pianist, Lynne Arriale as well as voice with wonderful vocalist, Michelle Amato. She received the outstanding musician’s award her last three years at the University. While living in Jacksonville she performed weekly with her trio at the Ponte Vedra Lodge and Club. She also performed steadily at the Times Union Center, Lilly’s Coffee Shop, and Rhett’s Piano Bar as well as doing many private events at various locations. In May 2011, she competed in the Generation Next Youth Talent Competition at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival taking home first prize and a $2,000 savings bond for playing and singing Herbie Hancock’s “Eye of the Hurricane”.

In September 2012 she began attending William Paterson University where she received her Masters in Jazz Piano Performance. She took private lessons with acclaimed pianists Harold Mabern and James Weidman. She also had the privilege of taking a semester of arranging lessons with master Cecil Bridgewater and three semesters of classical piano lessons with the amazing pianist and educator Gary Kirkpatrick. While studying at William Paterson she was also able to perform in ensembles directed by the late master of the piano, Mulgrew Miller, as well as Bill Mobley, Armen Donelian, Rich Perry, Dave Rogers, and Bill Goodwin among others. For her last two semesters she was the pianist in the William Paterson Jazz Orchestra led by head of the WP Jazz Department, Dr. David Demsey. In this band she had the opportunity to perform with NEA Jazz Master Jimmy Heath and legendary jazz vibraphonist Steve Nelson. Kelly also received the Outstanding Graduate Music Student Award for her class. In June 2014 Kelly was chosen to be the pianist in the William Paterson Colombia Band, which toured three cities in Colombia, South America. In Colombia, the band taught at two week long jazz clinics and performed at three large concert halls.

Although Kelly just moved to New York City about three years ago, she performs and hosts weekly jam sessions at Cleopatra's Needle with her trio every Sunday and performs with her trio and sextet at some of the greatest jazz venues the city has to offer.

In December 2016 she recorded her debut jazz album "Life Rearranged" including wonderful musicians Christian McBride, Steve Nelson, Josh Evans, Kush Abadey, Jovan Alexandre, Matt Dwonszyk, Noam Israeli, Tamir Shmerling, and Mike Troy. It is completed and is available on all platforms.