Elden Kelly and the Global Roots Jazz Collective 2013

Elden Kelly photo provided by performer.

Elden Kelly
and the Global Roots Jazz Collective
Friday, August 2, 2013 – 4:00 to 6:00
Main Stage South

Influenced by such diverse genres as jazz, neoclassicism, American Roots, Hindustani and Turkish music, Elden Kelly captivates audiences across the country. In addition to guitar, Kelly has developed his own style on various instruments such as the Arabic oud, the Turkish cumbus and the Glissentar, an 11-string fretless guitar. Kelly’s talents on a variety of instruments have not gone unnoticed to other musicians, being described as “phenomenal” by guitarist Joe Morris, being carried over to Kelly’s experiments with the fretless guitar and Middle Eastern instruments.

Though Kelly has a lot of talent on a wide variety of instruments, his songwriting is where his genius shines through. Dominique Eade describes Kelly’s music as “a chance of meeting of brilliant forces embodied in one person: his illuminated guitar playing, hauntingly pure singing and expansive songwriting are all on the same quest of metaphysical discovery in which he includes us, the lucky listeners.”

Kelly has been playing guitar, singing and writing songs since he was ten. He has played a variety of venues since then, including the Dogwood Center for the Arts, Jammie Awards, the Toledo Zen Center and many more. Originally from Vermont, Kelly graduated from Boston’s prestigious New England Conservatory of Music with a degree in Contemporary Improvisation.

On stage, Kelly’s music ranges from fiery to honest heartfelt, expressive songs, to sounds reminiscent of Indian scat mixed with an Arabic-style call to prayer.

Elden Kelly Website