"Memories of Tomorrow" received much acclaim at it's release, presenting wonderfully interpretative classic jazz from two gifted partners, vocalist Lisa Kelly & trumpeter JB Scott, with the benefit of three supportive and talented rhythm section players, pianist Scott Giddens, bassist Ed Strohsahl and former Ray Charles big band drummer Rick Kirkland. From the very first tune, this quintet's understanding of communicating the jazz art form of a musical conversation is apparent, melodically, harmonically and rhythmically, with beautifully sensitive Ballads, driving Bop, grooving Latin, sassy Blues & in-the-pocket Swing, confidently trusting the expressive strengths of each other. Truly a jazz 'gem' of a recording session! ABOUT LISA KELLY & JB SCOTT - Highly respected jazz artists, vocalist LISA KELLY and trumpeter JB SCOTT, met in 1997 through the jazz program at the University of North Florida, and began their lasting partnership after a debut appearance together at the famed Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland. They've performed throughout the U.S. and internationally with their groups, the Kelly-Scott Jazz Quintet/Sextet (Mainstream Classic Jazz), JB Scott's Swingin' Allstars (Chicago Swing/New Orleans style Dixieland), with their 10/18-piece big bands, "Sophisticated Swing" and "Florida Swing Orchestra," and as solo artists/clinicians with secondary, college, and professional jazz ensembles. Their many other appearances have included The Monterrey Jazz Festival, Jacksonville Jazz Festival, Clearwater Jazz Holiday, North Sea Jazz Festival (Netherlands), Suncoast Jazz Classic Festival, Sun Valley Jazz Jubilee,. Sacramento Jazz Jubilee, Elkhart Jazz Festival, Mammoth Lakes Jazz Festival, Bix Beiderbecke Memorial Jazz Festival, Walt Disney World's Pleasure Island Jazz Club, The Kravis Center, Duke's Jazz Bar (Switzerland), and numerous jazz clubs and jazz societies. Solo artist concerts have been with The Army Jazz Ambassadors, Sinclair Community College (Miss.), Meridian Community College (Ohio), Seminole Community College (Florida), and Central High School (Pennsylvania), to name only a few. LISA KELLY - Originally from Wilmington, N.C, Lisa Kelly was singing on the stage by the age of 7. Born into a musical family, she began her career in the late 70's as a session vocalist for various recording studios and as a member of several well-respected variety groups. With an interest in exploring jazz, she formed her own group, performing on her first major jazz festival in 1988. As a leader, she has appeared at major clubs, venues, and festivals throughout the southeast and as a guest artist with small groups and big bands. Kelly is a FIVE-TIME DOWN BEAT MAGAZINE Soloist and Composition Award Winner, has won numerous outstanding vocal awards at The Mobile Collegiate Jazz Festival and The Notre Dame Jazz Festival, and is a recipient of the "Mullikin-Matteson Memorial Scholarship," the "Joe Perkins Memorial Scholarship," and a "Astral Grant" from the N.F.A.A. She has performed at The Montreux Jazz Festival, Switzerland, The North Sea Jazz Festival, Holland, The Jacksonville Jazz Festival, the Savannah Jazz Festival, The Walt Disney World Jazz Festival, the Lakeside Jazz Festival, the International Assoc. of Jazz Educators Convention, and The SS Norway's "Big Band Cruise." In 2000, Kelly won the vocal position with IAJE/SISTERS IN JAZZ COMBO, performing at the IAJE Convention (New Orleans), at the Kennedy Center (Wash., D.C.), and to a sold out house at the Vienna State Opera House for the Festival Vien (Austria). She was the premier vocalist for 6 years with the renowned UNF JAZZ ENSEMBLE I BIG BAND, and with Florida's official state band, the St. John's River City Band, for over two years. She frequently sings with the Larry Elgart Orchestra and is the vocalist with the Swamp Dog Jazz Band and the Florida Jazz Plus musical groups. She has appeared with such artists as Jack Petersen, Bunky Green, Carmen Bradford, Kevin Bales, and Ed Metz. Kelly is featured on numerous recordings, including her debut CD, "Lisa Kelly, By Request," which has sold over 4,000+ copies with limited distribution, and the recently released CD "Memories of Tomorrow" with J.B. Scott. Her original piece, "My Legacy," won Down Beat Magazine's 1999 "Best Original Composition," award, college level. Kelly has a BM Degree in Jazz Studies from the University of North Florida. She teaches applied voice and guest lectures on jazz vocal evolution, jazz vocal styles, and music business. In 2010, Lisa was profiled in the internationally acclaimed book, "The New Face of Jazz." and was inducted into the Jacksonville Jazz Festival "Hall of Fame" in 2013. JB SCOTT - Born in the Philadelphia, Pa. area, into a musical family, J.B. Scott developed a childhood love for jazz while listening to his father's Stan Kenton, Maynard Ferguson, and Henry Mancini records. A member of an award winning high school jazz ensemble, Scott, upon graduation, moved to Orlando, Fla, and began his career playing with the Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra. He pursued his musical education at Seminole Community College, and completed his BA degree in Jazz Studies at the University of North Florida. While in college, he took time off to perform a six-month engagement with the Ringling Bros. & Barnum and Bailey Circus in Japan. Moving to New Orleans at the age of 26, Scott became the musical director and cornetist with the world renowned Dukes of Dixieland, touring internationally for over three years. He was featured on two CD's, "Hearing is Believing," and "A Salute to Jelly Roll Morton," on the PBS special, " A Salute to Jelly Roll Morton," and performed with Skitch Henderson and the New York Pops at Carnegie Hall. Moving to Miami, Scott studied and performed with Arturo Sandoval at Florida International University, earning his MS degree in Music Ed. After teaching for a year at a college and high school in Orlando, Scott began his position as Assoc. Professor of Jazz Studies at the University of North Florida, where he is currently Assist. Director of Jazz Studies and teaches jazz trumpet, jazz ensembles, and various jazz related courses. Scott is co-leader of the Swamp Dog Jazz Band, with two recordings "Home," and "Keepin Out Of Mischief Now." He recently released the CD "Memories of Tomorrow" with Lisa Kelly. He is also a member of Florida Jazz Plus. Scott has appeared at numerous festivals including The Elkart Jazz Festival, The Sacramento Jazz Jubilee, The Hollywood Jazz Festival, The Maceo Jazz Festival in Brazil, The Montreux Jazz Festival, The Jacksonville Jazz Festival, The Savannah Jazz Festival, and at The International Assoc. of Jazz Educators Convention. He has performed with such major artists as Pete Fountain, Al Hirt, Paquito D'Rivera, Ken Peplowski, Red Hollaway, David "Fathead" Newman, Eddie Higgins, Jeff Hamilton, John Allred, Marvin Stamm, Lynn Seaton, and Ted Rosenthal, to name a few. Scott is a YAMAHA trumpet artist/clinician. In 2010, JB Scott was profiled in the internationally acclaimed book, "The New Face of Jazz." WHAT THE PROS ARE SAYING! "Lisa Kelly gets my vote for one of the few singers that understands how to handle a ballad with tenderness, grace, and warmth. I gladly fell into the mystical mood she created...thanks for sharing the gift!" John Clayton, World renowned bassist, composer, arranger "Lisa Kelly is a fine musician. She possesses excellent technique and expresses her jazz style with a hard, swinging beat!" Larry Elgart, The Ambassador of Swing, Renowned big band leader, musician "...Has a definite command of the horn with a keen musical sense. J.B. Scott is an up and coming star we all need to watch for." Erich Kunzel, Conductor, Cincinnati Pop's "Well jazz lovers, are you ready?...Because Lisa Kelly is! This young beautiful vocalist is very focused & passionate about this great American Art form we call Jazz. I have no doubt about what contribution towards the perpetuation and preservation of Jazz that Lisa will make. Great phrasing, color, and pitch! Pitch! Pitch! Swing Baby! Carmen Bradford , International Jazz vocalist,Formally with the Count Basie Band THE LISA KELLY & JB SCOTT 5TET as FEATURED ON THE CD! Thanks to the great worldwide resurgence in jazz, there is a huge demand for top-notch jazz groups. The Lisa Kelly & J.B. Scott Jazz 5tet is such a group. From the intimacy of a cozy jazz club to the vastness of a major music festival, this acoustically based 5tet carries the stage with ease and plenty of energy. Each member contributes to the group years of playing experience steeped in the jazz tradition. With a repertoire of timeless standards, obscure tunes, and original compositions, the group's focus is on spontaneous musical creativity with an edge; capturing the essence of Mainstream jazz with roots in swing! The group's goal is to share this passion by entertaining and involving the audience, while staying true to the art form and having great fun in the process! Judging by their ever-increasing number of ardent fans, The Lisa Kelly & J.B. Scott Jazz 5tet is accomplishing all this and more! To quote a new fan's recent email sent to Lisa Kelly, "The set was fantastic! Your styling was fresh and upbeat and the Billie Holiday number was one of my favorites. J.B. is truly one of Jacksonville's hidden talents and the band was on top of their game. Pass along my compliments!" The group performs regularly throughout the southeast U.S., keeping in touch with their large audience base through the Internet and newsletter, "Kelly Notes," established over 6 years ago. The list of performances is endless, including The Jacksonville Jazz Festival (slated again for 1999), The Clearwater Jazz Holiday (slated again for 1999), The Fernandina Beach Shrimp Festival, and a week in Europe at the famed Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland. The group has given concerts (and return concerts) for the St. Augustine Jazz Society, the Savannah Coastal Jazz Association, the Central Florida Jazz Society, and the North East Florida Jazz Society, to name a few. Club appearances have included Duke's Jazz Bar in Montreux, Switzerland (with live simulcast on the Internet), Walt Disney World's Pleasure Island Jazz Club, First Street Grille, Partners, Giovanni's, Katianna's, and others. There are also numerous socials and special occasion parties throughout the year. Believing strongly in perpetuating the American art form of jazz through performance and education, the group's schedule also includes area elementary and high school programs. Kelly & Scott are frequent artist/clinicians with secondary, college, and professional jazz ensembles, including the Army Jazz Ambassadors, Fernandina Beach High School, Seminole Community College, West Orange High School, and Central High School in Erie, Pennsylvania. They have six such dates already slated for the year 2000. In addition, two of the group members are completing their BA degrees in Jazz Studies, three are teaching jazz at the college level (two with MA degrees), and all are teaching privately. The group has been featured on the "BET/Jazz Discovery" nationally syndicated cable program, Jim Wilkie's "Jazz After Hours" nationally syndicated radio show, Jack Simpson's "Jazz on the Beach" radio show, Bob Bednar's "This is Jazz" radio show, Bob Stockton's "Jazz With Dr. Bob" radio show, and numerous live performances on Rob Thomas's "90 in the Shade" radio show. In addition, the group has enjoyed feature articles in various newspapers throughout the southeast and in the international magazines, Down Beat and Jazz News. In the 1999, 20th anniversary Clearwater Jazz Holiday promotional video, "Jazz in the Key of Sea," the group appears frequently and is the featured background music. Add to this unique duo the intuitive and intensely swinging rhythm section of Scott Giddens (piano), Rick Kirkland (drums), and Ed Strohsohl (acoustic bass), nicknamed "The Dream Team." Giddens' sophisticated playing is hard swinging, harmonically abstract, rhythmically intricate, and beautifully stirring, with influences from the 'Greats' like Duke Ellington, Thelonius Monk, Herbie Hancock, Ahmad Jamal, McCoy Tyner, and Gene Harrison, yet in a style uniquely his own. He is nicknamed "The Reverend" for his ability to "take you to church" with a blues or spiritual. Kirkland is the consummate drummer, with impeccable time and supreme tastefulness. From light, airy ballads to blistering up-tempo tunes, from colorful cymbal work to solos quoting the melody and lyric, he is supportive, sensitive, and just as exciting to see as to hear. Strohsohl is the perfect liaison between harmony and rhythm, piano and drums. No matter what kind of groove is needed, a walking bass line to a burning bebop, he solidly sets up just the right bass 'feel,' laying down a hard swinging, solid foundation with a warm, percussive, acoustic sound. Now that you've met the members The Lisa Kelly-J.B.Scott Jazz 5tet, prepare yourself for an unforgettable experience in quintessential jazz! The Rhythm Section Scott Giddens- Born in Jacksonville, Florida, Scott Giddens has performed extensively from Florida to New York, most recently with guitarist Barry Greene at an international guitar symposium in New York City. Giddens, nicknamed "the Reverend" for his ability to 'take you to church' on a gospel tune, has been with the 5tet for over a year and a half. He possesses a very dynamic playing style, interpreting the music fiercely one minute, then gently the next, with a true passion for exploring the raw emotion and depth of every note. Giddens frequently leads his own unique, religiously based jazz group in church worship services, and often appears as a soloist for area clubs. He has appeared with such well-known artists as the Brecker Brothers, Arturo Sandoval, Paquito D'Rivera, and Nathan Page. Giddens is currently working to complete his B.A. Degree in Jazz Studies at the University of North Florida and was a member of the 1998 UNF Jazz Combo which won Down Beat Magazine's "Most Outstanding College Group" award. He also teaches private piano. Rick Kirkland- Also a native of Jacksonville, Rick Kirkland has been in the group for over five years, and serves as the dynamic musical "rock" of the group. His musical style, always uplifting and exciting, reflects the spirit of his personality and zest for playing. He has been featured with such greats as Dizzy Gillespie, Benny Goodman, Clark Terry, and on three world tours with Ray Charles. Kirkland is a charter member of the St. John's River City Band and has performed regularly with the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra. He is much in demand as a private instructor, teaching drums in his private studio and as an adjunct for the University of North Florida Jazz Program. Kirkland has performed for many jazz festivals and conventions, too numerous to mention, including The Jacksonville Jazz Festival (10x), The Clearwater Jazz Holiday, festivals in Europe and the U.S., and at The International Assoc. of Jazz Educators Convention. Ed Strohsohl- Born in Miami, Florida, but raised in Atlanta, Georgia, Ed Strohsohl picked the string bass to play in his high school orchestra because it was the biggest instrument. That choice paid off. In his first year of playing, he was selected as the principle bassist in a county wide honors orchestra and later chosen to attend the Georgian Governor's Honors Program. Switching from classical to jazz at the age of 16, Strohsohl began performing in the jazz ensemble, earning numerous awards throughout high school. Now attending the University of North Florida, he performs with the UNF Jazz Ensemble I big band and is fast becoming one of the Southeast's top-call bassists. He has played with the University of Florida Jazz Band, the Gainsville Jazz Orchestra, and is a member of the UNF Jazz Combo to win Down Beat Magazine's 1999 Collegiate "Best Jazz Group" award. He has appeared with Tito Puente, Ernie Watts, Ted Nash, and many area artists. Strohsohl's musical influences include such greats as Charles Mingus, Dave Holland, John Coltrane, and Ludwig von Beethoven. His demeanor is quiet, but don't be fooled. He is one hard swinging, energetic bass player! ONE OF THE CURRENT REVIEWS OFTHE CD, MEMORIES OF TOMORROW CADENCE MAGAZINE Vol. 29 No. 6 JUNE 2003, CD Review Page 103 THE LISA KELLY & JB SCOTT JAZZ 5TET, MEMORIES OF TOMORROW, KSM 2002-01 Night and Day/My Favorite Things/Until I Met You/Annette's Desire/Quasi Bop Black Coffee/Sea Journey/That Old Black Magic/I've Grown Accustomed to His Face Doin' It Good/Memories of Tomorrow/Aggressive Passivity. 76:13 Kelly, vcl; Scott, tpt, flgh, vcl; Scott Giddens, p; Ed Strohsahl, b; Rick Kirkland, d. 2001, Jacksonville, Fl. As the last track of Memories of Tomorrow is almost completed, it becomes apparent that Lisa Kelly and friends are packing quite a bit of music into their CD. Sure enough, utilizing the CD's 76-minute length to maximum advantage, the members of the Jazz 5TET take as long as necessary to record the music they intent to present to their listeners. As Kelly and Scott state in their liner notes, although in different words, they are dedicated to entertaining their listeners, even as they "provide as high a musical product as possible." Despite the fact that Kelly and Scott spend most of their time in northern Florida, either teaching at the University of North Florida or working in local clubs and clinics, they have worked with numerous Jazz musicians who have performed in the area, such as Ira Sullivan, Paquito D'Rivera and Nick Brignola. And they know how to provide a high-quality musical product. Kelly has received quite a bit of recognition for her talent, including Down Beat's Student Jazz Vocal Soloist award, and justifiably so. For her voice possesses not only the essentials such as pitch and range, but also the more ineffable element of bringing to life the meaning of a song's lyrics with well-placed phrasing and conversational elements, as she does on "Until I Met You." When teamed with Scott on trumpet, their performances assume an intertwined cohesion as they trade phrases or as one supports the other. Scott's original tune, "Annette's Desire," is notable not only because of the memorable nature of its haunting melody, altering a light swing with long-toned modality, but also because of Kelly's wordless vocalizing under Scott's unmated trumpet playing. Which brings us to JB Scott, who could have held down the leadership of the CD on his own, if he had been so inclined. Indeed, four of the tracks are instrumentals, highlighting the talent of the entire group. Scott varies his sound from the controlled assertiveness of "Quasi Bop," exchanging Hard Bop lines in the first 8 bars with Latin rhythms to the repeat, to the muted play of "Aggressive Passivity" which leads to his own scatting suggestive of Clark Terry. However, the combination of Kelly's skillful interpretations of song like "Sea Journey" with Scott's flowing trumpet work is what makes Memories of Tomorrow memorable tomorrow-and for quit a while after hearing the CD. Bill Donaldson