George Kelly (July 31, 1915 – May 24, 1998) was an American
jazz
Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a m ...
tenor saxophonist and arranger born in
Miami, Florida
Miami ( ), officially the City of Miami, known as "the 305", "The Magic City", and "Gateway to the Americas", is a East Coast of the United States, coastal metropolis and the County seat, county seat of Miami-Dade County, Florida, Miami-Dade C ...
.
Panama Francis
David Albert "Panama" Francis (December 21, 1918 – November 13, 2001) was an American swing jazz drummer who played on numerous hit recordings in the 1950s.
Early life
Francis was born in Miami, Florida, on December 21, 1918. His father was ...
was a sideman in Kelly's band in the 1930s; Kelly played in Francis's
Savoy Sultans The Savoy Sultans was the name of two related 20th-century American jazz ensembles.
Savoy Sultans (1937–1946)
The original Savoy Sultans were formed by saxophonist Al Cooper, and played at the Savoy Ballroom from 1937 to 1946. This small swing ...
band in the 1970s, and had played in
Al Cooper
Lofton Alfonso Cooper (1911 – October 5, 1981) was an American jazz saxophonist and clarinetist. He founded the Savoy Sultans and was their leader from 1937 to 1946. He was the half-brother of Grachan Moncur II
Grachan Moncur II (sometimes ...
's band of the same name in the 1940s. Additionally, Kelly led his own bands and worked with other jazz artists such as
Tiny Grimes
Lloyd "Tiny" Grimes (July 7, 1916 – March 4, 1989) was an American jazz and R&B guitarist. He was a member of the Art Tatum Trio from 1943 to 1944, was a backing musician on recording sessions, and later led his own bands, including a rec ...
,
Rex Stewart
Rex William Stewart Jr. (February 22, 1907 – September 7, 1967) was an American jazz cornetist who was a member of the Duke Ellington orchestra.
Career
As a boy he studied piano and violin; most of his career was spent on cornet. Stewart drop ...
and
Cozy Cole
William Randolph "Cozy" Cole (October 17, 1909 – January 9, 1981) was an American jazz drummer who worked with Cab Calloway and Louis Armstrong among others and led his own groups.
Life and career
William Randolph Cole was born in East Or ...
.
"Kelly had a strong tenor tone that looked back towards the swing era while he was clearly aware of later developments."
Discography
As leader/co-leader
*''Stealing Apples'' (Dharma)
*''Slide Kelly Slide/In the Mood'' (1976, Jazz Session)
*''George Kelly in Cimiez'' (1979, Black & Blue)
*''Fine and Dandy'' (1982, Barron)
*''Cotton Club'' (1983)
*''George Kelly Plays Don Redman'' (1984, Stash)
*''Groove Move'' (1994, Jazzpoint)
As sideman
With
Rex Stewart
Rex William Stewart Jr. (February 22, 1907 – September 7, 1967) was an American jazz cornetist who was a member of the Duke Ellington orchestra.
Career
As a boy he studied piano and violin; most of his career was spent on cornet. Stewart drop ...
*''
Rendezvous with Rex
''Rendezvous with Rex'' is an album by cornetist Rex Stewart which was recorded in 1958 and released on the Felsted label.Felsted, 1958)