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Destination Jazz With Kelley Gant
January 26 @ 7:30 pm - 8:30 pm
Destination Jazz
Friday, January 26th at 7:30 pm
Tickets: $30 & $24 for REP Members
Composer, songwriter, and vocalist Kelley Gant is a regular headliner at top jazz destinations throughout Kansas City. Her charismatic performances with preeminent bands and as leader of the Kelley Gant Trio showcase her unique style, musical versatility, and genuinely intimate connection with audiences. Gant was honored as a 2023 artist of the internationally acclaimed “Riff Generation,” a core initiative of the Kansas City Jazz Orchestra. Gant was a showcase vocalist for the famed Vine Street Rumble Jazz Orchestra. Accompanied by sought-after local Jazz pianist Cam Ray and bassist Steve Gilmore, Gant will perform a captivating program of timeless standards and swinging original songs.
ESCAPE TO CREATE’S ARTIST IN RESIDENCE
Kelley Gant, Jazz Vocalist
Jazz vocalist, songwriter and whistler Kelly Gant was born into a family with musical history: her paternal grandfather was a big-band drummer, and his father was a trumpet player and swing band leader. Jazz claimed her at the age of ten after seeing Nat King Cole on a television commercial. His album was not to be found, but Gant discovered Unforgettable With Love by the incomparable Natalie Cole. From that day forward, Gant was hooked on jazz.
Always singing, Gant began performing at age 13 as a soloist with her junior high school band. While a student at Kansas State, Gant participated in jazz studies as vocalist for the Concert Jazz Ensemble and was mentored by Dr. Wayne Goins leading small ensemble groups.
Now an established professional vocalist in the Kansas City jazz scene, Gant cites Ella Fitzgerald as one of many influencers on her unique style. While living her Dream Life writing and performing big band, jazz, and swing, Gant is a 2023 Riff Generation artist of the Kansas City Jazz Orchestra and a is regular headliner at jazz destinations throughout the city. She has produced numerous performance opportunities through Charlotte Street Foundation’s “Spine Showcase,” a series dedicated to encouraging original works by emerging talents, and was headliner for their multi-media ProdoLab series. Gant devotes her Escape To Create residency to writing new ensemble material for her second album. She will be joined onstage by local jazz musicians Cam Ray on piano and Steve Gilbert on bass.
Partners in Celebrating Artistic Excellence
Seaside’s nationally recognized multidisciplinary arts residency Escape To Create brings innovative musicians, writers, filmmakers and artists center stage at The REP Theatre each year. For additional information on Seaside’s unique cultural legacy and Escape To Create’s 2024 guest artists visit www.escape2create.org