Kelley Johnson Trio
Join us in welcoming the luminous Kelley Johnson as she returns to the Ott & Hunter stage with her own stellar trio! The weather may be cold outside, but inside the cabaret room the vibe will be warm, intimate, and inviting—perfect for settling in with a glass of our award‑winning wine and an evening of unforgettable music. With storytelling, subtlety, soulfulness, and swing, Kelley and her longtime musical partner, pianist John Hansen, deliver top‑shelf jazz that engages the heart and stirs the soul. Add the divine Paul Gabrielson on bass, and you’ve got a full‑blown love‑fest that’s sure to set your toes tappin’.
Kelley Johnson rivets your attention to the lyric with finesse and spit-fire swing. Known for her lithe, velvety voice and her dynamic arrangements, Kelley Johnson is a sought after-vocalist both here and abroad. Johnson is an unusual adventurer in the world of jazz singing. Melodically adept at rephrasing both words and music, she rearranges (and de-rranges) some of our best standards breathing new life into familiar songs as she and her band merge toward an individual, yet shared destination.
Together, Kelley and her pianist John Hansen have toured the globe as Jazz Ambassadors for the US State Department as teaching performing artists. The Kelley Johnson Quartet has headlined at Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, in NYC at Birdland, The Jazz Standard, Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola, The Tanglewood Jazz Festival, in Europe, Central Asia, China, Japan, Central and South America carrying out repeated touring contracts for the US State Department.
Kelley is in demand as a jazz educator, voice coach, choir director and mentor to students of jazz singing. John Hansen is highly regarded as the Northwest’s finest jazz pianists and ensemble players with a deep melodic approach as part of James Knapp Orchestra, Bill Ramsey and Milt Kleeb Big Band, on appears on countless CD’s for national artists. Both are currently on faculty at MusicWorks Northwest in Bellevue and together work with The Offbeats Vocal Jazz Ensemble, an adult jazz choir for the Seattle Glee Clubs where Kelley is Artistic Director. All five of Kelley’s CD recordings have met critical acclaim and feature John and their signature tricky and colorful arrangements, including the most recent “Something Good” on Origin OA2 Records.
“…wisps of Carmen McRae's ginger snap, Betty Carter's yawning reach, Anita O'Day's feline purr and Nancy Wilson's crystalline enunciation...just tune in to Kelley’s sailing, buoyant rhythm section and her bright, eminently convincing musicianship.” Downbeat Magazine
“There are many vocalists with lovely voices who mine the Great American Songbook for material; however, very few have the depth and jazz chops of KELLEY JOHNSON. A vocalist and arranger, Johnson doesn't rehash familiar standards. She understands the music from the inside out, and with her spot-on phrasing and silky, rich timbre…” Jazz Chill
"Her lovely voice stands out for its emphatic clarity and for its direct approach. Kelley pulls the blues out of thin air. Johnson is a true communicator. It's genuine." All About Jazz
https://www.kelleyjohnson.com/
