Juliet Kelly's Jazz Kids and Songs From Life

Showtime for Juliet Kelly's Jazz Kids

It's been a while!  In my last blog at the end of last year I spoke about a reboot.  Be careful what you wish for! This year has been a reboot for the whole world.   Along with everyone else, I've had to put all my plans on pause but I was fortunate enough to be asked to take part in two shows for this year's EFG London Jazz Festival.  Both of them will be streamed live on 14 November.

First of all there's the follow up to Jazz for Toddlers called Juliet Kelly's Jazz Kids that will be live at 1pm.  It's an update of last year's show modified for an online audience.  

I was also invited to take part in a project aimed primarily at African and Caribbean older people with health conditions that affect memory.  My band and I performed Songs From Life - classic and familiar songs that could not only be enjoyed but that would also evoke precious memories.  Songs From Life will be streamed at 2pm.

As for what the rest of the year will bring - who knows?  But I hope you are all keeping safe and well and that better times are on their way for us all.  

Here's a link to the song Smile originally performed by Nat King Cole - part of Songs From Life.  It's particularly apt during these difficult times.  

Time for a reboot...

Jazz for Toddlers - photo by Stephen Wright

I've not been very focussed this year.  I've been drifting along and going with the flow - maybe a bit too much.  It's time for a reboot!  I'll be starting some new projects and there may even be a new album in the works.  So watch this space!

Showtime!

It was amazing to perform at Ronnie Scott's again.  Two sold out shows at the legendary venue.  Hopefully it won't be too long before I perform there again.

And there were more sold out shows for the EFG London Jazz Festival.  Ten of them to be exact!  It was a lot of fun to write and perform my Jazz for Toddlers show with Tony Kofi.  There was so much positive feedback and it was wonderful to see the faces of those little ones light up at the sound of jazz.

Love that photo of the kids enjoying the music.  It's great to be a #jazzevangelist :)

Arrivederci Roma, Hola Odessa!

November was a busy month filled with new people, places and experiences.  :-)

I had a really amazing time with 6 gigs in Italy, then numerous gigs over the EFG London Jazz Festival including a live performance from the Barbican for BBC Radio 3's Jazz Record Requests and a great family-friendly performance at Cadogan Hall.  I also returned to one of my favourite places (Oxford), at the Summertown Wine Cafe.

And it won't be long until I'm off to foreign climes again as I've been invited as a guest artist for New Year's Eve celebrations at an amazing new venue in Odessa!  I've checked the weather and it doesn't seem too cold at the moment but I'm keeping everything crossed that there'll be no snow.

We played 2 nights at Gregory's Jazz Club - the oldest jazz clubs in Rome

Downstairs at Gregory's there is a tiny bar where regulars have special name plaques.  I asked about Vittorio and if I remember correctly, he is a sailor from Sicily who visits Rome and Gregory's often and keeps his place at the bar reserved.  Love this idea!

The Italian Quartet!  Max (bass), Rudy (drums) and Daniele (piano)

I spent some time in Genoa and was amazed at how wonderful the climate is - there are PALM TREES!

Love Pisa!  Here I am in front of a gorgeous Keith Haring mural.

With the Family Jazz All Stars (Tony Kofi -sax, Kate Williams - piano, Oli Hayhurst - bass, Cosimo Keita - drums) just before we stepped on stage at Cadogan Hall

On stage at Cadogan Hall.  A stunning venue!

Finally, Trevor Hoggett did a really nice interview with me about Spellbound Stories and it's out now in December's Jazz Journal magazine.

And my name is on the front cover - second name up from the bottom in red - woo hoo!

Finally, (really this time), here's a seasonal joke for you:

Q:  What do you call a bunch of chess players bragging about their games in a hotel lobby?
A:  Chess nuts boasting in an open foyer.