Today, we’d like to introduce you to Kelly Green.
Hi Kelly, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
I grew up with music and creativity in my blood. My father is a professional bassist, and my mother is a music lover and a ceramicist. They played many of the jazz greats and other styles of music for me since I was in the womb. They began bringing me to see live music as a toddler. I was always encouraged to take part in musical activities, and when I turned five years old, my father asked me what I wanted to do.
I told him that I wanted to be a singer, and he promptly and insightfully said, “If you want to be a singer, you have to learn piano.” This was one of the best decisions that could have ever been made for me, for my musical development, and ultimately for my career. I began piano lessons and wrote my first song at age 7. All throughout my schooling, I took advantage of every musical opportunity there was: choir, percussion ensemble, musicals, jazz band, and eventually jazz camp, where I would go every summer with my father from age 11 to 18.
I not only loved the music but the culture that the Jazz community offered. From being at Jazz camp to hanging out with friends who played jazz in Orlando, it was a space where I felt like I belonged more than any other community I had experienced. I knew that this was something that I wanted to pursue professionally and to continue throughout my life, and I knew that the best place to do that would be NYC.
I attended the University of North Florida in Jacksonville, FL, where I studied Jazz piano and voice performance. I went straight from my studies there to William Paterson University in Wayne, NJ, where I earned my master’s in Jazz piano performance. At William Paterson, I had the opportunity to study with some of the greatest pianists in the NYC area, like Harold Mabern and Mulgrew Miller. I made a point to go out and see live performances in the city and get acquainted with the NYC Jazz scene.
Once I finished my studies at WPU, I moved to Harlem and started my NYC journey. I began making a name for myself by running jam sessions around the city, and I eventually found the people with whom I would make music for years to come. It has always been my dream to have a steady band with which to build a repertoire, creating our own unique language and sound that would be immediately recognizable when heard.
My ultimate goal is to create a community around my unique style of playing and performing that will make people come together to relax and realize the preciousness and uniqueness of every moment. I have achieved that goal and so much more than I could have ever imagined growing up in Central Florida. I now have a consistent trio and quartet of world-class musicians whom I consider family. We are ever expanding our repertoire and our musical boundaries.
We have a wonderful fan base who supports what we do. I am on a life-long mission to continue to build my community and share my love for this music through performance and education.
Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It has not been a smooth road. When you study in school, they do not teach you how difficult it truly is to make a living as a freelance musician and artist. The only way you can truly understand is by doing it. It is extremely difficult to build a fan base and get anyone interested enough in your music to listen to it, but nonetheless, buy it and buy a ticket to come see you at a live performance.
That is the struggle that we all face as artists and creatives (if we are making a living with our art). It is hard enough to be a musician, but when you add on the idea that you are writing your own music and you want to prioritize your own band and vision over other jobs within the industry, that’s where it gets exceptionally tricky.
Being a pianist, vocalist, and composer has led me down the path of being a leader and forming my own ensembles as opposed to focusing on being a musician who accompanies other artists. Of course, I love playing with other artists as well, but so far, most of the work and opportunities that have come my way have come for my own groups.
One of the hardest hurdles to jump for me is my inclination to compare myself to others and to maintain the will and drive to keep going, even when I don’t feel that everything is going as well as it could. Many people quit because of these factors. In these times, it is easier than ever to compare oneself with others via social media. It is also easier than ever to produce music and content and to put it online for the masses to see. The hard part is monetizing this.
Additionally, the institutionalization of Jazz music and its lack of popularity among listeners has made it an extremely tough medium to earn a living with and make a name for yourself as an emerging artist. I have found that if I just keep practicing, playing, teaching, and putting myself out there online and in live performances, I naturally draw in the people who enjoy what I do.
I lean into these relationships and allow myself to keep why I play this music at the forefront of my mind. This drives me to continue steadily on the path despite the daily rejection that I may feel.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar with what you do, what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a pianist, vocalist, composer, and bandleader. I specialize in singing while accompanying myself. I love to entertain and engage the audience without sacrificing the quality and intention of the music. I am known for my trio, the Kelly Green Trio, and our arrangements of standards and original music. I am most proud of my ability to keep my band together by performing and recording often.
I feel that our use of space, dynamics, and emphasis on the lyrics sets our band apart from other bands. Our music and our band are also unique because I am not only the vocalist, I am also the pianist, leader, and main composer for the ensemble, which makes our sound very individual. Our repertoire sets us apart from other groups as we include a wide range of styles and approaches.
Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
I think that streaming platforms and AI-generated music are going out of style quickly. Any platform that is not sustainable for the contributors is bound to fail. YouTube and the streaming platforms have created a dire situation for musicians and artists. They have made it virtually impossible to make a living from recorded music and physical merchandise, i.e., CDs and vinyls.
Vinyls are coming back into style recently. People who are really into music are all about listening to vinyl and going to see live performances. With the digital age and anti-social social media, people are starved for real feelings and human interactions. Live musicians and artists are more important than ever and will continue to be valued more and more by those who are empathetic and vibrate on a higher level.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.kellygreenpiano.com
- Instagram: @kellygreenpiano
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/kellygreenjazz
- Youtube: www.youtube.com/kellygreenpiano
Image Credits
William “Gubi” Chiriboga
