World by Daniel Kelly

The soaring Wayne Shorter-inspired melody of "Fatiyah" floats over an Afro-Cuban 6/8 rhythm and conveys a powerful and mature musical statement. The CD continues in this way, leading the listener through a unique and multi-faceted sonic journey.

"It's All Good" is a soulful gospel tune with Daniel playing a gritty organ solo. "Catching That Stride" is an off-kilter tune set to a Caribbean rhythm and performed with complete abandon, featuring crazy sound effects and a piano solo reminiscent of Cecil Taylor. The other compositions on World keep transporting the listener through an emotional and soulful experience that culminates in the last selection, "Fallen Star." This beautiful yearning melody smolders into a scintillating climax with an African drum ensemble driving the music to a level of transcendence.

Daniel Kelly's World Ensemble performs compelling and original compositions that have brought audiences from all over the globe into the "world" of this innovative and talented artist.

"Pianist Daniel Kelly shows great character and depth-definitely a talent to watch."

-John Davis, Latin Jazz Club

"Daniel Kelly comes on like gangbusters and rocks, explodes chord after chord of some of the most exciting Latin Jazz piano I've heard since first seeing Eddie Palmieri years ago at the old Village Gate."

-The Jazz Zine

"The pianist wastes no time in tossing in the Latin fire that one would expect from a pianist named Valdés or Rubalcaba, rather than one named Kelly. Without exaggeration, during a glossy-jazz-magazine blindfold test, Kelly would be identified, ten times out of ten, as a native of Cuba, rather than Ohio."

-Don Williamson, 52ndStreet.com

"Gifted pianist Daniel Kelly is always a delight and his solo work is outstanding... topnotch...he performs in excellent form."

-Lee Prosser, Jazz Review

"Daniel Kelly has an uncanny ability to get inside and around the percussive heat and deliver exciting moments on the piano."

-Jazz Zine.com

"Daniel Kelly's composition is complex and entertaining."

-Jazz Review.com

A multi-talented composer and pianist, Daniel Kelly has developed his own personal and unique approach to jazz, Afro-Cuban music and free improvisation. As comfortable with keyboards, samplers and electronic sound manipulation as he is with acoustic piano, Daniel has innovated original ways to incorporate these instruments into his own sound world. This is evident on his two highly acclaimed CDs, "World" and "Duets with Ghosts." He has also composed for film, theater and various multimedia performances.

Early in his career, Daniel toured throughout Europe as a member of an eleven-piece jazz-funk band led by Miles Davis' lead bassist, Foley McCreary, performing at such festivals as the Moers Festival in Germany. He then moved to New York City, where he was soon heard by legendary bassist, Harvie S (formerly Harvie Swartz), who immediately asked him to join his band, Eye Contact. On Eye Contact's CD, "New Beginning", Daniel performed with other jazz giants, such as saxophonist Michael Brecker. Their latest CD, "Texas Rumba", was recorded in New York City in May 2003 and has garnered rave reviews about Daniel.

Since moving to New York, Daniel has become the pianist for Grammy-nominated drummer and bandleader, Bobby Sanabria and renowned storyteller and poet, David Gonzalez. Along with Gonzalez, Daniel has been chosen to be a repertory artist for the Lincoln Center Institute from 2002-2005. Daniel has studied with Kenny Werner, Richie Beirach and Fred Hersch. He has also performed several times at such esteemed venues as The Blue Note, Birdland and the Guggenheim Museum.

In 2002, Daniel was honored to be the featured composer at the NOW Music Festival. Held annually at Capital University in Columbus, Ohio, this festival features new music by America's leading composers. Daniel presented original compositions performed by himself and his ensemble, Duets with Ghosts.

Daniel's interests also lie in forging new sounds in the realm of contemporary classical music and improvisation. He co-leads the improvisatory group, Liquid Ensemble, which blends electronic and acoustic instruments to create cinematic compositions. This group has composed extensively for theater and dance. Music from their premiere CD, "Fifteen", was used in a production of "Murder, Madness and Lady Macbeth" performed in Denmark in July 2003.

In fall of 2003, Daniel performed a six-week tour to India, Thailand, Laos, Malaysia, Vietnam and Bangladesh as part of the US State Department's Jazz Ambassadors Tour. This highly prestigious honor is only awarded to a few groups each year that travel to developing countries to perform concerts and workshops.

Daniel's talents as film composer can be heard in the films, "The Receipt", "Suzana's Dreams" and "Below the Belt", which was awarded Best Film of the Oregon Film Festival in 2001.

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