Kellylee Evans is the new songstress of the Urban Jazz genre not just in Canada, soon to be also the world. Born in Toronto, Canada Kellylee had a vocal appeal for singing in the church youth choir growing up.

She has been quoted as saying "Growing up, I wanted to be a pop star, but when I started liking jazz so much, I realized I wasn't going to be pop star famous, but then Diana's (Krall) success really got exciting."

At a early age she was a women with a vision, although she did take a detour in her musical field to take legal studied at Carleton University. She would still be lured to jazz festivals and various minglings with jazz artists like Chicago-born bassist Lonnie Plaxico. Who invited her on stage with him and Ravi Coltrane.

It was not until 2002 that she had a life and death experience and was mourning the death of her mom 3 years earlier that jazz started to become her full-time love. I had a chance to chat with Kellylee via phone and email from her now home base Ottawa.

Tanya: How did you get into music and why?

Tanya: Why jazz?

Kellylee: Well, at first, I would say that I was solidly into jazz. I sang standards in bar/lounge type settings with a piano, bass and drum trio. My goal in life at that point was just to sing the classics in my way and make a name for myself. Back then, I saw myself as a jazz artist. Strictly jazz. However, when I started writing my own music, the music that I could hear in my head was anything but jazz. It had world and latin influences, pop, soul, R & B, but mostly, and this freaked me out - calypso and dance hall and reggae. I didn't know what to do with it at first. I just sat on the music at first, afraid to alienate my small legion of fans (and I really mean small, less than a couple hundred) in Ottawa that had developed a taste for my take on standards.

But one day, I took a chance on my music and let it out there. It was the best thing I could have done for myself. Really. The music is connecting with many others and it makes me happy which is more than I could have asked for.

Tanya: How does it feel to be nominated for a jazz award in canada?

Kellylee: I have to say that it is pretty exciting to be nominated for any award.
The jazz part is great, because I had so many questions for myself as to whether the CD would ever really fit into that genre.

Tanya: What do you think of the jazz scene in Canada?

Kellylee: I really don't consider myself a part of any scene, so I don't spend too much time examining them. I focus mainly on the fans and the people that listen to music. They are my lifeline. And most people that come to the concerts or buy the CD say things like, "I never listen to jazz, but I like your CD," or "I don't like jazz, but I like this."

Tanya: Your recent album, how has the response been in Canada and outside Canada.

Kellylee: The response has been really strong. I remember being really worried about selling that first 1000. But since that first concert, it's been hard to keep up with demand. We're on our 9th pressing. Barnes and Noble in the US have been so unbelievably supportive. Early on they fell in love with the CD and they selected it as a Barnes and Noble Discover New Music release alongside Corinne Bailey Rae and Gnarls Barkley.

Tanya: Where have you performed outside Canada?

Kellylee: Well, I've performed in NY, Washington and Atlanta and this summer, I was given the opportunity to travel to Aspen with my band to study with Christian McBride (a bassist who has worked with Sting, Pat Matheny) and Janis Siegel (vocalist with Manhattan Transfer). While we were there, we performed three times around town. I'm really looking forward to touring the US and the world, but so far, I've mainly been focused in Ontario.

Tanya: How do you cope with the music biz and raising a family?

Kellylee: The way I have tried to look at it is that my kids will be happy to see their parents following their dreams. If I am happy, I feel I will do a better job raising my children than if I were unhappy. And making music really fulfills that requirement for me. My girls are still very young, 3 and 6, but I can see that they know how much I love my career. And I see them really getting involved in their own passions too.

Tanya: Are you working on another album?

I'm mentally working on another album. I'm just developing my ideas and getting a good sense of what I would like to record. For the most part, 50% of the music that I play live is music that I would like to record for the next CD. So I guess, I have started working on the new album in a way :).

Tanya: Are you originally from Ottawa?

Kellylee: I'm originally from Scarborough, born (Scarborough General Hospital) and raised (Markham and Sheppard). I moved to Ottawa in 1992 to go to Carleton University.

Tanya: What are your future musical goals?

Kellylee: Musically, I would love to play for growing audiences and around the world. I would like to be a strong songwriter who writes songs that others would love to sing as well. And I would like to be able to work with many talented musicians and artists. I just want to keep making my music and have it continue to find a home with as many people as possible.

Tanya: Who is your favourite artist and Canadian?

Kellylee: I don't really have favourites. I have people that I like to listen to lately and those right now would be Keane, Coldplay, Imogen Heap. Canadian artists that I love to are Feist, k-os, Ron Sexsmith.

Tanya: Are there any Canadian and American artists that you would like to work with on your next album?

Kellylee: I've never really thought about it. It sounds strange, but on this next one, no. I think I would like to be able to find a really strong producer that could help me craft my music into songs that would suit radio, but I have a vision for this next CD and it doesn't really seem to scream "collabos". With that said, if I'm open to whatever the universe sends. We'll see what happens.

Tanya: Have you thought of doing a DVD of your concerts??

Kellylee: Actually I have and Rogers Television is going to be filming my upcoming concert at the National Arts Centre on October 12th. That concert will be released as a live DVD after it has aired.

Tanya: What's next for you?

Kellylee: Well, on Sunday October 1st, I opened for Tony Bennett in Montreal at the Place des Arts. In a week, I will be at the NAC as I mentioned before and on October 20th, my band and I will travel to the Kennedy Center to perform in their jazz club. I'm really, really looking forward to that opportunity.

Tanya: What would you tell your fans out here that are trying to make it big musicallly in Canada?

Kellylee: I think every gain we make in life comes from overcoming fear of some kind.

I would hope that anyone looking to make it big in any industry should take risks, be yourself, take your dreams seriously and go for it. There's a new song that will be on the next CD that we do in performance called Tame You. I think it sums up my message. The chorus is : "Say what you feel. Live what you love. Do what you do, nobody came tame you". That's what I would like them to know.

Tanya: Your debut album...fight or flight is there a story behind it???

Kellylee: At one level, the title track, is about feeling apathetic about the trials and trouble in the lives of those around you and far away. That apathy generally leads us to feel that it is impossible to make change. So, there is the question of whether to stay and fight and help this person in need, or run away.

The real story for me, for that song has to do with being afraid and trying to overcome that fear, just like I mentioned before. I find a great deal of my life is spent deciding whether to fight for something I believe in or run away from my dreams, my vision. Every day I get to decide whether to fight or take flight.



Kellylee Evans - urban jazz soul singer and songwriter
2nd Place Winner Thelonious Monk International Jazz Vocals Competition.

*Nominated Toronto Independent Music Award for "Best Jazz" - ceremony
Oct 5,
2006.

+ her next Toronto appearances are Nov 22nd at the Mod club and the 23rd at Hughs Room.

www.kellyleeevans.com