First performing together at the 1997 Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland, vocalist Lisa Kelly and trumpeter JB Scott have enjoyed a long and successful musical partnership. They have appeared internationally as leaders of their own groups, The Kelly/Scott Quintet (classic mainstream jazz), JB Scott's Swingin' Allstars (New Orleans/Chicago Swing), Sophisticated Swing and The Florida Swing Orchestra (10/20-piece big bands), as featured members of the St. John's River City Band, and as featured soloists and guest artists/clinicians with secondary, collegiate and professional music ensembles.
As highly respected musical artists, clinicians and mentoring teachers, eight-time Downbeat Magazine award winning Lisa Kelly and former director of the Dukes of Dixieland JB Scott have continued to enjoy an ever-expanding, multi-generational fan base. Popular for consistently presenting high level, expressively swinging jazz in an authentic and entertaining delivery, the likable chemistry between these two artists lies in the balance of sharing their creative strengths: Kelly's sophisticated stage presence and song styling, Scott’s humor and total command of his instrument. With a smooth, clear toned, richly timbered signature voice, Kelly sings with a natural style of soulfulness and intimacy reminiscent of Sarah Vaughan, Julie London, Ella Fitzgerald and Diana Krall. The hard swinging, soulful lines of trumpeter JB Scott, a la Freddie Hubbard-Clark Terry-Dizzy Gillespie, skillfully reflect his level of experience and versatility of style. From years spent playing in the clubs of New Orleans and Miami to stages around the world, on trumpet or on flugelhorn, Scott’s masterful interpretive style is sassy, grooving, fiery, and beautifully sensitive. Together, Kelly and Scott are wonderfully engaging and appealing to audiences of all ages.
Kelly and Scott’s numerous, often repeated performances have included the Montreux Jazz Festival (Switzerland), Festival Vien Jazz Festival (Austria), North Sea Jazz Festival (Netherlands), Monterey Jazz Festival, Clearwater Jazz Holiday, Sacramento Jazz Jubilee, Elkhart Jazz Festival, Mammoth Lakes Jazz Festival, Bix Beiderbecke Memorial Jazz Festival, Jacksonville Jazz Festival, Suncoast Dixieland Jazz Classic, Savannah Jazz Festival, Jazz By The Bay Festival, Lakeside Jazz Festival, Walt Disney World's Pleasure Island Jazz Club, Duke's Jazz Bar (Switzerland), The Kravis Center, The Van Weizel Performing Arts Center, the Jazz Corner, Heidi's Jazz Club, and numerous other international festivals, clubs, jazz cruises, jazz societies and music programs from high school to collegiate. Kelly and Scott have appeared with such jazz luminaries as Dave Brubeck, Ed Calle, Slide Hampton, Arturo Sandoval, Bunk Green, Bill Waltrous, Bill Allred, Jane Monheit, Alan Vache, Larry Elgart, Carmen Bradford, Mullgrew Miller and Claudio Rodeti. Their group rhythm sections have included such well respected musicians as Lynne Arriale, Cyrus Chestnut, Jeff Phillips, Per Danielsson, Kevon Bales, Joshua Bowlus, Doug Matthews, Barry Greene, Yotam Silberstein, Dennis Marks, John Lee, Ed Wise, Richard Drexler, Rodney Whitacker, Danny Gottlieb, Eddie Metz, Jr, and Clyde Conner. In June 2003, Kelly and Scott were profiled as featured artists “deserving of wider recognition” on the Southern Arts Federation CD, "Jazz South" distributed to 100's of worldwide radio stations. They have been featured on numerous TV and radio commercials and recordings, including two releases by the St. Johns River City Band, Swingin’ Up The River (2001) and Silver Threads, The 25th Anniversary (2009), and have co-released six CD’s: Lisa Kelly, By Request (1997),
Keepin’ Out of Mischief Now (2000), Memories of Tomorrow (2001), Live at Simons (2003), and Just Swingin’! (2008), and Renditions (2014). In 2011, Kelly and Scott were two of 320 international jazz artists profiled in the book, "The New Face of Jazz", and in 2013, Lisa Kelly was inducted into the Jacksonville Jazz Festival “Hall of Fame.”