Nancy Kelly

"The title says it all.This infectious blonde bombshell has all the confidence of a horn player when she swings" Harvey Siders JazzTimes

Downbeat readers polls voted Nancy one of the top Jazz singers in the country

"Without a doubt Miss Kelly is one of the most exciting singers in the business today. When Jazz players behind a vocalist are in instrumental euphoria, you know something unusual is astir"

Bob Agnew L.A. Jazz scene

"Killin" "You so get it" Dizzy's Jazz Club Lincoln Center New York

"If swing was gold, Nancy Kelly would be the richest woman on earth"

JohnGilbert jazzreview.com

Check out Nancy's other CD's

Help support Nancy directly by buying from this site

NEW! Check out my new BLOG ! "Boppin with Nancy"!

Singer Nancy Kelly's vibrant, rhythm-driven vocals have precisely the right combination of good-time energy, imaginative scatting and take-no-prisoners swing.

Don Heckman L.A. Times

Nancy Kelly’s refined vocal style is a study in phrasing, style and the ability to swing. Kelly’s powerful singing has captured many awards and the ears of many jazz fans around the globe. With a new CD that continues to demonstrate why critics have called Nancy Kelly “the real deal,” Kelly is back and keeping the jazz world swinging read more

H Allen Williams Jazzreview.com

From first perfectly pitched note, she lets the listener know that she's more than just another vocalist...superb control of intonation and time...manages to uncompromisingly establish her own voice. This chanteuse puts a hammer lock on the listener.One thing you can say about Kelly:she is not afraid to lean into space and soar like a bird. She's fashioned her own wings. read more

DeeDee McNeil Cadence

Singer Nancy Kelly adopted a kind of take-no-prisoners approach to scatting and swinging on revved-up renditions of “It’s Alright with Me” and “Jeanine.” A perennial festival favorite since 1982, Kelly is a world-class jazz singer in the feisty, swinging tradition of Anita O’Day. Throughout her scintillating set she demonstrated superb phrasing, excellent time, great intonation and tons of chops, with a load of charisma to boot. read more

Bill Milkowski JazzTimes

M&T Syracuse Jazz Fest 2007

"Nancy Kelly is the Anita O'Day of today"

Mark Murphy

It's very pleasing to report that Kelly not only treats this music with care and respect, she also turns it into what are unquestionably jazz performances. At a time when we are still immersed in the flood of popsters claiming to be jazz singers, this cd comes as a very welcome assurance that the real thing is still around. So why are the big bucks behind the wannabes and superior singers such as Kelly having to make their own way? Its an unfair world. Many nearly mere singers squeeze into the jazz fold by way of their accompaniment. Here though there is no question that Kelly has the touch that would swing like mad if she was all alone. This cd is on my list for jazz vocal album of the year. read more

Miss Kelly has paid her dues in the jazz genre and as a result she has developed into one of the major forces in this idiom, perhaps the best off them all. She has honed her craft in jazz clubs the world over. Kelly's range is high wide and handsome, her phrasing is impeccable and she scats joyfully, correctly and gives new meaning to the word hip. Nancy Kelly is the real deal and your ears will bear witness to that. read more

The album makes clear that you're the real thing, and in an age of too many jazz-vocal poseurs, that's pretty damned refreshing.

Nancy Kelly. What a stylist and what a voice and what a communicator! From the very first downbeat Nancy Kelly steps into that blue-tinged smoky spotlight that has been focused on the greats such as Etta James, Billie Holiday, etc etc etc

Nancy Kelly is a major talent. This is 'old music' - the kind of music we were afraid was gone - beautifully performed by a brilliant ensemble of gifted artists

The title says it all. This infections blond bombshell has all the confidence of a horn player when she swings. Just press the right key or valve, and out comes the right….no, the precise note. She shows great control. She can manipulate her “instrument” and at the same time juggle those things called Lyrics.read more

"Few younger singers project the sense of time, delivery, and moxie of the great big band trained singers of the 40's. When someone asks where that style has gone, I'll refer them to Nancy Kelly's "Born to Swing". Nancy Kelly is in the tradition of Anita O'Day, Peggy Lee, Lucy Ann Polk, KayStarr, Sassy, and Billie."

She swings, the band swings, the arrangements swing - the toe (well, my toe) taps, and Ms. Kelly takes command of each song - bending it to her will. We're not dealing with some bunch of rookies here, folks - Ms. Kelly (and the band) are pros.

Nancy... I just want to tell you that YOU rock!! I love the tunes... You are a force in our business... so glad to get your music for my audience...

'Tis a terrific CD---my compliments to the Chef----she and Houston are incredible together----Her voice, his sax, and the interplay between the two of them is jazz for the 21st Century at its BEST!! Wotta Team!!

Fritz the Nite Owl: Nite Owl Jazz: Sunday Nites: 9P-Midnight WJZA-WJZK-FM: Columbus, Ohio

Wisely Nancy has chosen the renowned ace tenor man Houston Person to enhance her appealing vocalizing on this commanding CD. Song after song she dazzles reminding one of Anita O'Day's finest hours. Nancy actually sounds like another member of the accomplished quartet that so ably accompanies her. There is so much occurring during “More Than You Know" that I just don't know where to begin. Nancy delves into this significant oldie and unearths fresh and new sounds. It's ballad artistry taken to vocal perfection. "Let Me Off Uptown" (Bostic/Evans) highlights Houston in a spectacular one of a kind tenor solo and surprisingly a polished vocal, assisting an amazing swift vocal by Nancy. It's so up you are bound to push the replay button.

Aaah Yes…..Once and awhile someone who ‘sings the song.’ It’s obvious that jazz singer Nancy Kelly is a veteran @ her craft……..And her craft is ‘resident chanteuse’ for the American Songbook. This project has the right kind of groove………..The tunes are well picked exemplifying how gifted our (USA) composers were, & how lucky singers like Nancy are to have the chops to give such regal, full meaning songs the right interpretation for our ears to imbibe. Nancy sings with a lot of empathy & affirmation. I sense when the vibes are right, her melodic & harmonic vocalise as well as her lyrical stylings can only surmount any doubts as to her fine skills as a singer.
George W. Carroll/The Musicians’ Ombudsma

Nancy is now accepting vocal students. Lessons available in Manhattan and Syracuse and Sterling N.Y.

Like this web page? I'll build one for you. Use the contact form on this site to send me an email.