Without a doubt the name of the band says it all.   Searching for the musical thrill that sends shivers up your backbone is the combined aim of the members of this band.  Jim’s compositions fall into the contemporary end of jazz with a heavy emphasis on groove without forsaking the memorable melody.  A night of groovy, contemporary jazz ‘n blues.

The Talent

Jim – guitar
Greg Lyon – bass
Scott Hills -drums.

Jim Kelly

JIM KELLY has firmly established himself as a leading Australian contemporary jazz and blues guitarist, composer and educator whose reputation goes well beyond Australian shores.

In 1975 Jim collaborated with keyboardist Michael J Kenny and percussionist

Ian Bloxsom to form CROSSFIRE – Australia’s most celebrated jazz fusion group.  Crossfire toured extensively, including performances at Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club in London, The Baked Potato in L.A. and The Montreux Jazz Festival in 1982.  They recorded seven albums, including a live album with U.S. vocalist Michael Franks.  Crossfire also performed on collaborative tours with Lee Ritenour & Don Grusin, Ben Sidran and Randy Brecker.

From 1975-87 Jim perfected the rigorous demands of the recording studio and became a highly sought-after session player performing on countless jingles, documentaries, film scores plus pop and jazz artists’ albums.  Jim also performed and recorded with Australian artists Kerrie Biddell, Renee Geyer, Johnny Farnham, Debbie Byrne, Grace Knight, Margaret Urlich, Mark Holden, Marc Hunter, John English, Tommy Emmanuel, Erana Clark, Don Burrows, George Golla, Doug de Vries, James Sherlock, James Muller and Dale Barlow, to name but a few.   Overseas artists include Georgie Fame, Thelma Houston and Martin Taylor and there were Crazy One-Off Moments when Herbie Hancock sat in with The Jim Kelly Connexion, Bassist Nathan East sat in with the Tommy Emmanuel Band, Larry Coryell played Jim’s guitar at The Basement and Jimmie Vaughan (Stevie Ray’s bro) played Jim’s guitar with the Connexion band too.  In recent years Jim performed at guitar clinics with Mike Stern and Robben Ford.

The 90’s saw a change of lifestyle for Jim with a move to Northern NSW to lecture at Southern Cross University, Lismore where he was Head of Guitar Studies for 17 years.  Jim has now resigned from full-time academia and now runs a recording studio – TONE RANGER STUDIO.   He has produced many

fine albums in the past five years (25 in total) and has quickly achieved the reputation of becoming a world-class Producer and Mixing/Mastering engineer.

Since 1993 Jim has released nine cd’s as a bandleader.   His latest ventures are two cd’s titled Ya Gotta Love The Drummers Vols 1 & 2.  These albums are dedicated to two great friends, mighty drummers Russell Dunlop and John Proud and features many world-class Australian musicians.    Also, a Hammond Organ Trio cd with Tim Neal & Dave Sanders called Johnny Santo which has just been released.

Jim is a musician dedicated to the art of improvising, composing, performing and teaching and is always searching for new ways to expand his musical horizons.

In Jim’s words … ‘I’m the eternal student’

Doors open at 6.30pm. Show starts at 7.30pm.

See below to book your tickets today.

Contemporary Jazz ‘n Blues