About Kellylee Evans

Toronto-born, Ottawa based vocalist Kellylee Evans continues to evolve her distinctive sound with her newest release Nina. The decidedly jazz release has the artist returning full circle to her roots after critically successful forays into creating her own original compositions which seamlessly fuse jazz and her own unique style of "soul pop”. Evans began her career in 2004 after garnering a 2nd place win at the Thelonious Monk Jazz Vocals Competition. With the nod from her musical idols, the former academic steadily embarked on a professional career in music.

On the basis of the accolades received for her first two albums, Fight or Flight and The Good Girl, the 2007 Juno and Gemini Award nominee has been invited to open for music legends Tony Bennett, Maceo Parker and George Benson along with Chris Botti, Derek Trucks and Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings. She has studied and recorded with Janis Siegel of Manhattan Transfer and co-wrote and performed on saxophonist Jane Bunnett’s 2009 Juno Award winning release, Embracing Voices. Her new release, Nina (Plus Loin) was recorded in France and is a tribute to one of jazz's greatest vocalists and pianists, Nina Simone.

Kellylee Evans joined the JazzTimes community on Nov 16, 2010