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Jon-Erik Kellso

Jon-Erik Kellso plays melodic, swinging jazz trumpet with an emphasis on ensemble interplay.

About Me

Trumpeter Jon-Erik Kellso started playing professionally in and around Detroit, Michigan, where he was born in 1964. Jon began early, playing in a big band at age 11, in the International Youth Symphony at age 13, and in a concert alongside cornetist Wild Bill Davison at age 17. Kellso played with a wide variety of groups there, including the J.C. Heard Orchestra.

In '88 Jon-Erik joined James Dapogny's Chicago Jazz Band with whom he made appearances throughout North America, concertized on PBS TV, and recorded extensively.

Since moving to New York City in 1989 to join Vince Giordano's Nighthawks, Jon has enjoyed performing and recording with the likes of Catherine Russell, Ralph Sutton, Dan Barrett, Howard Alden, Marty Grosz, Milt Hinton, Bob Haggart, Dick Hyman, Kat Edmondson, Leon Redbone, Levon Helm, Wynton Marsalis, Ken Peplowski, Wycliffe Gordon, Bob Wilbur, and Kenny Davern.

Notable engagements include a week at Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola at Jazz at Lincoln Center with Wynton Marsalis celebrating Louis Armstrong's Hot 5s and 7s, master classes all over the world, and leading The EarRegulars at the Detroit Jazz Fest, the Moab Music Fest, and the Bohemia Ragtime and Jazz Fest in Hungary.

At home in New York City Kellso has been leading The EarRegulars at the historic Ear Inn on Sunday nights since 2007. On Mondays Jon plays with Vince Giordano and the Nighthawks at Birdland, just off of Times Square. Aside from these steadies, Jon can also be seen performing at all the great NYC venues, including Dizzy's, Small's, Café Ornithology, and Mezzrow.

Jon-Erik can be heard on many television and movie soundtracks, including “Ghost World,” “The Aviator,” “The Good Shepherd,” “Revolutionary Road,” “Mildred Pierce,” “Bessie,” “Don’t Worry Darling,” “Kill Your Darlings,” and “The Joker,” mostly with Vince Giordano's Nighthawks. He was on screen as well as on the soundtracks for ”Revolutionary Road,” “Boardwalk Empire” (for which they won a Grammy),“The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,” and “Killers of the Flower Moon.”

Jon is on well over 150 albums, and has recorded several times as a bandleader. He is on three albums as leader of The EarRegulars, including the critically acclaimed “Live at the Ear Inn,” on Arbors Records from 2023.

My Jazz Story

I love jazz because... I was first exposed to jazz... I met [musician name]... The best show I ever attended was... The first jazz record I bought was... My advice to new listeners... Or whatever else you have in mind.