Kellylee Evans

Kellylee Evans (born 7 February 1975) is a Canadian jazz and soul music vocalist.

Kellylee Evans
Kellylee Evans, 2011
Kellylee Evans, 2011
Background information
Birth nameKellylee Alverna Evans
Born (1975-02-07) 7 February 1975
Scarborough, Ontario, Canada
GenresJazz, soul, blues
Occupation(s)Vocalist
Years active1990s–present
LabelsPlus Loin Music, Universal Music France, Enliven! Media
Websitekellyleeevans.com

Early life

Educated at Carleton University (1993–2000), it was there that Evans discovered jazz when she "got lost in the elevators of the Loeb Building and found the Music department on the ninth floor of the A tower." She went on to spend seven years there and earned two BAs in Law and English before starting on her MA in Law in 1997. Those studies were put on hold as she focused on her music career.[1] She later returned to Carleton as the university's Artist-in-Residence.[2]

Career

In 2004 Evans won second place at the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Vocals Competition,[3] where Quincy Jones, Dee Dee Bridgewater and Al Jarreau were among the judges. In 2006, she released her debut album Fight or Flight? for which was nominated for a 2007 Juno award.

Her Juno award-winning album Nina[4] was inspired by the life and work of Nina Simone and was recorded after the French record label Plus Loin Music, who invited her to spend two days in their recording studio to record whatever she wanted.[1] The record was released the same year as her album The Good Girl, all while homeschooling her three children under ten years of age[1] On tours she has opened for George Benson, Tony Bennett, Chris Botti, Dianne Reeves, Maceo Parker, Derek Trucks and Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings.[5] Notable live appearances have included the Sunfest, the Algoma Fall Festival with Michael Kaeshammer, and in 2012 she will debut at Toronto's Massey Hall,[6] and the Imperial Theatre.

In 2013, Evans was struck by lightning while inside her home.[7] Her career was initially on hiatus as a result, and in 2015 her friend Amanda Martinez launched a successful crowdfunding campaign to help Evans with living and health expenses.[7] In November 2015, Evans then fainted while getting out of the bath, causing a head injury followed by post-concussion syndrome.[8] As a result of breathing difficulties and dizziness she was unable to sing.[8] However, eventually Evans returned to singing in 2018 and that year was nominated for the JUNO Award for Vocal Jazz Album of the Year for her album Come On.[8] The album was recorded in Belgium, and explores the different stages of a relationship.[8]

She returned for her first concert in France on 16 May 2019 for the Jazz Festival à Saint-Germain-dès-près, with two other concerts in France in October 2019 and, finally, a concert tour throughout France from 6 March 2020 through 30 April 2020.

Notable performances

Television and film appearances
  • 4 Square (TV series) – performer/vocalist (2006-2007)[12]
  • Heartbeat (TV series), documentary, 2008[13]
  • Getting Along Famously (TV series), Episode 1-03 "Toucha My Hand" – 20 January 2006

Awards and recognition

Awards

Recognition

Discography

As leader
  • Fight Or Flight? – (ENLIVEN! Records, 2006)
  • Fight Or Flight? (Live) – (ENLIVEN! Records, 2007)
  • The Good Girl – (ENLIVEN! 2010)
  • Nina – (Plus Loin, 2010)
  • I Remember When – (Universal Music Group, 2013)
  • Come On – (Motown, 2015)

As contributor
  • Independence – by Kobo Town (2003 – track 3 "Abatina", 8 "Beautiful Soul" & 9 "Higher Than Mercy")
  • The Gospel Christmas Project – (track 2 "The First Noel", track 8 "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen", track 11 "Oh Holy Night" – CBC Records 3023, 2007)
  • Dancing Alone: Songs of William Hawkins- 2008 – (Contributor, Track 8 "Merry Go Round")
  • Embracing Voices – by Jane Bunnett (Vocalist and co-writer – track 1 "Sway", track 2 "Kaleidoscope", track 4 "Serafina" and track 12 "The Only One") – winner, 2009 Juno Award for Contemporary Jazz Album of the Year
  • Nomadic Injections – by Shamik – (2010 – track 14 "Lost (live)")
  • The Manhattan Connection – by Various Artists, Songs of Jose Mari Chan – 2011 – (track 4, "I Have Found My World in You" and track 7, "Easier Said Than Done")
  • Ottawa for Haiti – by Various Artists – (2011, Track 9, 'Still I Rise')
  • Northern Faction 5 – by Various Artists (2012, Balanced Records Inc, Track 6 – "Lost" [Rise Ashen Remix])

See also

References
Citations
  1. "Kellylee Evans Wins Juno Award". www1.carleton.ca. Retrieved 15 January 2012.
  2. "Meet Kellylee Evans: Carleton's Artist-in-Residence". Carleton.ca. Retrieved 31 March 2017.
  3. "25th Thelonious Monk International Jazz Vocals Competition". JazzTimes. 16 September 2004.
  4. "Juno Awards Database". Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences.
  5. "Kellylee Evans at Chocolate Church". newmainetimes.org. Retrieved 17 January 2012.
  6. "Kellylee Evans". cbc.ca. Retrieved 14 January 2012.
  7. "Crowdfunding goal for bedridden Canadian jazz singer Kellylee Evans reached" Archived 1 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine. CBC Music, 29 December 2015.
  8. "OC Session". Ottawa Citizen. Retrieved 11 January 2019.
  9. "Vancouver Folk Music Festival Scrapbook: Kellylee Evans". Vancouver Folk Music Festival. 23 July 2007. Archived from the original on 8 February 2012.
  10. "Kellylee Evans". Beaches International Jazz Festival. 2009. Archived from the original on 28 July 2009.
  11. "Kellylee Evans". edmontonjazz.com. Retrieved 17 January 2012.
  12. "4 Square. The best of 4 Square". Toronto Public Library. Retrieved 22 January 2012.
  13. "Heartbeat". imd.com. Retrieved 17 January 2012.
  14. Reaney, James (3 January 2012). "Jazz sensation Evans on Jan. 28 Sunfest bill » AEOLIAN HALL: The World Music & Jazz series features an impressive lineup through April". London Free Press. ISSN 0839-0738. OCLC 607455238. Retrieved 21 January 2012.
  15. "Canadian Singer Kellylee Evans Debuts New Material At National Underground In NYC On September 2, 2009". Music Industry News Network. 26 August 2009. Archived from the original on 24 August 2018. Retrieved 22 January 2012.
  16. Littleton, Lori (11 July 2008). "Chutzpah!". St. Catherines Standard. Archived from the original on 31 January 2018. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
  17. Gemini Award (28 October 2007). "Canada's Awards Database". Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television. Archived from the original on 15 January 2013. Retrieved 21 January 2012.
  18. "VOCAL JAZZ ALBUM OF THE YEAR". JUNO Awards Library. Retrieved 11 January 2019.
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