Jaz Sawyer’s Soul Jazz Pioneers

A beloved figure on the Bay Area jazz scene for over five decades, Kelly was a master keyboardist and bandleader who performed with Bobby Hutcherson, John Handy, and Ray Drummond, and was a dedicated church musician and music educator who led a 25-year teaching career at Oakland’s Laney College. He made his SFJAZZ debut in 1989 and performed on our stages numerous times including a Hammond B3 Summit concert, and received the SFJAZZ Jazz Beacon Award in 2002.

Among the many musicians mentored by Kelly was Jaz Sawyer, who assembled this hard-swinging quartet to honor Kelly’s legacy in the funkiest way possible. Sawyer has worked with SFJAZZ as an artist and educator for many years, and one of his memorable performances includes the 50th anniversary of Duke Ellington’s Concert of Sacred Music at Grace Cathedral in 2015 featuring the Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir, which was founded by Ed Kelly’s son Terrance Kelly.