Born in 1970, Kelly was fortunate to arrive into a musical family. His father was a clarinetist in the Army band and his mother was an accomplished pianist at an early age. After graduating high school in 1988, Kelly continued down a path of musical education at universities throughout the Midwest United States. He received a Bachelor of Music from the University of Nebraska, Lincoln; a Masters of Music from the University of North Texas; and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Minnesota.
While in Minneapolis (1996-2009), Kelly was an integral part of the regional music scene. The Dakota Jazz Club said, “Kelly Rossum is one of the most fearlessly inventive musicians in a region teeming with new sounds. His recorded projects have redefined what is new in jazz.” In addition to his own ensembles, he co-led the electric improvisation group Electropolis, as well as an Eric Dolphy repertoire ensemble, the Out To Lunch Quintet.
Rossum has released four albums as a leader and has appeared on over 40 recordings as a sideman. His most recent album, Family, was released in 2008. This recording features Minneapolis musicians Bryan Nichols, Chris Bates and JT Bates. Family was selected as the “Best Local Jazz Album of 2008” by the Minneapolis/ St. Paul magazine.
As an educator as well as a performer, Rossum founded and directed the jazz program at MacPhail Center for Music (2002-2009), one of the nation’s largest community music schools. In 2007, Kelly was the jazz scholar chosen to head the nationally supported, “Looking At: Jazz, America’s Art Form” series at the Minneapolis Public Library. He was also active in the now defunct International Association for Jazz Educators, having presented a “Free Jazz for the Young Jazz Ensemble” clinic at the 2005 regional convention in Chicago, Illinois. In addition to his regional lectures, Rossum has presented music master classes across the United States, Europe, and Asia.
Jazz is an international music and Kelly has performed alongside musicians from all over the world; including, Ron Miles (USA), Lars Jansson (Sweden), Bob Mintzer (USA), Denis Colin (France), Ted Nash (USA), Barbara Dennerlein (Germany), Darin Pantoomkomol (Thialand), Bengt Eklund (Sweden), Phil Hey (USA), Jun Miyake (Japan), Woody Witt (USA), Ignacio ‘Nachito’ Herrera (Cuba), Joe LoCascio (USA), Vyacheslav Shumilov (Russia), Anthony Cox (USA), Sir David Wilcox (Great Britain), Alexander Serguencko (Russia), Wessell ‘Warmdaddy’ Anderson (USA), Eric Miyashiro (Japan), Juini Booth (USA), and his own quartet of world class musicians: Bryan Nichols, Chris Bates, and JT Bates (USA).
Since moving to New York in 2009, Kelly Rossum continues to deepen his love and understanding of America’s indigenous music while becoming an important part of the global jazz community.
Hello! Just wanted to drop in and let you know that pre-orders for my new jazz standards album "Bittersweet" are now taking place! The first 100 pre-orders will receive a signed and numbered copy! Release date is set for May 19th, but you will get your copy a few days earlier! Kate and I are very excited about the record, and we can't wait for you to hear it. Head over to www.bittersweetthealbum.com to pre-order! Thanks! ~Mark
Great to see everyone in action at HCC. Sorry I had to rush out as soon as the concert was over. It was a 14 hour shoot day including the concert, plus another 4 hours of editing.
The pics are up on my site now. :) Sending you the links for view and the downloads.
Kelly: I'm glad we were able to do the college concert. Really enjoyed the group. Sorry i didn't get to come to Cezanne either night but Woody told me the crowds were great. Hope you sold a mess of cd's!
Let's definitely talk about a project. Would love it!
i think it will be great..haven't done any edits yet, not that i will have to do much. the dude is coming to town in a week, he'll send you a check then. cheers g
Hey Kelly, Oh heck yeah I want to be a MySpace friend of yours. I didn't know you had a MySpace or I would have asked you first. Hopefully I will get to hear you at Cezanne's in September. Thanks for being a MySpace friend of mine Jim
It might seem odd, but your voice woke me up this morning. You were thanking me for supporting Minnesota's voice for jazz... then i checked my space and there you were again, id like to think that ill keep running into messages left by you all day. ill hear from you soon. tony
Kelly, Thanks. I had a great show tonight at the Dakota. Not sure how many were there, but they did open the curtain! Phil, Laura, Bryan & Tanner burned it up. I am wasted from the energy we put out! Gordo
