Kelly Rossum is a jazz trumpet player and composer currently residing in New York, New York U.S.A. Known for combining modern improvisations with traditional jazz elements; his music continues to reach new audiences the world over.
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.
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