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 1988 Jon-Erik joined James Dapogny's Chicago Jazz Band with whom he's made appearances throughout North America, concertized on PBS TV, and recorded extensively, including a recent CD with Maria Muldaur entitled Naughty, Bawdy, and Blue, and a DVD with her as well.

Since moving to New York City in 1989 to join Vince Giordano's Nighthawks, Jon has enjoyed performing and recording with Ralph Sutton, Dan Barrett, Howard Alden, Marty Grosz, Milt Hinton, Dick Hyman, Linda Ronstadt, Banu Gibson, Leon Redbone, Levon Helm, Ken Peplowski, Bob Wilber and Kenny Davern.

Recent engagements include a tour of Japan with Ken Peplowski's Kingdom of Swing big band; a tour of Brazil with pianist Judy Carmichael; various appearances on Garrison Keillor's A Prairie Home Companion live public radio show; several "Jazz Fest at Sea" cruises; concerts at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. with John Lithgow; a week as featured artist at Jazzland in Vienna; concerts as a featured soloist in the U.K., Germany and Australia; annual appearances in jazz clubs and festivals in New Orleans; and jazz parties and festivals throughout the United States and Europe.

For over two years, Kellso has been leading the EarRegulars with guitarist Matt Munisteri and various guest artists at the Ear Inn in New York City every Sunday night.

Jon-Erik can be heard on several television and movie soundtracks, including the Nickelodeon children's show Blue's Clues, and the recent movies Ghost World, The Aviator, The Good Shepherd, and Revolutionary Road with Vince Giordano's Nighthawks. He was on-screen in Revolutionary Road and can also be seen and heard in the upcoming HBO pilot from Martin Scorsese, Boardwalk Empire.

Jon was featured on a soundtrack recording session with Wynton Marsalis for an upcoming movie about legendary New Orleans cornetist Buddy Bolden entitled Bolden!

Jon has recorded several times on Arbors Records, including three CDs as a leader and two with Ruby Braff. Jon pays tribute to Braff on his new Remembering Ruby CD on Gen-Erik Records. His latest Arbors release, Blue Roof Blues: A Love Letter to New Orleans is dedicated to Jon's friends in the Crescent City and all those affected by Hurricane Katrina.

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