“Kelly Blue” is an album by Wynton Kelly, recorded on February 19 and March 10, 1959, at Reeves Sound Studios, New York, and originally released on Riverside Records (RLP 12-298). The Jazz Workshop Vinyl reissue as a 180-gram audiophile LP (JW-102) revives this record with remastering that highlights the piano’s brilliance. The lineup features Wynton Kelly (piano), Nat Adderley (cornet), Benny Golson (tenor saxophone), Bobby Jaspar (flute), Paul Chambers (bass), and Jimmy Cobb (drums), with tracks in trio and sextet formats. The album includes Kelly’s originals like Kelly Blue and standards such as Softly, As in a Morning Sunrise. The music is hard bop with bluesy and lyrical elements, with Kelly’s piano shining with swinging energy. The Jazz Workshop reissue, limited to 500 copies, is prized for its clean, warm sound, capturing New York’s atmosphere. “Kelly Blue” is a classic, showcasing Kelly’s mastery.
Wynton Kelly (December 2, 1931 – April 12, 1971) was an American jazz pianist, a hard-bop star. Born in Brooklyn, New York, he began playing piano in his youth, inspired by Bud Powell and Thelonious Monk. In the 1950s, Kelly became a sought-after musician, collaborating with Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, and Cannonball Adderley. His style featured swinging ease, melodic improvisations, and bluesy warmth, making him an ideal accompanist and leader. Kelly recorded several albums, including the iconic Kelly Blue. Later, he performed and taught, leaving a legacy as one of jazz’s most beloved pianists.
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TRACKLIST
Side One:
1. Kelly Blue (Wynton Kelly) 10:41 *
2. Softly As in a Morning Sunrise (Romberg-Hammerstein II) 6:24
3. Willow Weep for Me (Ann Ronnell) 6:03
Side Two:
1. Keep it Moving (Wynton Kelly) 7:26 *
2. Green Dolphin Street (Bronislav Kaper) 4:39
3. Old Clothes (Wynton Kelly) 7:37
4. Do Nothin’ till You Hear From Me (Ellington-Russell) 4:22
Personnel:
Wynton Kelly (piano), Paul Chambers (bass), Jimmy Cobb (drums).
Sextet (*): Nat Adderley (cornet), Bobby Jaspar (flute), Benny Golson (tenor sax), added.
Recorded at Reeves Sound Studios, New York City, on Febraury 19 (*) and March 10, 1959
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