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At 6’ 2” and 115 kg’s Peter Kelly is the big man of the Sydney jazz scene.
Born in Sydney in 1964 Peter William Kelly is the product of a musical family. His great grandfather was a flute and fife player in military bands, his grandmother an accomplished church organist. His mother sung alto in the church choir and played organ, his father’s rumbling bass voice and huge interest in classical music conspired to influence young Peter. It was not long before the eight- year- old found himself in a combined School choir singing in the Sydney Opera House, an auspicious start, some would say.
Unfortunately the world of choral music lost Peter and it was some time before serious singing was thought about. “I was in a rock band and the drummer announced our next gig was a street and strip show organized by the local bikies” Peter recalls. I knew then that rock and me would soon part ways. At that stage a friend told me about a teacher who taught jazz singing using live bands. This interested me so I went. I remember the first lesson.
He’d told me to learn a jazz standard so I learnt ‘Tie a Yellow Ribbon’. Well, I reasoned it’s not rock so it must be jazz. The guy laughed and told me that was a pop tune. The following week I learnt ‘The Green Door’ . He laughed again and told me to learn ‘Fly me to the Moon’. That’s when it really started for me.
“ Whatever the music, if the player doesn't play from the heart you might as well get a D.J. Singing jazz for me is about revealing my life’s experience, it’s about triumph and tragedy, glory and failure all the stuff that makes life so………and music so important.
"The great players, past and present, have always brought their own personalities to their music, creating an individual sound. Look at Vince Jones or Tony Bennet; both are essentially jazz singers, but you wouldn't say they were the same. "
The Swing Set plays comfortably as a duo, trio, or quartet and is suitable for dinner parties or concert halls. Call today - we are always happy to discuss opportunities to play.
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