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Jon-Erik Kellso
Jon-Erik Kellso plays melodic, swinging jazz trumpet with an emphasis on ensemble interplay.
About Me
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 '88 Jon-Erik joined James Dapogny's Chicago
Jazz Band with whom he made appearances
throughout North America, concertized on PBS
TV, and recorded extensively.
Since moving to New York City in 1989 to join
Vince Giordano's Nighthawks, Jon has enjoyed
performing and recording with the likes of
Catherine Russell, Ralph Sutton, Dan Barrett,
Howard Alden, Marty Grosz, Milt Hinton, Bob
Haggart, Dick Hyman, Kat Edmondson, Leon
Redbone, Levon Helm, Wynton Marsalis, Ken
Peplowski, Wycliffe Gordon, Bob Wilbur, and
Kenny Davern.
Notable engagements include a week at Dizzy's
Club Coca-Cola at Jazz at Lincoln Center with
Wynton Marsalis celebrating Louis Armstrong's
Hot 5s and 7s, master classes all over the world,
and leading The EarRegulars at the Detroit Jazz
Fest, the Moab Music Fest, and the Bohemia
Ragtime and Jazz Fest in Hungary.
At home in New York City Kellso has been
leading The EarRegulars at the historic Ear Inn on
Sunday nights since 2007. On Mondays Jon plays
with Vince Giordano and the Nighthawks at
Birdland, just off of Times Square.
Aside from these steadies, Jon can also be seen
performing at all the great NYC venues, including
Dizzy's, Small's, Café Ornithology, and Mezzrow.
Jon-Erik can be heard on many television and
movie soundtracks, including “Ghost World,” “The
Aviator,” “The Good Shepherd,” “Revolutionary
Road,” “Mildred Pierce,” “Bessie,” “Don’t Worry
Darling,” “Kill Your Darlings,” and “The Joker,”
mostly with Vince Giordano's Nighthawks. He
was on screen as well as on the soundtracks for
”Revolutionary Road,” “Boardwalk Empire” (for
which they won a Grammy),“The Marvelous Mrs.
Maisel,” and “Killers of the Flower Moon.”
Jon is on well over 150 albums, and has recorded
several times as a bandleader. He is on three
albums as leader of The EarRegulars, including
the critically acclaimed “Live at the Ear Inn,” on
Arbors Records from 2023.
