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Arthur Kell

Arthur Kell (bassist, composer) is one of the most original voices on today's New York jazz scene. For the past twenty-five years, he has played with an amazing cross-section of the most influential contemporary jazz musicians in New York City and around the world.

For example, in the 1980's Arthur played extensively with artists such as Thomas Chapin (Spirits Rebellious Quintet), Bobbie Previte, Shelley Hirsch and Fred Ho, and also played dates with Billy Bang, Marc Ribot and Mark Feldman.This wide experience and versatility are reflected in Arthur's playing and writing. His compositions and his improvisations draw on many diverse influences, which makes for very entertaining and compelling listening. Arthur's ability to fit seamlessly into any musical context has made him much in demand as a sideman.

Recently, he has been working with the likes of Sam Newsome, Armen Donelian, Dave Berkman, Cliff Korman, Guillermo Klein, Christian Howes, John Stetch, Bruce Barth and the Finnish singer, Sanni Orasmaa. He has been paired on recordings with Bernard Purdie, Matt Wilson and Anton Fier.

His quartet has done fifteen tours in Europe and he has recorded four cds of his compositions. Since 1997, he has led groups featuring such contemporary jazz stars as Loren Stillman, Bill McHenry, Brad Shepik, Steve Cardenas, Matt Wilson, Gerald Cleaver, Donny McCaslin and Chris Cheek.Arthur's 2012 release on the Brooklyn Jazz Underground label, Jester, unveils a new program of songs that has been enthusiastically embraced before sold-out audiences in Europe and New York. His current working band includes Loren Stillman (alto sax), Brad Shepik (guitar) and Mark Ferber (drums).

He has recently started working with Flashpoint, a group of six poets/writers and one musician. Recent and upcoming performances for Flashpoint include Dixon Place and Le Poisson Rouge in NYC.

Arthur is also composing and performing with interdisciplinary artist Quintan Ana Wikswo, choreographer Alexx Shilling and Fieldshift/Further, a multidisciplinary performance company involving dance, poetry, spoken text, music and film. The company will have installations and performances with Quintan Ana Wikswo in the Jewish Museums of Munich and Berlin in 2013.

Arthur was born in Winchester, Massachusetts. His musical life started late in high school. He met Thomas Chapin there and the two became life-long friends. He went on to study at Oberlin Conservatory of Music with Diana Mizelle, Mark Bernat and Wendell Logan (composition). It was at Oberlin that he first met and played extensively with Ned Rothenberg, Jon Jang, Eric Watson and Tom Varner.

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9
Live Review

Arthur Kell Speculation Quartet At Scott's Jazz Club

Read "Arthur Kell Speculation Quartet At Scott's Jazz Club" reviewed by Ian Patterson


Arthur Kell Speculation Quartet Scott's Jazz Club Belfast, N. Ireland May 23, 2025 Outlier comedian and agent provocateur Bill Hicks had a sketch where he greeted the audience with the news that this would be his last gig. Yeah, it was sad, he acknowledged, but he had enjoyed every minute of the ride--every lonely car journey between towns, every featureless airport waiting lounge, every cancelled flight, every mattress-stained motel room, and every dumb audience ...

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1
Performance / Tour

This Week At The Cornelia Street Cafe, June 19-26

This Week At The Cornelia Street Cafe, June 19-26

Source: Jason Byrne, Red Cat Publicity

The Cornelia Street Café, which celebrates its 35th Anniversary this July, is a true New York City landmark, an epicurean destination, an artist's café that cultivates and inspires, and one of the few remaining Greenwich Village bastions for creative music, spoken word, art, theatre, cabaret and much more This Week at The Cafe, June 19-26: TONIGHT - Tuesday, June 19, 8:30 PM ARTHUR KELL QUARTET +1, CD RELEASE: JESTER Michael Blake, tenor sax; Loren Stillman, alto ...

6
Recording

Brooklyn Jazz Underground Records To Release Jester From Bassist/composer Arthur Kell

Brooklyn Jazz Underground Records To Release Jester From Bassist/composer Arthur Kell

Source: Jason Byrne, Red Cat Publicity

Jester features Arthur Kell (bass, compositions), Loren Stillman (alto saxophone), Brad Shepik (guitar) & Mark Ferber (drums) CD RELEASE CELEBRATION! Tuesday, June 19 @ 8:30 PM Arthur Kell Quartet +1 @ The Cornelia Street Cafe Featuring Michael Blake, tenor sax; Loren Stillman, alto sax; Brad Shepik, guitar; Arthur Kell, bass; Mark Ferber, drums Bassist/composer Arthur Kell is one of the most original voices on today's New York jazz scene. For the past twenty plus ...

186
Recording

Brooklyn Jazz Underground Records to Release New Recordings from Arthur Kell, Daniel Kelly + Guilherme Monteiro

Brooklyn Jazz Underground Records to Release New Recordings from Arthur Kell, Daniel Kelly + Guilherme Monteiro

Source: Jason Byrne, Red Cat Publicity

BROOKLYN JAZZ UNDERGROUND RECORDS To Release New Recordings From Arthur Kell, Daniel Kelly + Guilherme Monteiro - Digital Release Date – May 12, In Stores – June 9 BJURecords Festival at The Jazz Gallery Thurs June 18: Bernard, Emer, Beckham, Ferber, Will Bernard (gtr), Andrew Emer (b), Tom Beckham (v), Mark Ferber (d) Fri June 19: Alexis Cuadrado Cuarteto Ibrico, Alexis Cuadrado (b), Vctor Prieto (acc), Brad Shepik (gtr), Jordan Perlson (d, perc) Sat June 20: Guilherme Monteiro, Jorge Continentino ...

103
Performance / Tour

Bassist/Composer Arthur Kell Celebrates "Traveller" at The Jazz Standard, November 29

Bassist/Composer Arthur Kell Celebrates "Traveller" at The Jazz Standard, November 29

Source: All About Jazz

RED CAT PUBLICITY J A S O N B Y R N E 415 85th Street, #3R, Brooklyn, New York, 11209, Tel 718 921 1330, Email [email protected] FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Bassist/Composer Arthur Kell Leads His Quartet at The Jazz Standard In Celebration of Traveller - One Night Only - Tuesday, November 29! With Donny McCaslin (tenor saxophone), Steve Cardenas (guitar) and Gerald Cleaver (drums) Listings Info: Two shows at 7:30 & 9:30 PM. The Jazz Standard is located at 116 ...

"The compositions are filled with melodic arrangements, spontaneous interaction, and vibrant individual performances. Booming bass lines, crisp drumming, and dynamic sax and guitar harmonies (and solos) are in abundance and every tune has elements of swing and discovery.…the music's lyrical bent and the quartet's collective talent for nuance is what brings this disc home...the sense that these are stories never wanes....the results are very, very good." — All About Jazz

"[A] terrific group...You can imagine that softly rocking line on a 60s Blue Note date...the same spiraling effect you used to get with the Bhundu Boys...Like his old friend and associate, Thomas Chapin, [Kell] keeps his ears and mind open for new sounds and experiences." —Downbeat Magazine (Four-Star Review, January 2024)

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Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Live at LunÀtico

Origin Records
2023

buy

Jester

Bjurecords
2012

buy

Traveller

Fresh Sound Records
2005

buy

See You in Zanzibar

Self Produced
2001

buy

Haflat Zifaf

From: Live at LunÀtico
By Arthur Kell

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