While primarily known for their respective jazz performances and songwriting, newlywed musicians, Kelle Jolly and Will Boyd are graduates of South Carolina State and inductees in the SCSU Jazz Hall of Fame. Frequently, they toured the Charleston are with the SCSU jazz ensmeble.
Kelle Jolly is an accomplished professional vocalist, songwriter, and music educator. While her style is sometimes evocative of Sarah Vaughan or Olitta Adams, Ms. Jolly’s infectious stage presence and unique style demonstrates a hybrid of sensitive song styling with conservative bursts of courageous musical creativity. She can surprise with anything from passionate ethno-rhythmic scat singing to whistle tones to comedy. She manages to execute a variety of styles with great aplomb without ever being precious. She has also recently successfully branched out into regional musical theatre (Hairspray; Between a Ballad & a Blues). And while she can nail any A cappella performance, sparks really start to fly when she collaborates with partner Will Boyd.
Boyd, an erudite multi-wind instrumentalist, is also an in-demand performer. A regular member of the Knoxville Jazz Orchestra, Will has also performed with the Streamliners, the Temptations and the Spinners. He is also a frequent accompanist with Grammy nominee, Donald Brown. When Jolly and Boyd perform together, his cool style nicely balances Ms. Jolly effervescence. The guy is a Zen master of woodwinds, and, together with Jolly, they encompass a wide array of musical knowledge ranging from traditional jazz standards, old school rhythm and blues, spirituals, acoustic Christmas carols, and pop music. The couple are also accomplished songwriters. Whether performing solo, as a duo, or with a full band, Jolly and Boyd a ready, set frontmen.
Kelle and Will are also able to craft a unique variety of specialty performances. In addition to their stellar jazz shows, this duo also crafts musical reviews and Master classes for college audiences. They have donated their work to social activism causes like the University of Tennessee’s Jazz for Justice program. As part of Black History Month, the couple created and performed an American history lesson through a variety of patriotic and traditional music for Pellissippi State Community College. They also lend their expertise to Master classes focusing on the life and work of self-employed musicians.
While they are local favorites at venues like the Knoxville Museum of Art and area nightclubs, they have also been the darlings of the Mururon Jazz Cruise in Japan, where they were also married in 2008.
Knoxville Museum of Art "Alive After Five" series- Knoxville, TN 2007-2010
Muroran Jazz Cruise- Muroran, Japan 2006
Jazz for Justice- Knoxville, TN 2007
Jazz for Justice- Knoxville, TN 2008
Muroran Jazz Cruise- Muroran, Japan 2008
Jazz for Justice Benefit Concert- Knoxville, TN 2008
Pellissippi State Community College- Knoxville, TN BLACK HISTORY PROGRAM 2009-2010
Cumberland County Playhouse- Crossville, TN Tribute to Harold Arlen 2009
Glenwood Jazz Festival- Chattanooga, TN 2009
Glenwood Jazz Festival- Chattanooga, TN 2010
Homegrown Series- Knoxville, TN 2010
Cumberland County Playhouse- Crossville, TN Tribute to Women of Jazz 2010
