Kelvin Sholar

Kelvin Sholar

Kelvin Sholar is one of the few musicians that has the enormous capacity to handle Jazz, Classic, Blues, Carribean and Electronic music. His recent projects include:

-Recording and performances with legendary Jazz funk Detroit collective Tribe,
-Jazz quartet arrangements of Stravinsky´s "Rite of Spring" and "Firebird Suite",
-Solo Piano recordings of Ragtime and Classic works,
-Afro-Carribean recordings with Kevin Jones and Tenth World,
-Recording with Carl Craig and Lcd Soundsystem on grammy nominated "Sound of Silver",
-Blues recordings with Corey Harris (Macarthur Fellow 2007) and Sangoma Everette,
-“Firebird VII” A techno-classical piece for Infine records “Taste of the Last Supper” compilation by Francesco Tristano
-Recording on acclaimed remix of "Relevee" with Craig for DFA´s Gavin and Russom,
-Classical/techno remix of Herbert Von Karajan´s classic recordings for Deutsche Grammophone/ Universal records Recomposed project with Moritz Von Oswald and Craig,
-String quartet arrangements of Radiohead ("Let Down") and Mary J Blige ("Family Affair") for the acclaimed Faure quartet (Universal records),
-”Conversations in Space” a live audio/visual performance (for Kunsthaus Graz’s Bix Fassade/ Spring 8) that mixes live visuals by VJ Mox with exciting new techno versions of the music of Beethoven, Mozart, Schoenberg (and others) by Sholar and rising piano star Francesco Tristano.

Kelvin has performed on several international television shows and web broadcasts in Spain, France, Germany, Austria, Scotland, UK, Switzerland, Italy, Greece, Netherlands, Slovakia, Brazil and America- as well as having been interviewed and filmed by American director Spike Lee.

Kelvin Sholar has performed, collaborated and/or recorded with The New York City Ballet, Caron Wheeler, Ron Carter, Carl Craig, Branford Marsalis, Vinx, Qool Dj Marv, Amel Lerrieux, Greg Osby, Randy Crawford, Teodross Avery, Q-tip, Frank Wess, Ray Mantilla, George Benson, Bobby Watson, Babyface, Common, Roy Hargrove, Wallace Roney, Piero Odorici, Gary Thomas, Meshell N'dege O'cello, Kenny Garrett, Jon Faddis, Marshall Allen, Ronnie Cuber, Patrice Rushen, Lenny White, Jerry Gonzales and Fort Apache, Max Herre, Winard Harper, Joy Denalane, Carmen Lundy, James Carter, Sean Lennon, Stuart Matthewman, Cindy Blackmon, T.C. Carson, Mark Turner, David Murray and many more.

Kelvin Sholar has recorded and performed extensively in top level festivals and musical venues in major cities all over the world, such as: Lincoln Center, The Blue Note, The Apollo Theater, Columbia University, and The Knitting Factory in New York, The Half Note in Athens/ Greece, Calle 54 in Madrid/ Spain, Lagos Jazz Festival in Lagos, Portugal, Cite de la Musique, The Veille Charite and The Pelle Melle in Marseilles/ France, Alexanderplatz in Rome/ Italy, La Torione in Ferrara/Italy, Mainstreet Festival 2006-7, Sanremo Festival, The Chet Baker in Bologna/Italy, Cantina Bentivoglio in Bolgna, Italy, Zola Jazz and Wine Festival in Zola/Italy, Jesse James, The Blue Note in Osaka, Fukuoka, and Tokyo/ Japan and Duo Music Exchange in Tokyo/ Japan, Kaufleuten in Zürich/ Switzerland, Jazove Dni in Nova zamky/ Slovakia, The Free Jazz Festival in Rio and Sao Paulo/ Brazil,The Bimhuis in Amsterdam/ Netherlands, Le Club in Moscow/ Russia, Ronnie Scott's in London/ Uk, Centre Pompidou and Factory in Paris/ France, Go Kart Expo in Brussells/ Belgium, Jazz Am Berg in Linz/Austria, SpringSeven Festival in Graz/ Austria, Moritzbastei in Leipzig/ Germany, Quasimodo in Berlin/ Germany, Mandarin Kasino in Hamburg/ Germany, Stadtgarten in Cologne/ Germany, Unity in Frankfurt/ Germany, Oben Ohne Festival in Munich/ Germany, Jazz Am Berg in Linz/ Austria, The Cooz Bar in Dubai, U.A.E. and many more places.

Kelvin Sholar was awarded: Winner of the Michigan Bach Festival Competition in 1990, IAJE Outstanding musician in Montreaux/Detroit Jazz Festival- 1991, Outstanding musician in Aquinas Jazz Festival- 1992, Best soloist and Best band in WEMU/Heritage Jazz Festival- 1993, Outstanding pianist at The Clark Terry Jazz Camp- 1994. Since then Kelvin has lectured on modern music at the Phillipos Nakas Conservatory (Athens, Greece), Cite de la Musique (Marseilles, France), North Carolina Central University (Durham, NC, USA), Kyo Rei Hall (Tokyo, Japan), Escola International (Sao Paulo, Brazil) and Columbia University, (New York, USA) and has developed a unique method of musical theory in his book "The Sholar System".