Kelvin Sholar

Kelvin Sholar

Kelvin Sholar is a visionary musical artist. Recently named in Artforum International's Best of 2009 issue (along with other artists like Leonard Cohen, Thom Yorke and Kanye West), Kelvin is known for his enormous capacity to produce, compose and perform in various genres from Jazz, Classic, Blues, Afro-Carribean and Electronic music.

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, LCD Soundsystem, Greg Osby, Randy Crawford, Teodross Avery, Q-tip, Frank Wess, George Benson, Bobby Watson, Babyface, Common, Roy Hargrove, Wallace Roney, Gary Thomas, Meshell N'dege O'cello, Kenny Garrett, Jon Faddis, Ronnie Cuber, Patrice Rushen, Lenny White, Jerry Gonzales and Fort Apache, Winard Harper, Joy Denalane, James Carter, Sean Lennon, Stuart Matthewman, Cindy Blackmon, 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: Best Music of 2009 Artforum International, Winner of Scholarships from James Tatum Foundation For The Arts, 1989 and 1990, 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, Outstanding musicianship/ Elmhurst Jazz Festival- 1996 and 1996, Outstanding musicianship/ Wichita Jazz Festival 1995 and 1996.

Since leaving school 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".