Since late 2006, the Kelly Jay Band has been the Michiana’s only practitioner of Jump/Swing, a style most associated with groups such as the Brian Setzer Orchestra, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy and the Squirrel Nut Zippers. Kelly Jay himself compares his band to Chicago’s Mighty Blue Kings with the exception that his repertoire is more diverse than the MBK’s jump blues stylings. As a matter of fact, having song selections that choose equally from the jump blues idiom (as performed by such artists as Louis Jordan, T-Bone Walker and Big Joe Turner) and the Great American Songbook (with representatives such as Frank Sinatra, Duke Ellington and Nat King Cole) allows the Kelly Jay Band the luxury of performing at an extreme variety of venues ranging from nightclubs to summer park concert series to private occasions such as wedding receptions. Depending upon the occasion and the atmosphere of the audience, the Kelly Jay Band can tailor their setlist to meet any demand.

Everything about the Kelly Jay Band sets them apart from every other musical aggregation in the Michiana area. Their instrumentation is a classic line-up replicating a small early-fifties combo with trumpet, saxophone, guitar, acoustic bass and drums. The arrangements are tight, sophisticated and intricate yet fun and exciting. The band primarily plays vocal numbers with a healthy selection of instrumentals for variety. They also vary tempos from slow ballads to barn-burners approaching 250 beats-per-minute and vary grooves between blues shuffles, ultra-fast or easy, relaxing swing grooves with the occasional latin or rock-n-roll beat thrown into the mix. One thing that the Kelly Jay Band never does is play two songs in a row with the same groove and tempo.

While a comparison to the Kelly Jay Band with other area musical outfits is difficult, it should be noted that they are more engaging, entertaining and energetic than a small jazz combo yet more diverse, urbane and sophisticated than all of Michiana’s local blues bands all the while playing with an enthusiasm and intensity that even makes young people take notice. The songlist, of course, is designed to accommodate audiences of all ages, including older people who miss hearing the old standards that no one else seems to play anymore. This formula has proven successful wherever the Kelly Jay Band has performed, whether it is their series of monthly engagements last year at The Livery in Benton Harbor or their yearly appearance at the Niles Summer Concert Series.

Assisting vocalist/guitarist Kelly Jay in the Kelly Jay Band is drummer/vocalist Bobby Smelser, acoustic bassist Bobby Perry, trumpeter Rob Johnson and saxophonist Don Smith. These seasoned musicians have a deep understanding of the styles that they perform as well as a great love of performing and a desire to please whatever audience that they happen to find facing them. They look forward to any engagement and are pleased to see their calendar become more filled with each passing month.

MUSIC SAMPLES

Choo Choo Ch’ Boogie

Route 66

Don’t Get Around Much Anymore

Miserlou

More

UNABLE TO USE THE AUDIO PLAYERS ABOVE? HERE ARE LINKS TO THE SONGS:
Choo Choo Ch’ Boogie – Route 66 – Don’t Get Around Much Anymore
Miserlou – More

BAND MEMBERS

Kelly Jay – Guitar & Vocals
Bobby Smelser – Drums
Steve Behr or Bobby Perry – Bass
Rob Johnson – Trumpet
Eric Atkins, Don Smith or Wade Armentrout – Saxophone

SONG LIST

Ain’t Nobody Here But Us Chickens – Louis Jordan
Ain’t Nobody’s Business If I Do – Jimmy Witherspoon
Alimony Blues – T-Bone Walker
All Of Me – Frank Sinatra
All The Things You Are – Joe Williams
Back Home Again In Indiana – Gomer Pyle
Begin The Beguine – Cole Porter
Big 10 Inch Record – Bull Moose Jackson/Aerosmith
Caldonia – Louis Jordan
Chicago – Frank Sinatra
Chicken Shack – Jimmy Smith
Choo Choo Ch’Boogie – Louis Jordan
Come Fly With Me – Frank Sinatra
Crawfishin’ – Mitch Woods
Dig That Crazy Chick – Louis Prima
Don’t Get Around Much Anymore – Duke Ellington
Evenin’ – Cab Calloway
Flip, Flop & Fly – Big Joe Turner
Fly Me To The Moon – Frank Sinatra
God Bless The Child – Billie Holiday
Good Rockin’ Tonight – Elvis Presley/Wynonie Harris
Goody Goody – Mel Torme
Have You Met Miss Jones? – Frank Sinatra
Hold It Right There – Eddie “Cleanhead” Vinson
Hootie Blues – Jay McShann
Honey Hush – Big Joe Turner
Honky Tonk – Bill Doggett
I Can’t Stop It – Mighty Blue Kings
I’ll Always Be In Love With You – T-Bone Walker
I’m Beginning To See The Light – Bobby Darin
In The Mood – Glenn Miller
It Don’t Mean A Thing – Duke Ellington
I Want A Little Girl – Big Joe Turner
I Want A Bow-Legged Woman – Bull Moose Jackson
Jump For Joy – Big Joe Turner
Jump, Jive & Wail – Louis Prima/Brian Setzer
Jumpin’ At The Woodside – Count Basie
Keep A Dollar In Your Pocket – Joe Liggins
Kidney Stew – Eddie “Cleanhead” Vinson
Let The Four Winds Blow – Fats Domino
L-O-V-E – Nat King Cole
Love Rollercoaster – Big Joe Turner
Miserlou – Dick Dale
Moonlight In Vermont – Frank Sinatra
More – Bobby Darin
Morning, Noon & Night – Big Joe Turner
My Funny Valentine – Chet Baker
My Kind Of Town – Frank Sinatra
No Sleepin’est Woman – T-Bone Walker
Oh Babe – Roy Milton
One Mint Julip – Ray Charles
Pennies From Heaven – Bing Crosby
Perdido – Duke Ellington
Quiet Whiskey – Wynonie Harris
Rag Mop – Hammerhead Fish
Real Fine Frame – Buddy Johnson
Rete, Petite & Alright – Louis Jordan
Route 66 – Nat King Cole
Satin Doll – Duke Ellington
Sea Cruise – Frankie Ford
See You Later, Alligator – Bill Haley
Shake, Rattle & Roll – Big Joe Turner/Bill Haley
Sick & Tired – Fats Domino
Stormy Monday Blues – T-Bone Walker
Straighten Up And Fly Right – Nat King Cole
Strollin’ With Bones – T-Bone Walker
Sway – Dean Martin
T-Bone Boogie – T-Bone Walker
T-Bone Shuffle – T-Bone Walker
Ue O Muite Arukou (Sukiyaki Song) – Kyu Sakimoto
Until The Real Thing Comes Along – Big Joe Turner
Up, Up and Away – Big Joe Turner
Way You Look Tonight – Frank Sinatra
Whatever Lola Wants – Louis Jordan/Damn Yankees
Wives and Lovers – Jack Jones
You Came A Long Way From St. Louis – Bill Jennings
You Do Something To Me – Frank Sinatra
You’re Driving Me Crazy – Big Joe Turner

VENUES PLAYED

Brigid’s – South Bend, IN
Club LaSalle – South Bend, IN
Constant Spring – Goshen, IN
DAV Chapter #19 – Elkhart, IN
Harrison Landing – Elkhart, IN
Huntington Street Bar & Grill – Syracuse, IN
Midway Tavern – Mishawaka, IN
New Carlisle Park
Pete’s Simonton Lake Tavern
Riverfront Cafe
Sunset Grille – Goshen, IN
Warsaw Park – Warsaw, IN

FESTIVALS AND SPECIAL EVENTS

Atria Tanglewood Trace Summer Festival – Mishawaka, IN
Bristol Homecoming – Bristol, IN
Buchanan Park Concert Series
Elkhart County 4H Fair – Goshen, IN
First Fridays Swing Dance – Spohn Ballroom – Goshen, IN
Niles Park Concert Series – Niles, MI
South Bend Park Concert Series – South Bend, IN
Studebaker Museum for one of WVPE’s events

REVIEWS

“The band was fantastic. We had a multigenerational group and EVERYONE loved it. I had a few people ask for their card during the event, and I know that I will be recommending them at every opportunity. Thank you for making our event that much more fantastic!”
–Danna Gross, Chicago, IL

DOWNLOADS

Poster: Big
Poster: Small

Wild, Cool, and Swingin’ is the quintessential requirements for a successful cocktail party, function, or event. KJ3′s songlist is such that they can play an entire evening of jumpin’ boogie woogie blues a’la T-Bone Walker, Louis Jordan, and Big Joe Turner or selections from the Great American Songbook by people like Frank Sinatra, Duke Ellington, Bobby Darin, and Nat King Cole, or a mixture of the two. Picture cool suits blended with engaging personality, intriguing your guests with their fresh interpretations of music from an era when style was a cultural necessity.

KJ3 is a three piece with singing guitarist, double bass player and drummer. The line-up can be augmented with a horn section for a larger “big band” sound.

MUSIC SAMPLES

Coming Soon…

BAND MEMBERS

Kelly Jay – Guitar & Vocals
Bobby Smelser – Drums
Steve Behr or Bobby Perry – Bass

SONG LIST

Coming Soon…

VENUES PLAYED

Coming Soon…

Energetic- Electric Blues that begs you to react!! Energized audiences, moving and shouting along with the newly rediscovered voice from the Chicago Blues scene.

In a time when musical groups come and go as quickly as the rapid-fire images on MTV, three Chicago area men have stayed true to their blues roots for over 38 years. While Blue Plate Special has consistently brought new contemporary blues songs to the worldwide blues community, what hasn’t changed is their friendship, collaboration and passion for the Blues. This Chicago based trio’s sheer enjoyment in performing together shines through each and every night!!

Since the release of their 3 most recent CD’s 1998′s “No Place To Fade” 2000′s The Blues Ain’t Pretty and 2007′s Can You Dig It !”, Blue Plate Special has had 24 songs hit the #1 chart position (see Discography) on Blues Radio stations around the world !!

Although some acts from other areas like to hang the name “Chicago” on their billing, this group truly has played almost every major and minor club throughout Chicagoland. Blue Plate Special was there at The Cellar in Arlington Heights, Illinois in ’69-’72 opening for Howlin’ Wolf, Willie Dixon’s Chicago Blues Allstars, Zephyr w/Tommy Bolin on guitar and The Bob Seger System. They were among the artists that played at the Otis Spann Memorial Benefit where Willie Dixon and Buddy Guy introduced the Blues community to Koko Taylor singing Wang Dang Doodle. Blue Plate Special (with former member Studebaker John on Harp) was one of the first bands to lead the famous Blue Monday Jam session at Chicago’s Kingston Mines ! They also were the house band for two years at John Belushi and Dan Ackroyd’s Blues Brothers Bar on Wells Street.

Other than headlining, Blue Plate Special has opened at concerts by Charlie Musselwhite, Paul Butterfield, Ozark Mountain Daredevils, Siegal-Schwall Blues Band, Heartsfield, Leon Russell, Edgar Winter, Lonnie Brooks, Ronnie Baker Brooks, Lil’ Ed and the Blues Imperials, Mitch Ryder, The Kinsey Report, Larry McCray and Wayne Baker Brooks.

They have also performed at the Chicago Bears Fan Convention and Wyeth Pharmaceuticals Convention and Sears Corporate shows.

MUSIC SAMPLES

Can You Dig It!

I Like It Like That

Hard Enuff

Unchain My Heart

UNABLE TO USE THE AUDIO PLAYERS ABOVE? HERE ARE LINKS TO THE SONGS:
Can You Dig It! – I Like It Like That – Hard Enuff – Unchain My Heart

BAND MEMEBERS

R.P. Michaels – Vocal, Bass, Keyboards
Harry Binford – Guitarist
Robert Pasenko – Percussion

SONG LIST

Crank It Up – Blue Plate Special
Tell The Truth – Blue Plate Special
The Phone Call – Blue Plate Special
Quicksand – Blue Plate Special
Real Fast Life – Blue Plate Special
Chains – Blue Plate Special
Not In The Mood – Blue Plate Special
Get Some Fun Out Of Life
Disneyland – Blue Plate Special
Ready To Play – Blue Plate Special
Bad Drugs And Alcohol – Blue Plate Special
No Escape From The Blues – Blue Plate Special
Reachin’ – Blue Plate Special
Knock Knock – Blue Plate Special
Stand – Blue Plate Special
Fire Alarm – Blue Plate Special
Millionaire – Blue Plate Special
Homework – Blue Plate Special
No Place To Fade – Blue Plate Special
Your Heart Ain’t In It – Blue Plate Special
Somebody Play The Blues For Me – Blue Plate Special
Dippin’ In – Blue Plate Special
World of Trouble – Blue Plate Special
One More Thing – Blue Plate Special
Hard Enuff – Blue Plate Special
Can You Dig It – Blue Plate Special
Workin’ On Love – Blue Plate Special
Rocket In Your Pocket – Blue Plate Special
She’s Got My Number – Blue Plate Special
I Like It Like That – Blue Plate Special
Right Now – Blue Plate Special
Feel So Good – Blue Plate Special
Luck Runs Out – Blue Plate Special
Yer’ Bad Behind – Blue Plate Special
Baby’s Been On My Mind – Blue Plate Special
Don’t Lose The Spirit – Blue Plate Special
Have A Little Faith – Blue Plate Special
Unchain My Heart – Blue Plate Special
Unchain My Heart – Ray Charles
Let’s go get stoned – Ray Charles
I Believe – Ray Charles
Right Place Wrong Time – Dr. John
Many Various Songs By – Muddy Waters/Willie Dixon
Pride and Joy – Stevie Ray Vaughan
I’ll Play The Blues For You – Albert King
After Midnight – JJ Cale

VENUES PLAYED

Catchers Inn – Chicago, IL
Fontana Blu – West Chicago, IL
Green Olive Martini Bar – Chicago, IL
Iron Horse Ranch Bar and Grill – Villa Park, IL
Koz’s On The River – Lyons, IL
PIECE Brewery and Pizza – Chicago, IL
Niko’s Lodge – Wasco, IL
The Green Olive Restaurant and Martini Bar – Chicago, IL

FESTIVALS AND SPECIAL EVENTS

Around The Coyote Art and Music Fest – Chicago, IL
Blue Plate Special’s Holiday Party – Wheaton, IL
King James BBQ Festival – West Chicago, IL
NACA Midwest Convention – St. Charles, IL
Rebel Knights MC Spring Blowout – Chicago, IL
Rebel Knights MC Benefit for Childrens Memorial Hospital – Chicago, IL

REVIEWS

“This is a romping stomping blues rock output with strong gutbucket vocals a powerhouse rhythm section and lead guitar that invokes comparison to the three kings (Freddy, Albert & B.B) plus at times having flavours of Hendrix…a strong mix for sure..!!”
–Mike Butler, Producer & Host of “Blues for Hippies” on The Studio Fm

“I listened to your CD last night with total focus and I was BLOWN AWAY!! You guys are a DREAM BAND!!! Many attempt to fuse Blues and Rock but almost all fail…you guys have such an honest, urgent, raw, powerhouse sound that it literally lifted me off my chair and had me yelling “YEAH!! That’s it!! They’ve got it!!” There are Good, Excellent and Hall of Fame levels…you guys are right in the top 10%, we’re putting it on our Influential Top 100 CD’s Chart!”
–Andy Grigg, Music Editor at Real Blues Magazine

“This is guitar driven blues served up just right! Had our phone lines tied up for hours when we played tracks off this LP. Ron Michaels snarling vocals rips into each track and tells you how it is… and Harry Binford’s smokin’ guitar work treats you right throughout the disc. All this and these boys come from Chicagoland. All I can say is “Can You Dig It!” …HELL YEAH!!! …and I’ll do it again too!
–John Bowles, WGVE 88.7FM, blueswebradio.com

DOWNLOADS

Can You Dig It! on iTunes
The Blues Ain’t Pretty on iTunes
No Place To Fade on iTunes