Recording Artist Brian Kelly Influenced by Smooth Jazz and New Age

BRIAN KELLY
AFTERPLAY

Something I have noticed in the world of music in the last couple of years is that many musicians do not stay within easy categories. Some artists do pop and rock, some folk and pop, some trad jazz and contemporary jazz, some country and Americana, some new age and world, not to mention acoustic and electric, real instruments and synthesized ones. The list goes on and on. That same strategy applies to this album by keyboardist Brian Kelly, AFTERPLAY, his second CD. His sound is absolutely smooth jazz on many of the tunes with other musicians joining him in a jazz group setting including saxophone. But on many of the other pieces, he comes across much more as a new age performer (or what they sometimes pop-new age when there are strong melodies like he writes). This second batch of tunes is much softer and gentler. There is even a little world-fusion sound on a few compositions such as “Celtic Fire.” For the most part Kelly’s acoustic grand piano is in the forefront, but he also mixes in electronic keyboards (synth, samplers, whatever) in the background or for specific sounds or instruments (besides the real players he brought in). So the production is far-ranging. But let’s cut to the bottomline. It works. Mostly because Kelly writes good instrumental music melodies and he has a gift for arranging them with a variety of instrumentation that suits each piece. His piano playing is strong and his solos are captivating. If you are the kind of listener that wants a smooth jazz album to be upbeat and bouyant all the way through with lots of hot soloing, then this album is probably not going to do it for you. If you want very meditative, spacey or ambient new age music, go elsewhere as well. But if you like some smooth jazz and some new age that is catchy, well-played and nicely arranged, then check out this guy. There is never a boring moment and the whole thing goes down easy like a good bottle of aged wine on a Sunday afternoon. I personally can’t wait to hear where he goes next.

-- John Chandler