The Kelli Cox Collaborative
Murfreesboro, Tennessee, United States
Music
Press
Pianist Kelli Cox has been a fixture on Nashville’s jazz scene for well over a decade, fronting her own ensembles and supporting other local jazz acts. Since she formed the Collaborative in 2008, they’ve played festivals and clubs around Middle Tennessee, but they’ve just gotten around to recording their self-titled debut. “Constant DeTayl,” an expansive, Latin-tinged modern jazz workout by trombonist Greg Cox (Kelli’s husband), starts the proceedings with a bang. Cox shows off her considerable Hammond B-3 skills on Hank Mobley’s “The Baptist Beat” (who knew Protestant jazz could be so funky!), and breaks out the Fender Rhodes for a rousing version of the Herbie Hancock staple “Cantaloupe Island.” But it’s her own compositions that provide the album’s most memorable moments: “Gotcha!” (a seductive piece of smoky noir jazz) and “Saying Goodbye” (a gorgeous ballad paying tribute to her father, who died last year).
- The Nashville Scene
Discography
The Kelli Cox Collaborative
Photos
Bio
The Kelli Cox Collaborative is comprised of some of the most sought after musicians in Nashville.This progressive jazz group has been together since 2008 and blends modern bebop with blues and latin influences. They have just released their debut cd, The Kelli Cox Collaborative, to rave reviews.
They explore many roots of jazz and channel the Blue Note sound such as on The Baptist Beat, but put their own stamp on the tune by making it a funky cha cha with a swinging bridge and some James Brown horn riffs on the interlude to blend the styles and create their hybrid sound. There are several more hard swinging tunes in I Didn’t Know What Time It Was, Blues On Parade, and trumpeter Steve Herrman’s original, Winter’s Solace. On leader Kelli Cox’s composition, Gotcha!, the film noir vibe is touched upon and Constant DeTayl, a Greg Cox original, has a hypnotic latin vibe all the way through. The only ballad on the CD, Kelli Cox’s Saying Goodbye is a tribute to her Father who passed away last year and Cantaloupe Island mixes in some funk on the Herbie Hancock standard.
It is easy to see how the group came by their many influences just by their own personal resumes. Steve Herrman, trumpet and flugel, graduated from North Texas State University, a strong jazz school, but has played for artists as varied as Lyle Lovett, Delbert McClinton, and Kenny Chesney.
Also an alumnus of North Texas State University as well as University Of Miami , trombonist Greg Cox has had many opportunities to play for artists such as Bob Hope, Lou Rawls, and Glady’s Knight.
Saxophonist Mark Douthit is a graduate of University of Tennesee in Knoxville and has played for many artists including Vince Gill, Michael McDonald and Larry Carlton.
Pianist Kelli Cox is a graduate of University of Miami and has played for artists such as Bobby Vinton, Jennifer Day and performances with jazz greats such as Jon Hendricks.
Bassist Tisha Simeral is a graduate of Ohio State University and has played with such varied bands as Vaughn Wiester’s Famous Jazz Orchestra, bluegrass legend Roland White and the Afro-Rican Ensemble.
Drummer Ted Tretiak is also an alumnus of North Texas State University. He has played with many artists such as Jeff Coffin, The Barber Brothers and Sara Evans.
Links
