Neil Kelly: Guitarist

Neil Kelly is a Jazz Guitarist / Composer / Arranger / and Band Leader who has been working in the greater San Francisco Bay area for the past 10 years. Originally from the East Coast and Chicago Neil arrived in California in 1992. Since that time he has devoted his life to the craft of music.

He holds a Master’s Degree in Jazz Studies from San Jose State University where he majored in Jazz composition and arranging. He received the award for outstanding Graduate Student of the 2009 graduating class from the Department of Music and Dance.

Neil’s original composition “Threshold,” and “All the Things We Were,” orchestrated for Big band, were winning compositions for the San Jose Jazz Society’s Local Composer’s Showcase of 2009 and 2010.

His debut CD “Rivers Converge” features his compositional talents in a quartet setting and is now available through CD Baby

In addition to performing regularly throughout the San Francisco Bay area, Neil teaches guitar lessons privately and for the Parks and Recreation Department of the City of San Jose at the Almaden Community Center.