Biography

Multiple Juno award–winning saxophonist, composer and educator Kelly Jefferson has been a leading figure in the Canadian jazz community and beyond for over twenty-five years. He has performed with the National Arts Centre Orchestra, The Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, Montreal Symphony Orchestra, Maria Schneider, Christian McBride, Kenny Werner, Phil Woods, Clark Terry, Al Jarreau, Michel LeGrand, Nicholas Payton, Brian Blade, as well as Ray Brown, Sonny Fortune, Randy Brecker, Renee Rosnes, Johnny Mathis, Russell Malone, Joey DeFrancesco, and Dee Dee Bridgewater, among others. Kelly holds a Bachelor of Music degree in jazz performance from McGill University in Montreal and a Master of Music degree in jazz and commercial music from Manhattan School of Music in New York City. Kelly has performed extensively in Canada, the United States, Japan, Thailand, Europe, South Korea and China, including a nine-month tour in 2000 with legendary trumpeter Maynard Ferguson. Kelly has released four recordings as a leader; Spark (2005), Next Exit (2010), which was nominated for a 2011 Juno Award, Rituals (2023) and Reunion (2025), a duo recording featuring pianist Jon Cowherd. Kelly also co-leads a band with trombonist Kelsley Grant which was formed in Montreal in the mid-1990s. Mr. Jefferson is currently a faculty member at both the University of Toronto and York University and has adjudicated at music festivals and given numerous clinics and workshops throughout North America. Kelly is also an ongoing faculty member at the IMC Jazz Camp as well as the Stratford Summer Music Festival’s Jazz Academy.