At The Movies Grace Kelly

• 1 James Bond Medley 05:03
• 2 He's a Pirate (from Pirates of the Caribbean) 05:48
• 3 The Way You Look Tonight 07:25
• 4 Morricone Medley 08:25
• 5 True Love (from High Society) 05:09
• 6 Soul Bossa Nova (feat. Sean Jones) 04:48
• 7 Moon River 04:39
• 8 Mission Impossible 04:11
• 9 The Flying Theme (From E.T.) 03:42
• 10 By the Grave 04:47
• 11 The Power of Love (feat. Cory Wong) 04:22
• 12 When You Wish Upon a Star 01:24
• 13 Disney Medley 11:56
• Total Runtime 01:11:39

Info for At The Movies

In an extraordinary fusion of past and present, Grace Kelly announces her 15th album in a 20-year prolific recording career, Grace Kelly with Strings: At The Movies. This project, deeply inspired by the seminal album Charlie Parker with Strings, is set for release on March 1, 2024, via PAZZ Productions. It marks Kelly’s first jazz record since 2016 and represents a significant milestone, showcasing her enduring commitment to artistic evolution and excellence.

Grace Kelly with Strings: At The Movies is a heartfelt tribute to one of Kelly’s all-time favorite jazz records. “One of the things that captivated me about ‘Charlie Parker with Strings’ is the elegance and virtuosity in Charlie Parker’s playing. He was my first alto sax hero. Through his most intricate lines, he leads us with such lyricism weaving in and out of Jimmy Carroll’s beautiful arrangements. I immersed myself in the music from that album and used it as a guiding light when recording this album,” she shares.

The album’s rendition of “The Way You Look Tonight,” arranged by Grammy Award winner Steven Feifke, draws distinct parallels to Charlie Parker’s iconic track “Just Friends,” a piece that Kelly treasured and played nightly before bed. The introduction of this track features ethereal harp glissandos and a dramatic string accelerando, setting a stage reminiscent of Parker’s era. Grace’s saxophone lines, laced with bebop scales, showcase a precision and articulation that not only demonstrate her virtuosity but also pay homage to her saxophone idol, Charlie Parker.

Joining Kelly in this venture is an all-star cast including Tony Award winning and Grammy nominee producer, Bryan Carter, along with a powerhouse of millennial arrangers steeped in jazz history, such as Grammy and Tony Award-winning Charlie Rosen and Grammy Award winner Feifke. Special guests on the record include esteemed jazz trumpeter, Sean Jones, and guitar sensation, Cory Wong.

From signing her first grade papers as Princess Grace Kelly, inspired by her favorite movie star, to cherished family rituals involving a visit to the local Blockbuster store and weekly Friday movie nights, this album is a full-circle moment for her. “Falling in love with Grace Kelly, having her name, playing some incredible music, including the only song she sang in film. This is a project I’ve been wanting to do for a long time, and I’m really proud of it,” Kelly reflects. It is apparent that this album bears profound personal significance for Kelly, reflecting a lifelong passion for cinema and storytelling. As fate would have it, her legal name was serendipitously changed to Grace Kelly at the age of 8 after taking the name of her stepfather, a detail that seems to predestine her artistic journey and connection to the golden era of film.

Grace Kelly’s journey in jazz is marked by her role as a musical prodigy, with over 1000 shows as a bandleader in 35 countries, including appearances at the Hollywood Bowl and major U.S. and international jazz festivals. As of October 2022, she became the youngest member of Berklee College of Music’s Board of Trustees. Her achievements span from winning the 2018 John Lennon Songwriting Contest’s “Song of the Year” to multiple ASCAP Composer Awards and recognition in Downbeat Magazine’s Critics Poll as a winner for both Alto Sax and Baritone Sax.

The album opens with a daring arrangement of the James Bond Theme, intertwined with Billie Eilish’s haunting “No Time To Die.” Arranged by Bryan Carter, this track sets the tone for an album that celebrates the melding of timeless melodies with contemporary jazz flair. Kelly states, “I love the idea of merging the old with the new in my music and am a big fan of Billie Eilish. It felt natural to bring both these songs together and get a chance to show both sides of my playing and singing on this one.”

In a nod to nostalgia, Kelly maintains the integrity of John Williams’ iconic “E.T. Theme”, opting for a subtle yet profound transformation by introducing the saxophone as the lead voice. The result is a soaring rendition that encapsulates the wonder and adventure of the beloved film. Kelly reflects, “I felt as if I was lifting off with ET while playing with these lead lines with our incredible string section on this one!”

Trumpeter Sean Jones joins Kelly for a whimsical take on Quincy Jones’ “Soul Bossa Nova.” Renowned for his work with the Wynton Marsalis Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra and as a celebrated educator, Jones’ performance is nothing short of spectacular, providing a burst of virtuosic energy and soul to this track.

Guitarist Cory Wong, known for his distinctive rhythm guitar playing, brings his signature groove to the “Power of Love.” The track arranged by the Tony and Grammy Award-winning Charlie Rosen, leader of the 8-Bit Big Band, reflects the rich tapestry of Kelly’s diverse musical influences. The dynamic interplay between Kelly and Wong as they seamlessly exchange musical leads is a highlight, underscoring their successful collaborations on previous albums like Cory Wong and Dirty Loop’s “Turbo” and the Fearless Flyers’ “Tailwinds.” Reflecting on her career, Kelly remarks, “I’ve had the chance to share the stage with Huey Lewis multiple times and it has been an incredible highlight for me. Huey’s support and mentorship have been invaluable in my musical journey and career development.”

The album delivers bold interpretations of “He’s a Pirate” and “Mission Impossible,” with the latter featuring Kelly’s baritone saxophone in a thrilling display. Her full and powerful tone brings a fresh perspective to these well-known themes, highlighting her versatility as a musician.

“True Love,” Grace’s distinctive rendition of the Cole Porter classic — famously the only song Grace Kelly performed on screen — ventures into uncharted musical landscapes. This interpretation starts in a rubato fashion with Grace’s vocals taking the lead and by the end transforms the timeless melody into a 9/8 time signature brimming with triplets, featuring Kelly’s intertwining tenor sax lines and soaring vocalise.

The Morricone Medley is another stand out track on the album, a sophisticated homage to Ennio Morricone’s cinematic genius. Kelly’s interpretation of the rugged, Western-tinged “Main Theme” from The Good, The Bad & The Ugly injects a raw visceral energy into the piece. Contrastingly, her rendition of “Gabriel’s Oboe” from The Mission and “Love Theme” from Cinema Paradiso is a masterclass in subtlety and nuance; her saxophone weaves a tapestry of haunting melodies, evoking the film’s poignant narrative with every note.

In “Moon River,” pianist Tamir Hendelman, known for his work with the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra, brings an exquisite finesse to the track. His pianistic elegance interlaces perfectly with Kelly’s intimate vocals, turning this timeless melody into a sentimental exploration of yearning and nostalgia.

Kelly’s original piece, “By The Grave,” showcases her virtuosity as a composer and her significant influence in the modern jazz scene. Featured in the documentary “Life and Life” and as the evocative theme for best-selling author Michael Connelly’s “Murder Book” podcast, this composition is a profound, introspective journey into the realm of emotion.

The last portion is a vibrant tribute featuring classic Disney-film songs including “When You Wish Upon a Star,” “I Wanna Be Like You,” “Go The Distance,” “Part of Your World,” and “Circle of Life.” Disney’s influence on jazz is profound, inspiring artists from Miles Davis and Dave Brubeck to Esperanza Spalding. Reflecting on this rich history, Kelly shares, “Bryan Carter, our producer, and I discovered a mutual love for Disney music when we first met as students at the Brubeck Jazz Institute. Now, the 13-year-old in me is smiling ear to ear, knowing we’ve revived our childhood favorites in a beautiful orchestral setting years later.”

“[A] jazz innovator… Making jazz young” – BILLBOARD

“Kelly champions accessibility without sacrificing style.” - VILLAGE VOICE

“…broad tone and tenacious flow on the alto saxophone, clearly in possession of virtuoso talents… impressive singing voice, flitting among a range of styles.” – The New York Times

“Grace Kelly has an electric charisma onstage that instantly ignites the room” – Jon Batiste

Grace Kelly

Grace Kelly
An unequivocal musical prodigy, singer-saxophonist-songwriter-composer and band leader Grace Kelly has rocked the jazz world with sold-out concerts, 14 acclaimed albums and a resume that includes performing at the Hollywood Bowl as well as being part of the house band for “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” – all before reaching her mid-twenties. As of Oct 2022 she has become the youngest member of the Board of Trustees of Berklee College of Music.

Kelly’s early career featured performances at Barack Obama’s 2009 inauguration at age 16 and at age 14 as a soloist with the Boston Pops playing an original composition arranged for the legendary orchestra; she has since then played over 1000 shows as bandleader in 35 countries at venues like the Kennedy Center and Moscow Symphony Hall and for the Montreal, Newport, and Montreux international jazz festivals. Touted for her scorching saxophone stylings and purring vocals, Kelly has performed and recorded with renowned artists including Lin Manuel- Miranda, Dave Brubeck, Lee Konitz, Phil Woods, Huey Lewis, Harry Connick Jr., Gloria Estefan, Questlove, and Wynton Marsalis.

Kelly was named the winner of “Song of the Year” for her single “Feels Like Home” in the 2018 John Lennon Songwriting Contest, and has been named nine times consecutively in the Annual Downbeat Magazines Critics Poll “Rising Star Alto Saxophone” from the age of 17 in 2009 and winning the poll in 2017 (Youngest ever named to Downbeat critics poll in 2009.). She has also won multiple ASCAP Composer Awards, Boston Music Awards, and International Songwriting Awards. She has also appeared as a featured performer in films and television, including acclaimed documentary “Sound of Redemption: The Frank Morgan Story”, Amazon’s Emmy-nominated original series “Bosch”, and featured in the 2017 Emmy-winning Yamaha production “The Right Note”

Featured by Vanity Fair as a millennial shaking up the jazz world, Kelly’s state-of-the-art brand of electro jazz-pop and inventive digital content are pushing her to the forefront of the fusion scene, alongside names like Snarky Puppy, Jacob Collier, Cory Henry, Robert Glasper, Jon Batiste, and Too Many Zooz.

Kelly’s latest album “All That I Need” was inspired by the different emotions that embody the courageous spirit. Kelly describes, “I found myself on a journey thinking about what the courageous spirit feels and looks like to me. I wanted to write an album that was fueled by the feeling of courage. Coming out of the pandemic, as an artist, I found myself battling the fear-based thought of: am I ever going to be able to do this thing that I love again for people? But I choose to be an optimist. To move forward with some type of courageous spirit. I always want to step into places that might feel scary or challenging in order to create an opportunity for both personal and artistic growth. That was the initial idea behind “All That I Need.”

The inspiration behind the album came in different forms – Kelly found inspiration in the written words of the great poet and activist Maya Angelou. Her bold beautiful words in her poem “And Still I Rise” inspired Kelly to write the track, “We Will Rise.” It is a song dedicated to women all around the globe, a song about pushing forward during challenging times and standing up together to advocate and fight for women’s rights.

Kelly states, “As a songwriter, my contribution to the world includes creating music that can help spark hope and be the sonic fuel to others’ words and actions. I think back to a few years ago, when April and I wrote a song for She’s the First, a non-profit I adore. They partner with grassroots organizations around the world, supporting girls’ access to education. Recently, they’ve been at the forefront of providing the public with resources since Roe v. Wade was overturned. Right now, I feel that we need to spotlight and hear the voices of great female leaders, such as those at She’s the First, more than ever. For April and me, We Will Rise comes from that same spirit — it’s about protecting our rights around our bodies and independence. I hope this song wakes up the female warrior inside and gives the inspiration to fight for our rights as women.”

Kelly’s upcoming project, “At The Movies: Grace Kelly with Strings” with her fifteen piece large ensemble was inspired by “Charlie Parker with Strings”: one of Kelly’s all time favorite albums as well as her love of classic and contemporary movies. She reimagines her favorite movie music (Disney Medley, Back To The Future, High Society, Pirates of the Caribbean, Mission Impossible, etc.) as well as songs by legendary film composers (John Williams, Ennio Morricone) and contemporary artist like Billie Eilish (No Time To Die from the latest James Bond film) with fresh arrangements and fully merges it into her signature sound. The studio album will be released early spring 2024.

Aside from thrilling audiences in concert, Kelly’s stardom reaches the acclaim of her audiences online. The millennial artist has developed a new paradigm to exhibit her remarkable talent and unparalleled showmanship with the masses, curating an immersive user experience for her fans across multiple social media platforms. Kelly’s dedication to posting engaging content and offering insight into her daily life has deepened her brand, bringing thousands upon thousands of eager fans into her world and gaining millions of views online, allowing the artist to bridge the gap between virtuosic musician and cultural phenomenon.

Kelly is a masterful clinician specializing in jazz improvisation and stage performance. She has taught thousands of students to become more confident performers and players both online and in-person. She is the co-founder of Saxy School, an innovative online saxophone school. She has held a guest teaching residency at The Berklee College of Music and spearheaded the establishment of the Fred Taylor Endowed Scholarship Fund by organizing, emceeing, and performing in the All-Star Benefit Concert in 2017 which raised over $70,000 for the fund.

This album contains no booklet.