Episode 45: The Broad Tone and Tenacious Flow of Saxophone Virtuoso Grace Kelly
Episode 45 Executive Summary
Grace Kelly (born Grace Chung, May 15, 1992) is a world-renowned saxophonist, singer, and composer who entered the professional jazz scene as a pre-teen prodigy. She recorded her debut album, Dreaming, at age 12 (released 2005) and performed as a soloist with the Boston Pops at age 14. Her career is characterized by a "broad tone" that bridges traditional bebop with contemporary pop and funk—a versatility that earned her a regular spot in Jon Batiste’s Stay Human house band for The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.
Kelly’s "tenacious flow" and technical mastery were famously validated by alto saxophone legends Phil Woods and David Sanborn. At age 14, after performing with Woods, the legend famously removed his signature leather cap and placed it on her head—a symbolic passing of the torch that led to their 2011 collaborative album, Man with the Hat. Similarly, her long-standing relationship with David Sanborn began at the Stanford Jazz Workshop in 2006, leading to numerous high-profile stage collaborations. A graduate of Berklee College of Music at age 19, Kelly has released 15 albums and remains the youngest person ever to be named a "Rising Star" in the DownBeat Critics Poll (at age 17).
Keywords: Grace Kelly, Alto Saxophone, Jazz-Pop Fusion, Phil Woods, David Sanborn, Lee Konitz, Jon Batiste, The Late Show, Berklee College of Music, Saxophone Virtuoso, podcasts, alto saxophonists, jazz, jazz improvisation, virtuoso
Grace Kelly (1992–Present)
├── Overview
│ ├── Roles: Saxophonist (Alto/Soprano), Vocalist, Composer, Bandleader
│ ├── Born: May 15, 1992 (Wellesley, Massachusetts)
│ ├── Style: Jazz-Pop Fusion, Post-Bop, Funk, Contemporary Jazz
│ └── Education: Berklee College of Music (Graduated 2011, age 19)
│
├── Key Interactions & Mentorships
│ ├── Lee Konitz:
│ │ ├── Mentorship: Began studying with Konitz as a young teen.
│ │ └── Recording: Recorded the album "GRACEfulLEE" in 2008 (at age 15).
│ ├── Phil Woods:
│ │ ├── The Cap Ceremony: In 2006, after a jam session in Pittsfield, MA, Woods gave her his iconic leather hat.
│ │ └── Recording: Co-led the album "Man with the Hat" (2011) with Woods and Monty Alexander.
│ ├── David Sanborn:
│ │ ├── Origin: Met at Stanford Jazz Residency in 2006.
│ │ └── Performance: Frequent guest with the Sanborn Trio; notable performances of "The Peeper" at Scullers Jazz Club.
│ └── Jon Batiste:
│ └── Television: Regular member of Stay Human on The Late Show (2015–2018).
│
├── Career Milestones
│ ├── Early Debut: First album "Dreaming" recorded at age 12.
│ ├── Orchestral: Soloist and arranger for the Boston Pops at age 14.
│ ├── Presidential: Performed at the 2009 Presidential Inauguration at age 16.
│ └── DownBeat: Named "Rising Star – Alto Saxophone" nine times consecutively.
│
├── Selected Discography (As Leader)
│ ├── Historical Collaborations:
│ │ ├── GRACEfulLEE (2008 - w/ Lee Konitz)
│ │ └── Man with the Hat (2011 - w/ Phil Woods)
│ ├── Independent Success:
│ │ ├── Trying to Figure It Out (2016)
│ │ └── GO TiME: Brooklyn (2018)
│ └── Recent Work:
│ ├── GO TiME: Live in LA (2019)
│ └── All That I Need (2022)
│
└── Professional Associations
├── Yamaha Artist (Saxophone)
├── Board of Trustees, Berklee College of Music (Youngest member)
└── Multiple ASCAP Foundation Young Jazz Composer Awards