American R&B/jazz keyboardist Charles A. Kelly from LA focuses on transformation, as evidenced by his sophomore album, ‘Phase II’, which was released on February 21st. An album about transition and spirituality, it is the second in a trilogy. Kelly wrote, produced and arranged ten new songs for the release on Innervision Records. The third single from the project, a deep cut titled ‘Raindrops Under Glass’ that imaginatively combines classical orchestrations, African rhythms and film score melodies, was also released that Friday. Kelly is a musician, songwriter, producer, arranger and bandleader who has worked with a wide range of celebrities, including Stevie Wonder, Neil Diamond, Elton John, Nile Rodgers, Sister Sledge, The Pointer Sisters and Nathan East. He has also flourished in the contemporary Christian space, playing with CeCe Winans, Mary Mary, Jeremy Camp and Israel Houghton. As an actor, Kelly was a cast member of the television series ‘Fame’. He created his 2022 debut album, You’re Not Alone, as the first in a trilogy. The album was meant to be like the opening shot in a film, one that captures the current moment—or sounds, in this case. His muse was the current state of contemporary jazz. Kelly conceived Phase II as a bridge album, with the collection pushing the boundaries of the genre, experimenting and testing the boundaries and definitions of contemporary jazz—and offering a thesis for what it could become. The third album in the series will be a double album, a visionary outing that futurizes contemporary jazz, an evolutionary realization. “My mission for this album is to stretch the current boundaries of what is considered contemporary jazz. This genre has a rich history, but it has gotten a bit formulaic. For the music to grow, artists need to have the courage to reach deep inside and create music with boldness while building true connections to a wider audience. As a songwriter, I want to reach as many people as possible for the purpose of engaging in a real and genuine connection with listeners. I believe the only way to do this is to create songs openly and honestly, without restrictions. Listeners love authenticity and I want to be right there with them,” said Kelly, who was actually born in Philadelphia. The upbeat and beautiful “That Groove” opens the album with help from bassist Jerome Randall, drummer Billy “Shoes” Johnson, trumpeter Michael Stever, saxophonist Andrew Neu, trombone player Nick Lane and Kelly’s son, Jason Kelly, on soprano sax. Kelly’s piano playing radiates a cheerfulness. “SunSeeker,” the first single, continues on that path, and invites you to travel. Nightclubs are active in Philadelphia and the second single, “City Night,” is dedicated to that. Then it’s time for fusion with “Bring It to Compliance,” while “Raindrops Under Glass” sounds more subdued. But with “Feathers In Flight” we go back to fusion, and the inspiration came from the film “American Beauty.” ‘Amanirenas’ was named after the queen of the kingdom of Kush, which invaded Egypt after the Romans had occupied it. And ‘I Only Want You’ clearly evokes African rhythms with a rap by Robert Washington in the middle. The fourth single will be ‘When We Are One’, and is driven by a hip-hop rhythm. The closing track ‘Song for Sharlise’ is a solo piano piece, dedicated to Charles’ late daughter. “The final song on the album is about reconnecting in the spiritual world with my daughter, Sharlise, who passed away quite a few years ago. The music represents a life being going into the spiritual world to tell her how much she is loved by my wife and myself. I tell her that although there was much pain when she passed away and how the family dynamics changed with her passing, we were made stronger, and she will never be forgotten. ‘Song For Sharlise’ also represents a reconciliation rooted in the acceptance of her death. I think any parent who loses a child thinks about what they could have done differently to prevent something tragic from happening. Finally, the end of the song represents that our entire family will be united again. The synths at the end represent Sharlise going back to her spiritual home and me returning to the physical world. This song focuses on loss, love, hope, healing, reconnection, and reconciliation,” Kelly revealed. A nice contemporary jazz album that goes in different directions.
		Website Charles A. Kelly Tracks: That Groove SunSeeker City Night Bring It to Compliance Raindrops Under Glass Feathers In Flight Amanirenas I Only Want You When We Are One Song for Sharlise