Paul Kelly's Backstage Banter
In Paul Kelly’s Backstage Banter, Paul – festival maestro and sometime musician – reveals all in a rapid-fire quiz. Get ready for some shock and awe! There’s a Sting in the tail and some random shuffling
Paul Kelly is the Director of Swanage Jazz Festival (11th-13th July, 2025) and Stompin’ on the Quomps (Saturday 2 August, 2025). He also plays piano and blows a mean trumpet. Jazz Jurassica caught up with Paul as sailed into Lyme Regis on his way back to Poole, where he lives.
#backstagebanter #paulkelly #swanagejazzfestival #jazzjurassica
Which living musician do you most admire?
Sting – a phenomenal composer, a great performer, and a great collaborator. He’s really inventive, crossing genres.
Which musicians have influenced you the most?
On trumpet – it would have to be Miles Davis (the architect) and Chet Baker (the interior designer). I also love Harry Beckett’s playing.
Piano – so many to choose from but definitely Bruce Hornsby, Aretha Franklin, Keith Jarrett Joe Sample, Elton John, Bill Payne, Randy Newman and Leon Russell
If you could bring one musician back to life, who would it be?
Chet Baker definitely – a wonderfully inventive player and a great improviser. I was also lucky enough to promote one of his concerts.
Musically, what are you most proud of?
I was due to play trumpet in a band called the Jazz Doctors. At lunchtime they rang up to say the pianist couldn’t make it so could I play piano instead? No music, no rehearsal, just seat of the pants stuff. It was risky, bonkers as hell but we all just went for it. A fantastic gig.
What’s been your worst gig to date, and why? And the best?
Many years ago I promoted the Nottingham Jazz Orchestra with Pete King as guest soloist – musically fantastic but the band almost outnumbered audience!
The best musically would be the Bath Philarmonia playing Vaughan Williams with Jennifer Pike as soloist. The conductor said it was the best “Lark Ascending” he’d ever conducted – a truly uplifting concert but I lost a shed load of money.
Have you a special pre-gig routine?
No, because I only do open mics – so, it’s get on quick, and get off fast.
Describe yourself musically in three words
Energetic, fun, diverse
What’s your greatest fear as a musician?
That the audience for quality music will just fade away and be lost forever
How would you like to be remembered as an artist?
That I put on a wide range music that people wouldn’t necessarily expect to hear
What’s the most important lesson music’s taught you?
Don’t give up – even if you’re not a very good musician, the more you work at it the better you get. Keep going!
What are you listening to right now?
Random shuffle on the iPod – 30,OOO tracks!
Who was the last musician you paid to see live - and when?
I saw Gwilym Simcock and saxophonist Emma Rawicz at Turner Sims in Southampton. Absolutely wonderful.