Kelly has established himself in Atlanta as both a player and a teacher, and his career now reflects the wide variety of musical experiences he has valued since childhood. He spent a year as the touring bassist for roots/rock Grammy winners Larkin Poe, performing throughout the U.S. and Europe. These runs included Glastonbury Festival, Rock am Ring Festival, Rock im Park Festival, and opening for Queen at Rheinenergiestadion, in Cologne, Germany. His list of performing and recording credits has expanded to also include Noah Guthrie, Grant Green Jr., Rhett Shull, Suzy Jones, Geoff Wood, The Electromatics, Sam Burchfield, Orquesta Macuba, and Kyshona Armstrong. Keeping one foot in the jazz scene, he has also performed alongside ATL jazz greats such as Tyrone Jackson, Kevin Bales, Lil John Roberts, Lavahi, Louis Heriveaux, Robert Boone, Dash Smith, Tony Hightower, Lori Williams, and Karla Harris. He also enjoys playing with his original groups, the Funk crew Track Suit Mafia, and the Alternative Jazz outfit BOOM! Trio.
Kelly has always been immersed in the world of music education. His teaching career began at age 20 while an undergraduate at Kansas State University, teaching private lessons out of a local guitar shop. This one-on-one setting came naturally to him and, after graduating, he was invited to join the adjunct faculty at KSU. Kelly went on to become the Graduate Teaching Assistant at Florida State University, and also taught locally at RAA Middle School, a performing arts magnet school. In the fall of 2024, he joined the staff of Morehouse University as the Adjunct Professor of Bass. As a clinician, he has been featured at Washburn University’s Coleman Hawkins Jazz Camp, Florida State’s Summer Jazz Camp, Georgia State University’s Summer Jazz Program, and Bellevue East’s HS Jazz Festival.
