KELVIN SHOLAR
USA
I am Kelvin Sholar, a classically trained, and award winning African-American composer and pianist from Detroit, Michigan. I am 34 years old and I have been living in Berlin (after Bologna) since I came from New York City.
As a composer and arranger I have been privileged to explore a wide range of music, technology and genres: from Electronica and cutting edge computer technology to Acoustic Classical and Jazz piano recitals. I have performed on several international television shows in Europe and I have been interviewed and filmed by American director Spike Lee for my work on Kamaal the Abstract- a record featuring the fusion of Jazz and Hip Hop.
I have several of my own bands like: Kelvin Sholar Trio and Kontemporary art project (jazz), Digideity (electronica), a Stravinsky project with SholarSystem, and Itechnorganika (multi-media). I have performed, collaborated and/or recorded with The New York City Ballet, Carl Craig, Ron Carter, Branford Marsalis, Greg Osby, Randy Crawford, Q-tip, Frank Wess, Ray Mantilla, George Benson, Bobby Watson, Common, Roy Hargrove, Wallace Roney, Gary Thomas, Meshell N’dege O’cello, Kenny Garrett, Jon Faddis, Marshall Allen, Ronnie Cuber, Patrice Rushen, Lenny White, Jerry Gonzales and Fort Apache, Max Herre, Joy Denalane, Carmen Lundy, James Carter, Mark Turner, and David Murray.
I have recorded and performed top level festivals and musical venues in major cities all over the world. A few: Lincoln Center in New York, The Half Note in Athens/Greece, Calle 54 in Madrid/Spain, Lagos Jazz Festival in Lagos, Portugal, Alexanderplatz in Rome/Italy, Sanremo Festival, The Blue Note in Osaka, Fukuoka, and Tokyo/Japan, Kaufleuten in Zürich/Switzerland, Jazove Dni in Nova zamky/Slovakia, The Free Jazz Festival in Rio and Sao Paulo/Brazil,The Bimhuis in Amsterdam/ Netherlands, Le Club in Moscow/Russia, Ronnie Scott’s in London/Uk, Centre Pompidou and Factory in Paris/France, Jazz Am Berg in Linz/Austria, SpringSeven Festival in Graz/Austria, Moritzbastei in Leipzig/Germany, Quasimodo in Berlin/Germany, Mandarin Kasino in Hamburg/Germany, Stadtgarten in Cologne/Germany, Unity in Frankfurt/Germany,Oben Ohne Festival in Munich/Germany, Jazz Am Berg in Linz/Austria, and The Cooz Bar in Dubai, U.A.E..
I have recorded on over 75 records. A partial Discography/ Videography:
Tribe- Livin In A New Day/Community Projects (Planet E)/(2007)
LCD Soundsystem- A Bunch Of Stuff EP/Sound of Silver /DFA (2007)
LCD- Soundsystem- Someone Great EP/Sound of Silver /DFA (2007)
Carl Craig – Live In Paris/Planet E (2007)
Jacqueline Caux- The Cycles Of The Mental Machine – DVD/(2007)
Jeff Alkire- One Summer in Winters/ (2007)
Tres Demented (Carl Craig)- “Shez Satan”, “BrainFreeze”, Planet E (2006)
Joy Denalane- “Born and Raised” DVD. Nesola Records /Germany (2006)
Delia Gonzalez and Gavin Russom- “Relevee” (Carl Craig Remix)/ DFA (2006)
Sexy Techno At Cocoon- “Relevee” (Carl Craig Remix)/Sven Vath/Mixmag/(2006)
Kevin Jones and Tenth World – “Bodhisattva…” (Producer) Motema records (2005)
Mikami Chisako- I’m Here / The mikami [chi] it is dense/Universal Gear (2005)/ JAPAN
Winard Harper- “Come into the light”/Savant records (2004)
Adam Mansbach “Stand for nothing, Fall for anything” (2004)/(Producer)
Caron Wheeler live at Duo Music Exchange/ Japan (2004- DVD)
The Lenny White Project – “Tribute To Earth, Wind & Fire”/ M&I records/ Japan (2002)
Antonio Ciacca-”Autumn in New York” (Producer)/Splasc(h) Records/ Italy (2002)
Kevin Jones- The Land of Eternal Tranquil Light (Producer)/Kasmavtsu (2001)
Qtip- Kamaal The Abstract/Arista (2001)
Craig Bailey – “Brooklyn”/Evidence (2001)
Lenny White – “Edge”/Hip Bop (1999)
Antonio Ciacca- “Hollis Avenue” (Producer)/YVP Music/ Germany (1999)
Kelvin Sholar- “Of the Unspoken,…”/ Kasmavtsu (1999) (Producer)
As a competing musician, I have been awarded:
Winner of the Michigan Bach Festival Competition in 1990
IAJE Outstanding musician in Montreaux/Detroit Jazz Festival- 1991
Outstanding musician in Aquinas Jazz Festival- 1992,
Best soloist and Best band in WEMU/Heritage Jazz Festival- 1993,
Outstanding pianist at The Clark Terry Jazz Camp- 1994.
Since studying at Wayne State University, The Clark Terry school at Teikyo Westmar
University and William Paterson University, I have developed my own musical theory
called The Sholar System and lectured on it at:
Phillipos Nakas Conservatory (Athens, Greece),
Cite de la Musique (Marseilles, France),
North Carolina Central University (Durham, NC, USA),
Kyo Rei Hall (Tokyo, Japan),
Escola International (Sao Paulo, Brazil)
and Columbia University, (New York, USA).
—
Web: http://kelvinsholar.com/
