Nancy Kelly © Tom Olsen and Leo Reinfeld

Starting at age four, Kelly studied piano, clarinet, drama and dance, later concentrating on voice at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester. Over the years she has performed for audiences across the country and in Europe and Asia, including three tours of Japan. New York gigs have included appearances at the Blue Note, Birdland, Rainbow Room and Dizzy’s. Over her career, Kelly has released three recordings: Live Jazz, Singin’ and Swingin’, and Born to Swing.

Born to Swing was one of my favorites of 2006, maintaining its place in my car CD player for several months. With Dino Losito on piano, Neal Miner on bass, Mark Taylor on drums, and a special appearance by great bop saxophonist Houston Person, Kelly brings her trademark sassy swing to every tune. She keeps things effectively simple on a bossa rendition of “Like Someone in Love;” engages Person in charming repartee on “Let Me Off Uptown;” scats up a storm on “You’d Be So Nice to Come Home To;” exudes wistful elegance on “Didn’t We;” and shows her bluesy side on the closing, “Let’s Talk Business.” As Bruce Crowther (Jazz Journal International, UK) notes, “At a time when we are still immersed in the flood of popsters claiming to be jazz singers, this CD comes as a very welcome assurance that the real thing is still around.”

Double your pleasure in the “real thing” of vocal jazz with a doubleheader at Dizzy’s—catch an early set from legend Mark Murphy, and then hang out “After Hours” for a swinging finale from the queen of swing, Nancy Kelly. Joining Kelly on Tuesday will be Ray Gallon (piano), Neal Miner (bass) and Fukushi Tainaka (Drums); on Wednesday-Saturday, Jimmy Madison takes over the drum kit; on Thursday-Saturday, Dino Losito takes the piano bench.

Mark Murphy and Nancy Kelly appear at Dizzy’s Club Coca Cola at Jazz at Lincoln Center in Manhattan, March 13-17. Murphy’s sets at 7:30 and 9:30 pm; Kelly closes out the night at 11 pm. Reservations at www.jalc.org