Jon-Erik Kellso established himself as a leading figure among hot jazz trumpeters through his standout performances on multiple Arbors releases during the mid-1990s. Following studies at Wayne State University, his early professional work included stints alongside the New McKinney's Cotton Pickers as well as J.C. Heard's Orchestra. Relocating to New York in 1989, he quickly found himself collaborating with numerous prominent mainstream jazz artists such as Dan Barrett, Dick Hyman, Kenny Davern, Howard Alden, and Marty Grosz. Kellso maintains affiliations with both James Dapogny's Chicago Jazz band and Vince Giordano's Nighthawks while contributing to various recording projects, among them sessions with Rick Fay and the Magnificent Seven, and he launched his own leadership career with an Arbors date in 1993. He has sustained an active presence on the road and within the mainstream jazz community ever since, cutting tracks alongside figures like Johnny Varro and earning acclaim for his command of the Puje, a custom-built wind instrument blending elements of the cornet and trumpet.
