Seattle-based Kelly Ash is a vocalist, songwriter, pianist, and music educator whose sound blends unapologetic pop with deep jazz roots. Pulling from years of jazz training and fronting top-40 dance bands, her music is made for the moments when you want to set a good vibe, whether that is a night out, a dance floor, or a quiet evening in. Critics have described her voice as having both smoke and shimmer, a rich, soulful sound with an authentic delivery.

Kelly holds a Master of Music from NYU, where she studied jazz performance in voice and piano and worked closely with artists like Jean-Michel Pilc, Kenny Werner, and Gil Goldstein. After four years performing in New York City clubs, recording her first album, and teaching at NYU and the New York Jazz Academy, she returned home to Seattle, where she is now on faculty at Cornish College of the Arts.

A Bandleader and Collaborator

Kelly performs across the Pacific Northwest as leader of her own quintet, the Kelly Ash Band, and with the twelve-piece Nearly Dan performing the music of Steely Dan, 313 Soul, and the Blue Wave Band. Her repertoire moves easily from the Great American Songbook to modern pop and soul, along with songwriters like Joni Mitchell, Sting, and Leonard Cohen.

An Intimate, Soulful Live Show

Whether at the piano or fronting a full band, Kelly draws a room in with pitch-perfect vocals and the intricate harmonies of a lifelong jazz musician. Her sets feel personal and warm, equal parts elegance and edge, and leave audiences with a few new favorites.

An Intimate, Soulful Live Show

Whether at the piano or fronting a full band, Kelly draws a room in with pitch-perfect vocals and the intricate harmonies of a lifelong jazz musician. Her sets feel personal and warm, equal parts elegance and edge, and leave audiences with a few new favorites.