Jazz Newcomer Kellylee Evans Wins Canadian Smooth Jazz Award

Toronto, Canada (Top 40 Charts/ ENLIVEN! Media) - Less than a year after the indie release of her debut CD, 'Fight or Flight?' jazz singer and songwriter Kellylee Evans has won the 2007 Canadian Smooth Jazz Award for Female Vocalist of the Year. Her fellow nominees included veteran performers Carol Welsman, Amy Sky, Molly Johnson and Liberty Silver.

The ceremony was held Friday, April 27, 2007 at the Living Arts Centre in Mississauga, ON and featured performances by Carol Welsman, Amy Sky and Marc Jordan and Lifetime Achevement Award recipients Spyro Gyro.

This summer, Evans will partake in a Western and Central Canadian tour of the country's major jazz and folk festivals, including 2 dates opening for trumpeter, Chris Botti (www.chrisbotti.com). All this after being tapped to open for the legendary Tony Bennett and Maceo Parker last year.

Kellylee Evans has been earning rave reviews for her soulful music and charismatic performances since her second place win of the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Vocals Competition in 2004. The judges for the competition included Quincy Jones, Dee Dee Bridgewater and Al Jarreau. With the release of her debut album, "fight or flight?" in May 2006, her music has been reaching out across the world, garnering her praise, national radio play and strong sales. The CD is comprised of 11 original songs from Evans, whose songwriting chops earned her comparison to Aimee Mann, Elvis Costello and Ron Sexsmith (Brian Lush, Rockwired.com). The CD was also selected as a Barnes and Noble Discover New Artists release along with Corinne Bailey Rae and Gnarls Barkley.

Evans was also nominated for a 2007 Juno Award for Jazz Vocal Album and was a 2006 Toronto Independent Music Award nominee.