TORONTO, CANADA (Top40 Charts/ Skylar Entertainment) - Christmas Guitar is the new classical-crossover CD featuring the artistry of Sean Kelly, performer known for his work with the rock band
Crash Kelly. No stranger to the world stage, Sean has supported artists such as Alice Cooper, Gilby Clarke, Joan Jett, The
Black Crowes and Carole Pope. With this release, Sean brings a pop sensibility to classic carols, while still maintaining the elegance and warmth associated with the most wonderful time of the year.
Kelly's 2007 release of his debut The No 1 Classical Guitar Album garnered heavy radio play, impressive sales, and earned a lengthy stay on sales charts. The album received warm praise from such classical luminaries as Rick Phillips, Eric Friesen, and the Classical 96.3 FM morning team of Jean Stilwell and Mike Duncan. His performance for Yamaha Guitars at the 2008 MIAC conference brought further kudos from music industry professionals.
In 2005, Kelly impressed guitar star judges Joe Satriani (Deep Purple, Mick Jagger) and Steve Lukather (Toto, Eric Clapton, Paul McCartney) as a Top 10 finalist of Guitar Player Magazine's Guitar Hero competition at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
'With Christmas Guitar,' says Kelly, 'I wanted to make a record that was very traditional, while at the same time offered up a few chances to stretch out on the guitar.' With a spirit of warmth and exuberance, the album is an eclectic yet traditional set of 15 fresh arrangements of Holiday Classics. Christmas Guitar via Opening Day Entertainment and Universal Music blends Kelly's nylon string guitar work with an intriguing mix of electric guitars and a coterie of harps, strings, and other Sounds of the Season.
'In terms of classical guitar, I love the amount of control you have,' explains Kelly, 'there is a wonderful sense of balance when you are controlling the harmony, melody and rhythm within a single instrument.' Kelly also took advantage of the fact that his co-producer James Robertson (Skye Sweetnam, Down With Webster) is an amazing Jazz Guitarist as the two musicians' trade off solos on 'We Three Kings' and 'Angel Gabriel.'
'A good Christmas album should be all about making the listener feel as if they are enjoying a nice cup of Cocoa in front of the fire with family and friends,' reflects Kelly. 'James and I felt that any piece or arrangement must be working if it passed the Hot Cocoa test in the middle of the summer.'
'Of course, I couldn't resist the opportunity to throw some electric guitars on a few selections,' laughs Kelly, 'I'm sure Christmas Guitar is the only Holiday album out there right now that features a white flying V weaving in and out of a nylon string guitar arrangement!'
www.numberoneguitar.com
www.classicrocks.ca
www.myspace.com/classicalkelly
OTHER SEAN KELLY FACTS:
*Crash Kelly's new album One More Heart Attack was produced by Gilby Clarke (Gun's N Roses, Rockstar Supernova) in L.A. and the band spent this past summer touring across Canada with Clarke. In fact some of the Christmas Guitar record was recorded in hotel rooms on the tour. All three Crash Kelly albums have been released in Canada, US, Japan and Europe with critical acclaim from SPIN, Classic Rock and the Village Voice. https://www.myspace.com/crashkelly
*Sean Kelly is endorsed by Yamaha Guitars and their website www.classicrocks.ca features Kelly as the main endorsee of handcrafted classical guitars. Kelly will be performing a series of guitar clinics in music stores across Canada, starting in November.
*Sean Kelly is a Vocal Music Teacher with the Toronto Catholic School Board. Many of the Carols Kelly choose for Christmas Guitar are songs he first performed with the Pro Cathedral of The Assumption Choir in North Bay, Ontario. His first professional gig was with them as a Guitarist from 1987-1991.
*In 2007, Kelly performed on a 12 date tour of Indigo/Chapter Book Stores in Ontario in support of the No 1 Classical Guitar Album. He also played live on Classical 96.3 FM for their inaugural 24 hour anniversary party and was invited back a year later to play two sets in 2008.
*Sean Kelly studied Classical Guitar at University of Toronto with Eli Kassner.
GUITARIST PRAISE FOR SEAN KELLY:
'I'm quite impressed by your technique and overall performance and choice of material. Outstanding job my friend.' - Rudy Sarzo (Ozzy Osbourne, Quiet Riot, Whitesnake, Dio)
'Sean Kelly is a player's player. His diversity, musicality and obvious love of playing should inspire everyone to pick up the guitar. He's the real thing.' - Damon Johnson (Alice Cooper, Brother Cane)
'Sean's such a great guy, an incredible guitar player�very, very talented.' - Gilby Clarke (Guns N' Roses, Heart, Rockstar Supernova)
