The War Memorial kicks off Live at the Alger performance series featuring prominent jazz, classical, and roots musicians

The War Memorial (TWM) is excited to announce a new performance series welcoming a diverse cast of innovative jazz, classical, and roots musicians to the Grosse Pointe communities. Live at the Alger is a series of house-concert style performances, providing listeners with an up-close and personal musical experience.

Elden Kelly, a solo classical and jazz guitarist, kicks off the series on Friday, January 28 at TWM’s historic Alger House. One of a handful of young jazz guitarists specializing in nylon string guitar and one of the few in the U.S. to incorporate the fretless guitar, Kelly is an engaging improviser, composer, and singer, writing instrumental music for the guitar and ensembles.

“I come from a musical family and grew up with jazz, so improvisation is inherent to my practice,” said Kelly. “All of the artists I admire most created their own path through incorporating the things they loved and integrating it into a collective vision. It is my hope that my music invites people on a journey of exploration, discovery and maybe surprise.”

During this event, Kelly will play instrumental renditions of jazz, twists on familiar pop and classical themes with global music influences, and original music all with an expressive and virtuosic flair. His original music is an engaging synergy of classical, jazz, folk, and world styles, while influenced but not defined by diverse genres such as Jazz, Neoclassicism, American roots, Hindustani, and Turkish music.

“I'm a huge fan of music and am always trying to uncover more of what makes it work as a composer, performer, and scholar. My motivation to create is integral to my search to become the best version of myself that I can be, and to discover and bring into focus more truth, meaning, and significance to those around me,” said Kelly.

Event details:

  • 6:30 p.m. (VIP ticketholders $45): pre-concert reception at the Alger House, featuring a hosted bar and delectable hors d’oeuvres

  • 7:30 p.m. (all ticketholders $30): concert in the Reception Room

Full cash bar available throughout the evening. To purchase tickets, visit www.warmemorial.org/arts/liveatthealger-eldenkelly

More about Elden Kelly

In addition to being a solo performer, Kelly has performed with many notable jazz and fusion artists in Detroit including Ralphe Armstrong, Rodney Whitaker, Grammy-award winner Rhonda Larson, Gayelynn McKinney, Marion Haden, Dwight Adams, Pate Jassi, and Jeremy Siskind. He was a session guitarist alongside Paul Simon’s Grammy award-winning bassist Bakithi Kumalo and percussionist Jamey Haddad on the album “Love is Awake” that reached #1 on the iTunes world music charts. In 2018, the guitarist performed with world-renowned violinist Regina Carter and Straight Ahead in their 25th anniversary sold-out shows at the Dirty Dog Jazz Cafe.

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About The War Memorial

The War Memorial, located on the shores of Lake Saint Clair in Grosse Pointe Farms, MI, is an experiential space open to everyone from everywhere. For more than 70 years, it has served as a patriotic, cultural, and community center. Its unique environment attracts more than 3,000 events and 250,000 visitors annually while offering premier hospitality services for community and private gatherings. Its diverse lineup of innovative programming includes live and virtual engagement experiences for adults and children. At its core, The War Memorial celebrates the ideas of American democracy while honoring those who have defended those ideas with tireless effort and personal sacrifice. Numerous patriotic and veterans’ events are held as well as history and civics offerings on the origin, traditions, and challenges facing American democracy. The War Memorial remains committed to serving the community as a unique, dynamic, and forward-thinking hub for southeast Michigan.


Media Contact

Da’Stanza Murphy
Communications and Programming Manager
313.332.4053
dmurphy@warmemorial.org


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Leading Detroit female vocalist Nicole New to perform songs about love at TWM Live at the Alger series Valentine’s Day event  

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Smithsonian Traveling Exhibition Examining Democracy in America Coming to Grosse Pointe War Memorial