New York, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 04/18/2012 -- Juno Award winning Canadian jazz singer Kellylee Evans will make her debut New York headlining performance at the Apollo Music Cafe on Friday, May 11, 2012, as part of the second annual Harlem Jazz Shines Festival, which runs from May 7-13, 2012. Evans will be featuring material from her inspiring tribute to jazz icon Nina Simone, entitled NINA, which earned her a 2011 Juno Award for BEST JAZZ VOCAL ALBUM. Her show at the Apollo Music Cafe, which is located on the second floor of the legendary Apollo Theater in Harlem, will start at 10:00 PM. Doors will open at 9 PM.

Evans, who was recently signed to Universal Music/France, and is recording material for her next CD, will be performing with a jazz trio of internationally renowned musicians including Francois Moutin on Acoustic Bass, Marvin Sewell on guitar, and Mark McClean on drums. Both Moutin and Sewell recorded NINA with Evans, (in Paris) and Moutin has performed with her several times in noted clubs and music festivals throughout France since the record was released last year.

The Harlem-wide jazz festival reunites the Festival's founding partners, the Apollo Theater, Harlem Stage and Jazzmobile, and focuses on the venues, music, and artists that were central to Harlem's cultural landscape from the 1920s through the 1970s and on contemporary jazz artists. Bringing both established and emerging artists to famed Harlem venues, the festival will pay tribute to Club Harlem, Clark Monroe's Uptown House, Havana San Juan Club, Small's Paradise, Minton's Playhouse, Showman's Cafe, Park Palace, Lenox Lounge and the Apollo Theater. In addition to concerts at Jazz Shrines, other Festival events will take place at Harlem Stage Gatehouse, Columbia University and a variety of locations throughout the Harlem area.

Designed to draw a diverse audience of neighborhood residents, New Yorkers and tourists, all events are offered at the affordable price of $10, and tickets for many of the Harlem Jazz Shrines Festival events are available now. Concerts are scheduled to allow people the option of attending several events each day, continuing the tradition of non-stop jazz throughout Harlem. For tickets and more information on the Festival and its partners, visit the Harlem Jazz Shrines' web site at www.Harlemjazzshrines.org and/or the organizations' web sites at www.apollotheater.org, www.harlemstage.org and www.jazzmobile.org.

NINA (released by Plus Loin Records in France and Canada) is Kellylee Evan’s third solo release. She independently released GOOD GIRL (2008) and FIGHT OR FLIGHT? (That earned a Juno Nomination in 2006). She drew early critical-acclaim for capturing second place at the prestigious Thelonius Monk International Jazz Vocal Competition, and has toured extensively throughout Canada. She has also performed in the US, France, Greece, and earlier this year performed at the Festival International de Jazz de Port-au-Prince in Haiti. For more information about Kellylee Evans, go to, www.kellyleeevans.com.

For more information on Kellylee Evans, please contact Chip Schutzman at Miles High Productions: Chip@mileshighproductions.com / 323-806-0400

Contact:
Chip Schutzman
Miles High Productions
P.O. Box 93157
Hollywood, CA 90093
323-806-0400
chip@mileshighproductions.com
http://www.mileshighproductions.com/