Gospel-Infused Jazz Exists & Cade Kellam is Proof
- Tahlia
- Mar 10, 2024
- 3 min read
Hailing from the bold city of Dallas, Texas, we proudly introduce our inaugural For The Glory artist of the month for March, Cade Kellam.
For those who appreciate the intersection of faith and jazz music, Cade Kellam offers a unique musical journey akin to the ambiance of a Frank Sinatra jazz club.
We had the opportunity to speak directly with Kellam, delving into how God has influenced his musical journey and led him to pursue his current sound. Although not initially drawn to jazz, Sinatra's music struck a chord with him, leading him to reimagine his lyrics in the old vocal style, igniting his passion for the genre.
Kellam's musical narrative, akin to legendary predecessors like John Coltrane, particularly his 1964 album A Love Supreme, reflects a spiritual journey where musical devotion intertwines with faith in God. Much like Coltrane's quest, Kellam’s musical path emerges from personal struggles, echoing his music's depth of spiritual exploration.
“Through several life circumstances that positioned me to need God in a way that I never knew I could, I met the beautiful Man with fire in His eyes; I met with God as my Father.”
Kellam perceives Christian jazz as an exhilarating frontier in today's music scene. Initially exploring it as a lone pioneer, he now witnesses a burgeoning community of artists embracing the genre. His vision for Christian music extends beyond boundaries, aiming for every genre to brim with quality songs about God, rendering generic labels obsolete. Kellam conveyed the immense gratification he feels witnessing the evolution of Christian jazz as he sees “there are more and more people jumping in and that is very exciting.”
In addition to drawing sonic inspiration from jazz legends Frank Sinatra, Matt Corby, and Gregory Alan Isakov, Kellam finds profound inspiration in nature.
“Feeling very inspired by nature, I feel just about every emotion when I create music. Sometimes it’s pure excitement and sometimes it’s frustration as I try to craft poetic phrases with intricate rhyme schemes. But, ultimately I feel connected with God and that is what I hope and pray others feel as they listen. I hope they feel the peace of the Holy Spirit.”
His debut EP, A Peculiar Kind of Grace, provides a poignant narrative of his spiritual journey over the past two years, navigating through life's trials and triumphs with Jesus by his side. “I was gradually freed from the creative cage I had locked myself in,” Kellam highlights.
Opening with compelling hits like Lilies, inspired by a Scripture found in Matthew 6:25-34, Kellam emphasises reliance on God to provide, encouraging his listeners to seek the kingdom first instead of succumbing to the worries of this life. Several other projects are destined to come out of this, including his debut album Many Moons, which is a reflection of walking with God through different seasons of life.
“Through every season. Month after month. Year after year. For ‘Many Moons’ he has continued to capture my heart. As other lives have grown cold and other dreams and desires have come and gone…I have never grown tired of Jesus.”
In his musical journey, Kellam senses a divine vision unfolding. Specifically, he feels called to engage individuals who have grown up in church yet lack a deep, daily connection with the Holy Spirit. He believes that the depth of his music, inspired by his relationship with Jesus, has the power to draw people into a more profound intimacy with God. “My ultimate goal is to do this as a career so I can travel around, meet people, and encourage them in this,” he explained.
Cade Kellam’s music resonates with a fusion of contemporary Christian themes and the timeless allure of old vocal jazz. Despite fracturing his thumbs a total of 7 times, he adeptly plays the drums and piano, showcasing the resilience of his musical spirit, evident in every note of his work. Paying homage to the spontaneous process of jazz, and creating fresh melodies, we anticipate Many Moons to be an exciting and wave-making force in the Christian jazz landscape.
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