Bobby Darin Arranger Roger Kellaway receives French Jazz Academy Award

Bobby Darin's friend and arranger, Roger Kellaway, will receive the "Best Record Of The Year" award in the "Classic Jazz" category from the French Jazz Academy at a ceremony on Monday, January 7, 2008 at the Grand Foyer of the Châtelet Theater in Paris, France. The award is for the Roger Kellaway Trio album "Heroes."

Kellaway is best known to Bobby Darin fans as the arranger behind Darin's brilliant "Sings Doctor Dolittle" LP. He was also Darin's musical director from 1966 to 1968.

Kellaway's "Heroes" is a tribute to the great piano/bass/guitar trios of the past, including those led by Art Tatum, Nat Cole and, particularly, the great Oscar Peterson. "Heroes" is the second record from the Roger Kellaway Trio, the first being 2005's amazing Darin tribute, "Remembering Bobby Darin."

The prestigious French Jazz Academy Awards were first created in 1955. The college of voters is made up of 60 independent journalists, photographers, writers, and radio and TV producers.

Kellaway had this to say about the upcoming event:

"What a great honor it is to receive Le Prix du Jazz Classique for my latest IPO CD, Heroes. My guitarist, Bruce Forman; bassist, Dan Lutz and I give a warm and heartfelt thank you to the French Jazz Academy and its members. Now, of course, Heroes becomes a memorial dedication to the late and great pianist, Oscar Peterson. My thanks to Guy Chauvier and his Classical Jazz Committee. Also, my thanks to Academy President, Francois Lacharme, for his hospitality. I look forward to renewing our friendship. I will see you all in Paris for the January event!"

Get the Roger Kellaway Trio CD 'Heroes' at Amazon

Get the Roger Kellaway Trio CD 'Remembering Bobby Darin' at Amazon

Hear Samples from the Roger Kellaway Trio CD 'Remembering Bobby Darin'