Welcome to Key West Jazz Society
We are a high energy live jazz band for hire in Key West, perfect for weddings and events. Our music ranges from solo sax to a ten-piece band playing upbeat swing music of jazz legends like Benny Goodman, Glenn Miller, Billie Holiday, and pop hits from Pink Floyd, Bon Jovi, the Beatles, and more! Let us bring the soul to your special day.
About the Jazz Society
Channing Lynn Griggs
Larry Smith
Ken Fradley
Jeff Dalton grew up performing with his family’s folk music group, the Dalton Family Singers, in the 1970s, and studied classical string bass at the Interlochen Arts Academy and the Peabody Institute of Music at Johns Hopkins in the early 1980s. He performed in orchestras in Spain, Mexico, and the US before settling in Detroit to play, record, and tour with jazz, latin, and fusion groups. He moved to the keys in 2016 where he freelances with a wide variety of players and styles, and operates Sunrise Studios, a recording and teaching facility.
Go to Jeff’s website.
Jeff Dalton
Ken Fradley has credentials like no other! Having been in bands with Cab Calloway, U2, Blondie, Kid Creole and the Coconuts, Wyclef Jean, Buster Poindexter, Ray Barretto, Celiaz Cruz, Eddie Palmieri performing at Carnegie Hall, Meadowland Stadium, the White House, Radio City Music Hall in multiple Broadway shows, Madison Square Garden, Montreaux Jazz Festival. He is on multiple albums such as Blondie’s “No Exit”, Buster Poindexter’s live recordings, “Tremendo Trio” album of Ray Barretto, and various Celia Cruz albums. He earned a BM at Manhattan School of Music and studied trumpet performance at The Julliard School. He has lived in Key West since 2002 and the Key West Jazz Society is honored to have Ken Fradley as a member.
More info about Ken
Skipper Kripitz
The founder of the Key West Jazz Society, Channing is a classically trained multi-instrumentalist who has been playing for 35 years and performing professionally in thousands of events around the world since 2005. With a BA in Music Therapy (Florida State University) and an AA in Music (Broward College, Fort Lauderdale, FL)
Larry Smith has enjoyed a long and successful career in the music business. He started playing piano in Pennsylvania at age 4 and played clarinet professionally in his dad’s band by age 12.
He performed and recorded for Don Kirshner (Columbia) which brought him to national prominence. And later went on to write, perform, musically direct, and record with The Allen Harris Band of Woodstock, N.Y. The band inked a record deal with Columbia’s Tappan Zee label, where Larry co-wrote and arranged many of the songs on the album “Oceans Between Us," which enjoyed wide critical acclaim. The record was produced by industry heavyweight Bob James (presently of Fourplay) and featured guest soloists Michael Brecker (tenor saxophone) and Hubert Laws (flute).
Larry went on to write music for CBS network television, inked a publishing, production, and recording deal with Marshall Chess, played Hammond B3 on Gospel Records, and started a jingle company.
Larry has been living and performing in Key West for over 20 years where he continues his love of showcasing musicians by producing his weekly Larry Smith Sunday Showcase Series which has become a must-see Key West institution.
Izzy Zaidman
A NEW YORKER AT HEART
Son of a Fingerpicker, Izzy received his childhood musical education on MacDougal street in Greenwich Village. Immersed in the post-Dylan Folk/Roots scene, he witnessed hundreds of performances and tutelage from the likes of Dave Van Ronk, John Hammond, Danny Kalb, and Suzzane Vega before he began gigging himself at age 14.
NOTORIETY
After becoming a longtime staple of NYC’s Bluegrass, Honky Tonk and Trad-Jazz scenes, Izzy moved to Austin, TX and began touring with Texas Rockabilly legend Wayne “The Train” Hancock. He is featured on Wayne's release, Viper of Melody.
In 2009, Izzy formed his own touring band, Izzy and the Catastrophics, combining Bebop with Big Band, Avant Garde and 50’s Rock N’Roll. The band played 200+ shows per year internationally and have videos with thousands of views on Youtube.
BRINGING AMERICAN ROOTS TO KEY WEST
Transplanting to Key West, FL in February 2021, Izzy made a home for himself and his Steel Resonator guitar. He now delivers the sound of the American Roots to every corner of the island. At Two Friends Patio restaurant you’re likely to hear him stitching his sets together with material by Louis Armstrong, Hoagie Carmichael, Johnny Cash, Merle Travis, Doc Watson, Willie Nelson, Frank Sinatra, Chuck Berry, Hank Williams Sr., Robert Johnson and Bob Wills.
