Kelli Uustani is an Estonian singer and songwriter whose music blends jazz and pop with a strong focus on emotion, storytelling, and live performance. Known for her distinctive voice and expressive style, she performs both in Estonia and internationally, bringing her original music to audiences through concerts, albums, and collaborations.
ENG
Kelli Uustani is a singer, songwriter, actress, and storyteller known for her distinctive and warm vocal tone. Her music moves fluidly between rich jazz and refined pop, infused with subtle influences from musical theatre. Her style has been compared to artists such as Caecilie Norby, Eva Cassidy, and Barbra Streisand. Thoughtful and expressive lyrics are one of her strongest artistic tools, allowing her music to connect deeply with listeners.
Kelli has performed both in Estonia and internationally, including in the United Kingdom, Japan, Finland, Sweden, Belarus, Latvia, Lithuania, and beyond. In 2003, while studying musical theatre in England, she had the opportunity to perform as a backing vocalist at Elton John’s charity concert at the Royal Albert Hall, which was also broadcast by the BBC.
In collaboration with Mart Sander and the Bel Etage Swing Orchestra, she released five albums in three languages between 2005 and 2008. The album Five Fifteen (Divine Art, UK) was selected as Jazz Album of the Week by London’s Evening Standard in 2006. In 2007, a Bel Etage DVD was released, featuring two concerts and a German-language musical short film titled Berlin 1945 – Musik Unter Bomben.
Her most recent musical projects include the Kelli Uustani Trio, featuring pianist Mathei Florea and double bassist Robert Nõmmann, focusing primarily on original compositions, as well as a jazz duo with Ain Agan.
Her debut solo album of original music, Kuni pöördub tuul (’Til the Wind Changes), was released in 2007. This was followed by the English-language album Coming Out – All About Nuance in 2019, and her most recent release, Hinge tõmme (Soul Attraction), in early 2023. These albums, along with newer material recorded with her trio, form the core of her live concert repertoire.
In addition to her performing career, Kelli is deeply committed to music education. For over nine years, she has been teaching at Muusikalikool, where she is also a member of the creative team and head of the music department. Since 2023, she has also served as Head of the Rhythm Music Department at Viimsi Music School.
EST
Kelli Uustani on omapärase ja sooja hääletämbriga laulja, laulukirjutaja, näitleja ja lugude jutustaja. Tema muusika liigub mahlaka jazzi ja maitsekalt viimistletud popi piirimail, põimides sellesse ka muusikateatri mõjutusi. Tema stiili on võrreldud Caecilie Norby, Eva Cassidy ja Barbra Streisandiga. Sisukad ja tundlikud tekstid on üks tema tugevamaid väljendusvahendeid, mis aitavad muusikal jõuda kuulaja hinge.
Kelli on esinenud nii Eestis kui ka rahvusvaheliselt – Inglismaal, Jaapanis, Soomes, Rootsis, Valgevenes, Lätis, Leedus ja mujal. 2003. aastal Inglismaal muusikateatrit õppides avanes tal võimalus osaleda taustalauljana Elton Johni heategevuskontserdil Royal Albert Hallis, mida kandis üle ka BBC.
Koostöös Mart Sanderi ja Bel Etage Svingorkestriga ilmus aastatel 2005–2008 viis albumit kolmes keeles. Album „Five Fifteen“ (Divine Art, UK) valiti 2006. aastal Londoni ajalehe Evening Standard poolt nädala jazzialbumiks. 2007. aastal valmis Bel Etage DVD, mis sisaldas kahte kontserti ning saksakeelset muusikalist lühifilmi „Berlin 1945 – Musik Unter Bomben“.
Tema värskeimate muusikaliste koosseisude hulka kuulub Kelli Uustani Trio koos pianist Mathei Florea ja kontrabassist Robert Nõmmanniga, kellega esitatakse peamiselt originaalloomingut, samuti jazzduo koos Ain Aganaga.
Kelli esimene sooloalbum „Kuni pöördub tuul“ („Til the Wind Changes“, 2007) tõi kuulajateni tema autoriloomingu. 2019. aastal ilmus ingliskeelne album „Coming Out – All About Nuance“ ning 2023. aastal tema seni uusim album „Hinge tõmme“ („Soul Attraction“). Need kolm albumit koos uuema loominguga moodustavad tema kontsertrepertuaari tuuma.
Lisaks lavategevusele on Kelli pühendunud ka muusikaharidusele. Juba üle üheksa aasta annab ta oma teadmisi edasi Muusikalikoolis, olles kooli loometiimi liige ja muusikaosakonna juht. Alates 2023. aastast juhib ta ka Viimsi Muusikakooli rütmimuusika osakonda.
