A humorously lewd trio brought their laugh-out-loud act to The Bell House during the New York Comedy Festival on Nov. 13, delivering a cacophony of laughter that struck more than a few offbeat notes.
Created by J.D. Roberson and Ryan Wentz, known collectively as the duo Two Tree Hill, and standout performer Rose Kelso, “Don’t Stop, I’m About to Jazz” is an improvisational comedy show that’s as crass as it is musically inventive.
The show opens with a high-energy musical number that immediately sets the tone: an irreverent mix of jokes and jazzy improv. The only thing smoother than the saxophone solos was the edgy banter that followed.
After connecting on TikTok, Kelso, Roberson, and Wentz turned their shared desire to bring the laughs from the app to the stage into a show where they riff and joke over a live jazz band. They invite visiting comedians onstage to deliver snippets of stand-up, while the band improvises a musical score they’ve never seen before.
Complete with clumsy dance numbers, spontaneous singing, and racy riffing, the show feels almost like a guessing game to the audience — delivering surprises in the most rewarding way.
“Sometimes you can find that you really get in a groove, and other times it’s a little clunky and fun,” Kelso said. “We wanted to do something where we could have that sort of cabaret, Vaudeville vibe.”
Risky as it may be, the live band adds a layer of sophistication to the show, setting it apart from other, less ad-libby productions.
“Doing musical comedy, we’re already not traditional stand-ups. We love bits, pageantry, and putting so much energy and production into a single joke,” Roberson said. “We’re just doing what we love.”
Wentz calls the act a “perfect meld” of all the things they love about comedy and music.
“The show is us writing things that we really love and having comedians we are obsessed with,” he told Brooklyn Paper.
The comic added that, since the art form isn’t inherently collaborative, “Don’t Stop, I’m About to Jazz” serves as proof of the stars aligning, bringing together performers who have never shared the stage to shine together.
“It means the whole world to perform here. Performing is what I’ve always wanted to do since I was a kid. There was no plan B,” Kelso said. “It’s hard to get here, and it’s hard to get to do this. It’s a combination of luck and being in the right place at the right time.”
The show successfully fuses comedy with live music, offering an entertaining night out for those willing to embrace its playful chaos. While the unpredictable nature of the show may not resonate with every comedy aficionado, its charm lies in its willingness to break the mold and invite audiences into a world where laughter and jazz collide in unexpected ways.
Kelso, Roberson and Wentz will return to the Brooklyn stage in the spring, before taking the jokes overseas in 2025. In the meantime, New York Comedy Festival continues through Nov. 17 with shows across 100 city venues.
