...a heartfelt tribute to Kenny Wheeler featuring inspired, compassionate guitar soloing by the leader and John Stowell. The intricate and intuitive interplay...brings to mind the pivotal collaborations between Ralph Towner and John Abercrombie.
Seeking to interpret trumpeter/composer Kenny Wheeler's music with the boundless sense of adventure and nuance needed to honor his unique writing, Bay Area guitarist Jason Keiser was particularly intrigued by Wheeler's penchant for assembling unusual instrumental configurations as he made preparations for Kind of Kenny. Teaming with the one-of-a-kind, master guitarist John Stowell as the ensemble's rhythmic and harmonic base, Keiser enlisted lyrical improvisers, trumpeter Erik Jekabson and saxophonist Michael Zilber, and vocalist Danielle Wertz, acting as a horn-like melodic voice and as a singer on Wheeler & Norma Winstone's "For Jan."
"There are many young musicians who are making jazz connoisseurs sit up and take notice with their debut albums. This is the case with the guitarist Jason Keiser...."
Jazz'N'More (Switzerland)
Track Listing:
1 Kind of Kenny 4:38
2 Hotel Le Hot 6:42
3 Gentle Piece 8:21
4 Kayak 4:55
5 Wheeler's Waltz 4:48
6 W.W. 6:24
7 Kind Folk 6:59
8 The Jigsaw 5:13
9 For Jan 6:10 (feat. Danielle Wertz)
10 Wheeler's Waltz 6:29 (guitar duo feat. John Stowell)
All music by Kenny Wheeler, except:
(1,5,10) by Jason Keiser
(9) by Kenny Wheeler & Norma Winstone
Publishing:
(1,5,10) J. Keiser Music Publishing BMI
(2,6,7) Sin Pays Publishing BMI
(3,4) Second Floor Music BMI
(8) Metisse Music SACEM & Burnt Puppy Music BMI
(9) Sinless Music ASCAP
Performers:
Jason Keiser - steel string & nylon string acoustic guitars
John Stowell - electric guitar & baritone fretless electric guitar
Danielle Wertz - vocals
Erik Jekabson - trumpet & flugelhorn
Michael Zilber - tenor & soprano saxophones
Production Info:
Produced by Jason Keiser
Recorded & mixed by Steven Glaze
at Tone Freq Studios, San Jose, CA
Recorded February 12, 2024
Mastered by Ron Rice
at Rice Mastering, Falls Church VA
Liner notes by Andrew Gilbert
Band photos by Tom Ehrlich & Steven Glaze
Cover design & layout by John Bishop
Reviews of Kind of Kenny
Paris-Move (Thierry De Clemensat)
"A MUST / INDISPENSABLE!" The guitar albums keep coming, but this time it's an excellent album by a highly inspired artist, with complex compositions marked by beautiful originality and a playing style that reminds me of guitarist Ulf Wakenius. In both cases, there's a form of ethnic poetry. Kind of Kenny is a lovely tribute to trumpeter Kenny Whee ...
