Kind of Kenny

Stowell's unique guitar technique on self-designed guitars (electric guitar and baritone fretless guitars) joins his longtime friend and fellow guitarist Jason Keiser (steel string and nylon string acoustic). Most of the unusual compositions are by Kenny Wheeler, and the final cut is a guitar duo with John Stowell. Wheeler likes different musical slants in his writing, and the guitars plus just Erik Jekabson's trumpet and flugelhorn and Michael Zilber's tenor and soprano sax give him just that. "Kind of Kenny" starts with angular guitars and then direct and weaving horns building in a slow walk. The horns throughout are strong even in some thin high note moods. Then the two guitars talk and interplay in the same walking mood. They develop, then quietly the horns come back in as the guitars walk and build in complexity. Horns come back in a big band style, building and reaching out. "Hotel La Hot" has the guitars galloping, moving outside and then back in. The horns again go big band and then dart with guitar. Releasing to Zilber's tenor, they give him room to work, then rapid swinging modern guitar licks follow. Jekabson's trumpet has quiet fire and a hard swinging push. Stowell swings hard. "Gentle Piece" has guitars ringing out but moving slow. Both guitars wander. The horns quietly join, and the weaving sometimes gets lost in a fog of sound only to return to the roots. Guitars become bass or lead, exchange roles, and always engage the listener. Loved the tasty, firm exchanges. Horns open an upbeat "Kayak" and deliver a modern swing. The soprano makes the first exploration with swinging underneath. Guitars keep the energy, delivering complex quick note runs, then guitars begin trading licks, sometimes voicing together. There are some amazing exchanges in "Kayak." Get your jazz waltzing shoes on for the "Waltz for Kenny Wheeler" and move into a swinging dance. A quiet light swing beauty. "WW" is not a war but a quiet horn opening exchange, weaving individual voices, and then a third of way through, it kicks and runs. There is a lovely collective horn sound and then individual solo. Stowell swings, bites, and moves warmly and firmly with the sound. "Kind Folk" is a quiet flugelhorn and guitar ballad mood. Then they begin to warmly walk like hands together. There are changing moods in how each player approaches this walk, and it's one of my favorites. "The Jigsaw" has descending and interlacing guitar layered against horn lines. This is a discussion of who is going where. The bass strings on guitar bring the horns into a quiet conversation. There is a great concept here for developing themes and using various horns and collective voices to squeeze out a collection of super creative music. Exchanges in the runs toward the last third of the tune are a delight and brought smiles to my face. I loved this interplay. "For Jan" has the guitars moving through each other's lines, holding a line, suspending, then running like a Flamenco guitar. Horns pick up themed high notes and chords to talk their way in with a lightly discordant sound keeping the listener edgy. This releases to solid ripe and precise single guitar notes from Stowell with touches of Keiser underneath. Horns begin to make warm and sometimes quick runs. There is always a sense of swing as this tune walks along. The CD closes with the two guitars on
"Wheeler's Waltz", and it is obvious how many hours these two incredible guitarists must have listened to each other to get to know each other's capabilities and improvisational approach. It dances to the end of a sterling CD. Packaging is a 6-flap fold over. Cover has title and players over a foggy background. This opens to five black and white photos; then opens to two panels of explanation about the music. Fifth panel is credits. Back and final panel has tunes, times, players, instruments, producer and label contact. Back binding is clear for easy retrieval. CD itself has title, players, song list, label and number.