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| VIDEO PREMIER: Kenny Shaker - Beautiful Things - Wise Cat Records Kenny Shanker is back with an exciting program of original compositions and jazz standards for his second release on Wise Cat Records. The common element that appears throughout this diverse set is a search for beauty in all of its various forms. Some highlights include the blazingly fast "Prestissimo, " inspired by the early bebop recordings that Shanker grew up listening to, and the catchy, spirited original composition "Cool Mint." Other standouts include straight-ahead renditions of several jazz classics, the spontaneous freedom of "Orange and Gray, " and the classically influenced "Beautiful Things." He is joined by his longtime rhythm section of Mike Eckroth, Daisuke Abe, Yoshi Waki, and Brian Fishler, along with Bill Mobley on Trumpet. Kenny Shanker is a saxophonist, pianist, vocalist, and award-winning composer. He put out his first album, Steppin' Up, in 2011 for Posi-Tone Records, and it was hailed as "immediately enjoyable, with enough twists and turns to reward repeated listening" by Bruce Lindsay of All About Jazz. In 2014, he released Action City, his second album for Posi-Tone. Bop and Jazz called it "ridiculously good, " and The Jazz Page called it "an outstanding exposition of the writing chops that won the California native an ASCAP award for composition in recent years." In 2017, Kenny released his third recording, The Witching Hour, for Wise Cat Records, which Jazz Weekly called an "impressive foray." Kenny has performed with the New World Symphony, Richard Bona, David Benoit, Lage Lund, Taylor Eigsti, Bill Mobley, Shelly Berg, the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, the Nelson Riddle Orchestra, Coalescence, and many others. Locally, he has performed at Carnegie Hall, Birdland, Dizzy's Club, Smoke, Smalls, Fat Cat, Jazz at Kitano, Queens Jazz Festival, The Garage, Rockwood Music Hall, and The Walter Reade Theater at Lincoln Center. He currently resides in New York City. Kenny Shanker burns with boppish abandon. -Bill Milkowski, Jazz Times Shanker's melodic and accessible brand of straight-ahead jazz is immediately enjoyable, with enough twists and turns to reward repeated listening. -Bruce Lindsay, All About Jazz Shanker is not your ordinary composer. -S. Victor Aaron, Something Else Reviews write your comments about the article :: © 2021 Jazz News :: home page |