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'These Ears And Eyes' - The Debut Album by Paul Kahn, first released in 1999, to be re-released via Mighty Quinn on October 25, 2024 Paul Kahn’s decades-long career has been defined by a passion for roots music. Songwriter, working musician, music booking agency founder, music publisher, producer, writer, artist manager, and historian, Paul has worn many hats. Stuart J. Rosenberg, the Chicago based musician, producer, radio host, and promoter, who passed away on May 7, 2024, at age 68, was one of Paul’s deepest collaborators and most enduring musical pals. Paul befriended Stuart while booking artists in the 1990s, when Stuart produced concerts. In 1998, Stuart produced demos of some of Paul’s original songs, with a band that included the cream of Chicago area musicians. The sessions led to the 1999 release of the album, Paul Kahn: These Ears And Eyes. The release coincided with the 20th anniversary of Concerted Efforts, the boutique music booking agency founded and helmed by Paul Kahn. The album intrigued the music world, leading to features and glowing reviews in international outlets, including fRoots (England), The Jerusalem Post (Israel), The Boston Globe, and the music business weekly Pollstar Magazine. “His rootsy, old-time, mostly acoustic, swing-based string band arrangements, his deadpan vocals and his delight in word-play lend the effort a vaudevillian feel, ” wrote Seth Rogovoy for Berkshire Eagle. In 2024, Mighty Quinn Records will lend new life to These Ears And Eyes, re-releasing the album across all digital platforms, 25 years since its inception. In bringing new meaning to the proverb, good things come to those who wait, Mighty Quinn Records label head Jerry Roche explained, “you hear an artist who loves music. The joy is infectious from the first song to the last.” Upon the initial release, Paul on guitar and vocals and Stuart on mandolin and violin toured to support the album included appearances at Montreal Jazz Festival, Quebec Summer Festival, and legendary venues, including The Bottom Line (NYC), Club Passim (Cambridge, MA), The Ark (Ann Arbor, MI), and The Iron Horse (Northampton, MA). Their appearance at Festival D’ete International de Quebec in July 2000 was notable for the addition to the ensemble of vocalist, mandolinist, percussionist Catherine Russell, who Paul had met earlier that year on a recording session by The Holmes Brothers. Soon after the appearance in Quebec City, Catherine Russell joined David Bowie as a member of his band for world tours in 2002 -2004. Upon returning from David Bowie’s Reality Tour, Paul suggested Catherine Russell record as a leader, recruiting Stuart J. Rosenberg to produce and play on demos which turned into Catherine Russell’s debut album, Cat (2006). The album included Catherine’s interpretation of two new Paul Kahn originals, “Blue Memories, ” and “The Poker.” In 2010, Paul produced Catherine Russell’s third album, Inside This Heart of Mine, which included Catherine’s version of the song “November, ” which originally appeared on These Ears And Eyes. Catherine attests to being drawn to “Paul’s picturesque songwriting, which touches the soul with universal themes.” Since then, Paul has produced or co-produced six Catherine Russell albums, two of which received Grammy© nominations for Best Jazz Vocal Album. Plans are now in the works for a new Paul Kahn studio album to be produced by Catherine Russell, returning the favor. --- These Ears And Eyes: The Band Paul Kahn: Songwriter, Acoustic & Electric Guitar, Vocals In the early 1970’s, Paul performed on the street and in folk clubs in Madison, Wisconsin and Paris, France. In 1978 he recorded for Rounder Records, playing bass and singing in the bluegrass band, Tasty Licks, playing on banjo great Bela Fleck’s first recordings. Paul toured with Tasty Licks, and wrote the title song, Anchored To The Shore, on the 2nd Tasty Licks album. In addition to Bela Fleck, Tasty Licks included bluegrass notables Jack Tottle, Pat Enright, and Stacey Phillips. Paul played bass on finger style guitarist Eric Schoenberg’s Rounder album, Acoustic Guitar. Paul’s original songs and co-writes have since appeared on albums by Catherine Russell, Luther “Guitar Junior” Johnson, The Holmes Brothers, and C.J. Chenier. Stuart Rosenberg: Violin, Mandolin, Producer Revered as a visionary in Chicago’s cultural scene, Stuart hosted a popular WBEZ Public Radio Show, Radio Gumbo, He produced concerts at Chicago’s Navy Pier, and performed in various band’s, including The Otters, The Rogues, and Laketown Buskers, as well as producing albums for Paul Kahn, Catherine Russell, Alberto Mizrahi, and more. Morris Jennings: Drums Morris “Moe” Jennings was a prolific and highly sought after drummer on the Chicago scene, serving as house drummer at Chess Records. Morris appeared on iconic blues, soul, jazz, and funk albums, including Muddy Waters, Electric Mud (1968), Howlin Wolf, The Howlin’ Wolf Album (1969), and Curtis Mayfield, Superfly (1972). Morris performed and recorded with Ramsey Lewis, while also appearing on albums by Roy Buchanan, Tyrone Davis, Terry Callier, Marlena Shaw, Woody Herman, Donny Hathaway, Peobo Bryson, Albert Collins, and many others. Dick Bunn: Tuba, Acoustic Bass Initially trained as a Tuba player, Dick followed in the footsteps of his father, as an in demand Tuba and Bass player, working in Hotel Ballrooms, Broadway Productions, and all manner of Jazz and Popular Music gigs, along the way performing with Ray Bolger, Cab Calloway, Diane Carroll, Sammy Davis, Jr., Billy Eckstine, The Mills Brothers, Kay Starr, Rosemary Clooney, Nancy Wilson, and Louisiana Red, among others. Don Stiernberg: Archtop Guitar, Mandolin, Harmony Vocals Don Stiernberg is renowned as a leading mandolinist and vocal practitioner of swing and jazz standards. Don has received acclaim for his albums as a leader, including collaborations with Jethro Burns, David Grisman, Sam Bush, Howard Levy, and more. Additional Musicians: Luke Nelson - piano Alan Waters - percussion Richie Fudoli - tenor saxophone Audrey Morrison - trombone Willy Schwarz - accordion Harris Thorpe "Chip" Covington IV - 5 string banjo Production Credits: Produced by Stuart Rosenberg Recorded Summer 1998 at The Bat Cafe, Skokie, IL by Mike Konopka & Playtime Music Studios and Q Division, Boston, MA by Tom Dube These Ears And Eyes: The Songs (all written by Paul Kahn, except 11 by Carl T. Sprague) 1.Bigger Than My Heart 2. Lovin’ You Way Too Much 3. These Ears And Eyes 4. Little Drops Of Water 5. Bear Of Orcas Island 6. November 7. Second Hand Smoke 8. Ginger Lee 9. Marmalade 10. Mr. Blues 11. Wayward Daughter 12. Shinnecock Canal These Ears And Eyes, Review Clips: “The sound is string band whimsy, and the droll, conversational songs amble along…echoes of Dave Frishberg and Mose Allison.” - Daniel Gewertz, The Boston Herald “...guitar-based folk music which tells stories with wit and wisdom, style and understatement…refreshing songs…” - David Brinn, The Jerusalem Post (Israel) “ Nice atmosphere…on These Ears and Eyes he shows a style that can be both whimsical and serious, his songs imbued with a very strong sense of place.” - Chris Nickson, fRoots Magazine (UK) “...he focuses on themes of lost love and youthful memories, his casual delivery adds to the informality of the album.” - Craig Harris, The Boston Globe “...a delightful sense of naivete and droll insouciance. His rootsy, old-time, mostly acoustic, swing-based string band arrangements, his deadpan vocals and his delight in word-play lend the effort a vaudevillian feel.” - Seth Rogovoy, Berkshire Eagle “...Kahn opens the mind AND heart effectively…many of these well crafted songs will be covered by better known singers.” - Greg Allen, Soundations “November is a jazzy, sentimental song of lost love with the feel of a Cole Porter standard.” - Journal News (Hamilton, Ontario) “Well written, wistful, and magical” - Kate McGarrigle (noted songwriter, McGarrigle Sisters) “Paul Kahn’s band is top-notch and his songs convey effective imagery, humor, and emotions…” - Tom Hylop, Blue Revue “Paul Kahn could have walked off a traveling minstrel show into a modern studio. These Ears and Eyes is all-original material in the finest Americana traditions of country-blues, ragtime, and folk.” - Tom Schulte, All Music Guide |
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