A year ago I reviewed Kenny Shanker's CD, "Beautiful Things" and I thought it was an amazing collection of music. It describes perfectly the kind of music Kenny Shanker selects and plays. Kenny Shanker is not just a great Alto and Soprano saxophonist, he also plays Piano and is an award-winning composer. On Kenny's newly released album, "Vortex" he has put together a collection of original compositions and Jazz standards.
Kenny Shanker's style excites me in the same way I was excited when I first discovered Jazz from the Dave Brubeck Quartet in the late 50's. Kenny's tone and phrasing reminds me of my all-time favorite Alto player, Paul Desmond. "Vortex" combines some of Shanker's favorite supporting players and all 10 songs on the playlist are terrific.
For all the up-and-coming Alto players reading this review, Kenny Shanker gives private lessons on Sax and Piano and you can find out more about this exciting opportunity by going to his site, www.kennyshanker.com.
I picked two "YouTube" videos for your listening pleasure. The first one was picked because it's beautiful but because it is also a simply a classic Jazz tune, "Autumn Leaves". The second song was written by Dave Brubeck and titled "The Duke" and gave me a very positive reminder about how much I love Dave Brubeck and his quartet.
Kenny Shanker is one of the young alto saxophonists on today's Jazz scene who loves to perform music from Bebop to traditional standards. Shanker released his fourth CD in August of 2021 entitled "Beautiful Things" that contains original compositions and some Jazz standards out of the "Great American Songbook". The common element that brings all these diverse songs together is that they are all beautifully written songs. Kenny Shanker is just not a great alto player, he is an award-winning composer, pianist and vocalist. His compositions are melodic and accessible; two important traits that I look for when enjoying Jazz.
Shanker lives in NYC and has played at almost all the Jazz venues in the city starting with Carnegie Hall, Birdland, Dizzy's Club, Smoke, Smalls, Fat Cat, and Jazz at Kitano just to name a few.
I remember being fascinated with Cannonball Adderley in the 60's. He played a lot of Bebop but then Adderley released an album entitled, "Cannonball Adderley with Strings" that covered standards. I remember how impressed I was with his ability to perform Bebop and still have an emotional feel for some great standards. Shanker possesses the same skills; he can do it all and makes his alto come to life on everything he plays. His compositions are remarkably good, and will be heard for years to come.
Joining Shanker to create this CD is a talented group of musicians who have been performing with Shanker for a long-time. Bill Mobley on Trumpet, Daisuke Abe on Guitar, Mike Eckroth on Piano, Yoshi Waki on Bass and Brian Fishler on Drums.
I have attached two "YouTube" tracks from Shanker's new CD. The first is an original composition entitled "Prestissimo". Shanker was inspired to write this composition by the early Bebop recordings that he loved. The second, another Shanker original, is a total change of pace that shows Shanker's versatility; it's called "Beautiful Things".
Guitarist, Arranger and Composer Peter Leitch has just released the debut 2-disc recording with his New Life Orchestra. Peter a respected Jazz Guitarist who has worked with some of the top names in American Jazz including Oscar Peterson, Ron Carter, Milt Jackson, Woody Shaw, Pepper Adams, Jake Byard, JackMcDuff, Kenny Wheeler, Al Grey and John Hicks. His long and successful playing career came to a quick stop in 2012 after he was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer. Eight years later he is still alive but unable to play his guitar. Peter's story is so inspiring and uplifting I wanted to share it with you.
Peter started his intense treatment of chemo and radiation which quickly resulted in the loss of his left arm effectively ending his playing career. As a life long musician, you can imagine how devastating the realization that he could not longer play guitar had on Peter. After a relatively short period of mental adjustment, Peter relates "It occurred to me that I was free from the tyranny the Jazz Guitar--of having to practice every day. I realized I could create music that was not limited to four fingers on six strings. I began to write." "I couldn't play anymore but I couldn't get rid of this urge to be involved in music and it seemed to me that the only way I could do it was to start writing." Peter spent two years composing, Arranging and Orchestrating the 17 pieces that are included in this 2-CD project. The results are outstanding by any musical measure. Every song on these 2-CD's has special meaning for Peter including the name of his Orchestra, The Peter Leitch New Life Orchestra. Yes, rather that l spend his life regretting his loss of ability to play the instrument the loved, Peter reinvented himself as a highly talented Composer, Arranger and Band leader.
The 14 original composition Peter wrote and arranged for this project are all stunningly beautiful. They cover a wide range of musically thoughts with ideas that are new and sometimes classically inventive while being fully accessible and enjoyable for the listener.
I have picked and attached two cuts from these CD's and a third one of Peter playing a solo on the standard "Yesterdays". for your listening pleasure. These three songs will give you a good look at Peter immense talents as a Composer, Arranger and Guitarist. The first tune is the opening track on the first CD, "Mood For Max". Peter wrote and dedicated this song to Dr. Maxim Kreditor, the oncologist who saved his life. This joyous music Jazz composition expresses Peter's feelings about his medical past, his talented doctor and his newly found musical life. The next tune is the standard written by Thelonious Monk, "Round Midnight". Its a fresh and wonderful interpretation of his great song by the outstanding 17-piece orchestra. I attached the third song, a solo by Peter Leitch in order to let you experience his talented Guitar playing, Peter plays the standard "Yesterdays".
