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Kenny Shanker
Kenny Shanker: Vortex
by Geannine Reid
Saxophonist Kenny Shanker is an award-winning composer hailing originally from California, now residing in New York. His debut album Steppin' Up (Positone, 2011) was followed by Action City (Positone, 2014), which helped garner him the ASCAP award for composition. In 2017, Shanker released his third recording, The Witching Hour (Wise Cat, 2017), on his own imprint. In 2021, Shanker released Beautiful Things (Wise Cat, 2021). Only to be followed by Shanker's 2022 release, Vortex (Wise Cat, 2022), a collection of ...
read moreCoalescence: Coalescence 2
by Geannine Reid
Coalescence is a suitably titled ensemble from New York City, its namesake rings true. Each member is a seasoned player in his own right, playing in various ensembles, but together they congeal and offer a coalesced sound. Their debut offering Coalescence (Self-Produced, 2013) gathered together like-minded friends. In 2018, Coalescence recorded their second album Coalescence 2 and once again synthesized their defining sound. Eleven compositions adorn the outing with contributions from each player, saxophonist Kenny Shanker, pianist Mike Eckroth, guitarist ...
read moreKenny Shanker: Action City
by Bruce Lindsay
Saxophonist Kenny Shanker was eight years post-graduation before recording his debut album, Steppin' Up, which took another two years to get its 2011 release on Posi-tone records. So admirers of the New York based musician could be forgiven for not expecting album number two quite so soon. But here it is, Action City: released just 17 months after it was recorded and readily fulfilling the promise of the debut. Just what kind of action does Shanker find in ...
read moreKenny Shanker: Steppin' Up
by Dan Bilawsky
Alto Saxophonist Kenny Shanker is proof that an artist's direction isn't always reflected in their tonal personality. Shanker possesses a sleek-and-sweet tone that has served him well on dates with big name ghost band, like the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra and the Nelson Riddle Orchestra, as well as smooth-leaning pianist David Benoit, but his own music operates outside of the contemporary jazz" orbit. Shanker occasionally hints at the simpler side of jazz, with an easily appealing, less-is-more melody ...
read moreKenny Shanker: Steppin' Up
by Bruce Lindsay
Kenny Shanker has worked extensively since graduating from the Manhattan School of Music in 2001, playing with the New World Symphony, and the Tommy Dorsey and Nelson Riddle Orchestras, among others. The young alto saxophonist recorded his debut album as leader, Steppin' Up, in April 2009 but it's taken almost two-and-a-half years for it to be released. It's a shame that it has stayed in the vaults for so long, for Shanker's melodic and accessible brand of straight-ahead jazz is ...
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