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Kenny Carr
Kenny began playing violin at age nine but by 11 realized his true passion was the guitar. Growing up in Santa Cruz, CA, with its inspiring natural beauty set the stage for Kenny’s musical career. By his early teens, he was studying jazz theory with vibraphonist Rob Lautz, in addition to renowned trumpeter Ray Brown.
Kenny was surrounded by talented aspiring musicians who became close friends. By 16 he was performing at local venues where he met drummers Kenny Wollesen, Jeff Ballard, bassist Anders Swanson and saxophonist Donny McCaslin. In 1981, Kenny and his fellow Santa Cruz musicians were invited to open for Carmen McRae and Freddie Hubbard at the Mount Tamalpais jazz festival, a catapult inspirationally and musically.
Carr attended Berklee College of Music in Boston. In his final year he got the call to audition for Ray Charles. “I remember running onto the stage (for what I thought was an audition) at a live concert as Mr. Charles told me to “play the blues!”. Carr had the pleasure of touring worldwide with Charles for over 10 years and was lead guitar for the recordings “Just Between Us” and “Live at Montreux”. Carr has enjoyed a fruitful career since Charles’ passing, with a discography of titles including:Friday at Five (2005), Turn the Page (2006), Changing Tide (2007), Idle Talk (2015), Exit Moon(2015), Departure (2018)
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Kenny Carr: Departure
by Geannine Reid
Guitarist Kenny Carr attended Berklee College of Music in Boston. In his final year he got the call to audition for Ray Charles. Carr toured worldwide with Charles for ten years and played lead guitar for Charles' recordings Just Between Us (Sony, 1990) and Live at Montreux (Eagle Rock, 1997). Carr has enjoyed a fruitful career building his own discography of titles as a leader including: Friday at Five (TAS, 2005), Turn the Page (TAS, 2006), Changing Tide ...
read moreKenny Carr: Turn The Page
by Michael P. Gladstone
I have to confess to being fooled by this recording, the second from guitarist Kenny Carr. It begins in a rather ordinary smooth jazz manner on the first few tracks. Carr, accompanied by bassist Tom Baldwin and drummer Frank Russo, generates a pleasant ambiance with Earl Klugh-type acoustic playing.
Then, with Cadiz Sunset," the mood shifts to a fingerstyle Caribbean setting which is closer to mainstream jazz. Following that, guest tenor saxophonist Donny McCaslin, who appears on four tracks, instigates ...
read moreFormer Ray Charles Guitarist Kenny Carr at Twinz Jazz March 30-31 in DC
Source:
Kari-On Productions
Kenny Carr Appearing At: Twins Jazz
Guitarist/composer Kenny Carr, a New York and Washington DC artist, commutes back and forth between his two homes creating music along the way. With over 10 years as an official member of the Ray Charles group, Carr is a first-call guitarist among his peers. His sophomore release Turn the Page, featured on TAS LLC and distributed by City Hall Records features Carr (g), Tom Baldwin (b), Frank Russo (d), Grammy ...
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"On Carr's sixth leader release, he once again solidifies himself as a seasoned veteran who exhibits prowess and technique with a deep sense of groove and agile technique. He has the type of rhythm string players strive for in jazz. His years with Charles were a breeding ground for his deeply felt sense of rhythm" - All about Jazz / Geannie Reid