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Kenny Carr

Kenny Carr is a classically trained guitar player and composer living in New York City. Kenny performs his original jazz, blues, funk and fusion instrumental music with trio, quartet and other ensembles. Kenny has published five albums recorded with NY, LA and other musicians to include Donny McCaslin, Kenny Wollesen, Hans Glawischnig, George Laks, Andy Hess, Tony Mason, Tom Baldwin and Frank Russo.

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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4
Album Review

Kenny Carr: Departure

Read "Departure" reviewed 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 ...

213
Album Review

Kenny Carr: Turn The Page

Read "Turn The Page" reviewed 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 ...

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103

Performance / Tour

Former Ray Charles Guitarist Kenny Carr at Twinz Jazz March 30-31 in DC

Former 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 ...

“Departure is a magnificent work, one that I found myself sneaking the volume higher and higher throughout the review process. I was also impressed with the recording itself as I found it to be very well recorded and, on my system” - Audiophile

"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

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Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Departure

Zoozazz
2019

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Exit Moon

Zoozazz Music
2015

buy

Idle Talk

Zoozazz Music
2014

buy

Changing Tide

TAS/Zoozazz Music
2007

buy

Turn The Page

TAS/Zoozazz Music
2006

buy

Friday at Five

TAS/Zoozazz Music
2005

buy

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