Jason Keiser – Kind Of Kenny (ENG review)

Origin Records – OA2 records – Street date October25th, 2024
Guitar
Jason Keiser – Kind Of Kenny

The guitar albums keep coming, but this time it’s an excellent album by a highly inspired artist, with complex compositions marked by beautiful originality and a playing style that reminds me of guitarist Ulf Wakenius. In both cases, there’s a form of ethnic poetry. “Kind O Kenny” is a lovely tribute to trumpeter Kenny Wheeler, with Erik Jekabson playing the trumpet in a deep manner, reminiscent of a Chet Baker who’s transcended eras. Here, Wheeler’s music, already quite poetic at its core, takes on another dimension, and it’s not just a matter of generations—you can almost forget the original composer of these pieces. Jason Keiser’s strong artistic personality is evident: very urban, very contemporary, and through his arrangements, Keiser gives an artistic impulse that approaches pictorial art in the way he handles voices and instruments.

An album of incredible delicacy that can be enjoyed alone or with those ready for this kind of contemplation, for that is exactly what it is. Like a painter, the musicians—Jason Keiser on guitar, John Stowell on electric guitar, Danielle Wertz’s voice floating in the air, and Erik Jekabson on trumpet—all deliver grand and precise interpretations. Wheeler’s music has its own rhythm, its own way of standing the test of time. Musical composition is one thing, but the sound exploration that each artist undertook here to create this pictorial atmosphere is also worth noting. Keiser, having collaborated with fascinating musicians such as Wyatt Rice, Ron Rice, John Carlini, Rick Vandivier, Thomas Cassell, Ardeshir Farah, Adam Steffey, John Stowell, Mimi Fox, Dmitri Matheny, Dave Ellis, Matt Clark, Ruth Davies, Kenya Moses, Ami Molinelli, Jim Kerwin, Mike Mullins, Aaron Lington, Erik Jekabson, Dan Robbins, Jason Lewis, Jason Day, Don Ross, Danielle Wertz, Mike Zilber, and more, has undoubtedly drawn from these collaborations a wealth of insight and reflection. It takes this kind of progression for a guitarist to become so precise in their notes, and this is likely where the seeds of this album, formed as a chamber jazz quintet, began to sprout. This says a lot about the way this project was approached.

Indeed, references to classical music abound, but they are not essential. The jazz component is brought in rhythmically, both in the background and in the melodic lines. The guitar often plays with timeless intentions, with occasional flamenco touches. In all these experimental forms, one can also see the entire discographic journey of this artist, who has nourished his experiences. This discography includes “Conversations with Jason” (2017) with Jason Day, “Buckwild” (2020) by The New Acoustic Collective, “Art of Acoustics” (2021) with Wyatt Rice, “The Axe Axis” (2022) with Rick Vandivier and John Stowell, “Amor en Ritmo” (2022) with Thomas Cassell, Mike Mullins, Jim Kerwin, and Melissa Garay, “Shaw’s Groove” (2023) under OA2 Records with John Stowell, Aaron Lington, Erik Jekabson, Dan Robbins, and Jason Lewis, and his latest album “Grassology” (April 2024) under Adhyâropa Records. On October 25, 2024, Keiser will release an album titled “Kind of Kenny,” an intimate chamber jazz quintet record highlighting the unique music of Kenny Wheeler, featuring John Stowell, Danielle Wertz, Mike Zilber, and Erik Jekabson under OA2 Records.

Take the time to settle in, perhaps with a good book in hand, and savor the moment. This album could only displease the uncultured; it, too, finds its place among our ‘Essential’ albums.

Thierry De Clemensat
USA correspondent – Paris-Move and ABS magazine
Editor in chief Bayou Blue Radio, Bayou Blue News

PARIS-MOVE, October 10th 2024

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