One for the Road

For the past 4 years, I have enjoyed an extremely talented and well aquainted line up with my jazz quartet. People know my group to consist of Kenny MacKenzie on piano, Thomson Kneeland on bass, and Kyle Struve on drums. But now all of that is going to change.

Today will be a very special performance that I have to do because it will be the last one with Kenny MacKenzie being part of the quartet. In just a few days, Kenny will be moving to Florida. This was very sad news for me as I have always thought of Kenny as an indespensible incredient in the make up of the quartet...whether it be in terms of our sound, the band's chemistry, or what have you. There's no doubt in my mind that Kenny is the most musically gifted piano player I've ever had a chance to play with. His playing really reaches listeners. Not to mention, he is an incredible composer and just simply a real nice guy!

I won't be saying goodbye to Kenny though because we will still be in touch via Facebook, email, and we have even talked about possibly doing some gigs together in Florida. And then, there is my plan to fly Kenny up to do my next CD with me and the rest of the guys.

Thomson Kneeland, the bassist for my quartet, has given me a few players that I can contact to take over the piano duties. I am familiar with almost all of them and they are all great players. But somehow I don't think it will be quite the same with Kenny not on the bandstand with us. In any case, the show must go on, and I'm feeling too much momentum lately to stop now!

So, I guess that's it for this post. I'm excited about the gig today and will be sure to enjoy every minute of it. HERE'S TO KENNY MACKENZIE and one for the road!

The African Challenge

I'm excited about a new project that I've been asked to perform in. This project consists of African music and the group will be a quartet with a guitarist (bandleader), bassist, drummer, and of course myself on saxophones.

The music, though simple in concept, has proven to be rather challenging for me because it is so different than what I'm used to playing, or even how I'm used to conceptualizing music. That having been said, I like that it is challenging me because that is how we get better at doing things. There isn't a way to rise to a challenge if we haven't had one placed before us!

Right now we are in rehearsals, but the band leader plans on having us do several "small" performances as a tune-up for a big concert performance at the Boulton Center for the Performing Arts in Bay Shore, New York. That will be followed up by a master class and performance at Amherst College in Massachusetts sometime in February of 2010.

The chemistry within the group is very good...no egos, which is always a good thing! I really think that this will prove to be both an interesting and rewarding experience. And, at the very least, it should help me be able to better perform with my cousin Emile Latimer (percussionist), who's playing style is that of West Africa.

Just one question remains in my mind though. What is the bandleader going to call the band?