New Gigs - Old Gigs

We had the time of our lives on Jan 28th at Jazzland in Jacksonville. The place draws a special audience who are respectful & attentive, and who contribute to the music simply with love and enjoyment. Still waiting on some photos from that gig, no audio was recorded. Too bad - it was an A-game night; with new arrangements and some songs we hadn't played before live - "Surely" and "Sky Blue". The third set we played the "Kind of Blue" album in it's entirety!


Tomorrow night we're at a new venue here in my home town of Palm Coast, FL - the Three Dogs Grille - another new joint dedicated to jazz; looking forward! We'll be playing lots of Monk, like we did back in September at Le Crepe en Haut in Ormond Beach (now closed). Below is a new video from that evening.





Over on the Listen Page there is a set of music in the player from a gig at Arthur's Tavern in November 2003 with Lieven Venken and Mike Bates. A real groovin' night - the "Blue 'n Boogie" is one of my all-time favorites for the way it ends; I also love how Michael brings his own brand of improv to the table. Lots of fine empathy going on and Lieven is highly imaginative and brilliant as always. A little anecdote - at one point during the 1st set I had the boys start "Blue and Green" without me, so I could run out and put quarters in the parking meters. Those NYC meter cops were relentless! I think I paid more in tickets than I ever made at the club. Worth every penny for the memories & the musical moments. - KM

Great new jazz venue in Jacksonville

Kenny MacKenzie Trio at Jazzland, Jacksonville Oct 15 11

We returned to Jacksonville for the first time this year at an exceptional new venue called Jazzland. If you are in Jax, or passing through - I encourage you not to miss checking out a show there. No food license, so eat before or after; but what a classy joint. The lighting is not only perfect but beautiful. The sound is great, with so many different areas to sit and take in the show - from right up front to tucked away in a back corner at the huge bar. With the friendly staff and the warm, attentive audience it didn't take long for us to get comfortable and get inspired to give one of our most creative shows this year.

Below is a video filmed Sept 2nd 2011 at La Crepe in Ormond Beach~ Our entire first set was of music by Monk. What a blast!

The Jazz People of Ormond Beach

I love this new gig at La Crepe en Haut in Ormond Beach. We've been playing there since November, but just took over the 1st Friday spot last month. There's a lot to love - grand piano, plush vibe, friendly staff, delicious food etc. Tina the owner is exceptionally cool and is always going out of her way to make us relaxed and comfortable.

KMT @ La Crepe en Haut 2-18-11 photo by Gloria Mariash

What's really been a blast are the people listening. Ormond Beach seems to have a lot of folks just "passin' through". It was a smaller, intimate crowd last night, but in that select number was a self-taught piano enthusiast from Youngstown OH; a man from Mississipi (forgot the town) who promptly instructed me on where the blues is really from and why, accompanied by his lady friend from Buffalo NY; 2 local psychologists, one who just happens to be a jazz pianist from Philly, and a sweetheart of a guy. I didn't get to everyone, but I'm sure they were interesting.

I tend to give everything of myself on every gig. I'm useless mentally (and otherwise) the day after. I also have mush for brains in between sets. Mixed with my relatively new habit of chatting up the patrons, it makes for some interesting moments. :)

Last night we played some resurrected numbers composed over a decade ago - "Could You Imagine" (formerly called "Nikki", you can hear a recording of it here) and "Moved" - the nascent jazz effort from our  first NYC recording session; (a tune that will appear in a new version on the next release). Both came off without a hitch, thanks to drummer Scott - who drives 90 miles to play this gig, and John on bass - who was nursing a bad cold but played his backside off anyhow.

Scott's wife Gloria shot some good video of us at La Crepe back in February, playing a slinky version of "Chinny Chin Chin". I'll post it soon! Looking forward to the next time. Peace & Love - Kenny

new pics and new support page

A bunch of new pictures have been added to the inventively named Pictures page, from our recent gig in Jacksonville's European Street Café Listening Room. Some very nice shots from Killer Photography's Cameron Kline. There's also an abundance of fine looking video from this gig shot by Scott's wife Gloria that needs to be edited - soon! Also up are some studio shots from the album cover session taken by Frank Cooper, including a few not used.

Also up is a new fan support page. We are hopping aboard the fan-funding train in hopes of meeting some objectives: namely professionally remastering the tracks from KMT II and releasing it worldwide, as well as getting some new material recorded with the Florida trio. If you are interested in helping us - please visit the page - there are 4 different ways of support to choose from!

Last night we performed at La Crepe en Haut in Ormond Beach. Scott was late so Marc Koblick joined us on trumpet and flugelhorn (and what he jokingly refers to as his 'main instrument' - the cabasa). In case you didn't know - I'm madly in love with the flugelhorn, so I was in musical hog heaven. When Scott arrived we were a very cool sounding quartet! My night was capped off with a delicious lite salad, and some seriously tasty bread with olive oil. C'est magnifique! Oh and Gloria also shot footage of this gig! Can't wait to show you. Thanks for stopping by! Lord bless - KM

Music in the dark...

Yet another dark and blurry one - but a nice performance from a fun night at La Crepe en Haut

Fran Coraggio - bass
Scott Mariash - drums

Nov 19, 2010 Ormond Beach, FL

Old and New

 

 "Nikki" - recorded winter of 2000 at Sound on Sound, NYC with Mike Savino on bass and Joe Quinde producing and on drums. Inspired by a girlfriend - it's been 'leaked' out on the internet as "Could You Imagine", a phrase she would say a lot. I don't have access to the masters so this is mastered from a cassette copy. Downloads are enabled for the month of December.

And below is a link to a very recent recording - "You and the Night and the Music" from a gig in Ormond Beach. Fran Coraggio on bass and Scott Mariash on drums. Fran began playing this tune a few minutes before we started, and it just seemed like the right thing to launch into.
 

KMT Live at La Crepe en Haut