Happy Holidays!

I've kept this site going mostly because of the domain name and links to it from other places, and most of the cds list it as well; but most of my online activity happens now over on the Patreon page. You do not have to subscribe to enjoy some of the content there, including downloads of music; and it's the best place to see what I'm up to, musically and otherwise. Most of the next album is recorded and uploaded there - some of the tracks are available to the public! Be sure to say hey via a comment or post if you decide to stop by there! I would love to hear from you! Have a great holiday season! - Kenny

ps - you can tune into my jazz radio show each Tuesday from 3-7pm eastern (with a break at 5) via iHeart, or at 88.5 FM if you live in or near St. Augustine!

Where in the world is...

L-R: John Pellegrino, Ray Guiser, KM, Steve Prince
Photo: Charlie Boyer, Jazz-Blues Florida

Just a brief hello to catch up here on the blog, and to announce some upcoming performances!

"Where Have U Been?" Well, I've been a bit choosey about performances lately, whether or not there's a piano, or at least a crowd that listens, what the parking is like haha. A few highlights from 2014 were the superb Winter Park Sidewalk Arts Festival (with Barry Smith and the late, great, dear person Don Waldrop), The New Smyrna Beach Jazz Festival (in the Ray Guiser Quartet, pictured) and our 2nd Jazz Vespers at St. Cyprians in St. Augustine (with John Pellegrino - bass and Ray Winer - drums). Also hit the new jazz club 727 here in Palm Coast, with delightful Linda Cole as well as the trio. That club has since hit hard times and pared down to duos and lower pay. Keep your fingers crossed!

2014 also saw the release of my 5th album in the electronic genre, under the moniker Seven Octaves. It is by far the jazziest electronic album I've done (and coincidentally, also the best!) If you think you might be interested in that - you can hear a few tracks over on my Soundcloud page; my remake of "Do You Wanna Dance" being the jazziest of the 3 that are currently posted there. Oh yeah - I sing a little on this one...

Coming up in 2015 - the trio has been invited back to this year's Winter Park Sidewalk Arts Festival; hands down the most professionally run festival I've been a part of. That's the weekend of March 20-22. Not sure which day/time we're doing, yet. Another highlight will be our appearance in the Romanza Festival in St. Augustine. That date is Monday May 11th at 7:00pm.

Yes, a new album is always in the back of my mind. Logistics and affordability are the key issues. I'm a 'where there's a will...' kinda guy as well as a believer in God's great benevolence... when the time is right it will happen. Hopefully soon! Special thanks to the radio stations & djs that continue to include me in their playlists.

Thank you for including me in your life's soundtrack. Happy New Year! - Kenny

Just a quick post on my activities, since there's been no post since May. Apologies for being a poor blogger!

I've definitely enjoyed the hiatus from gigs this year, although I have done a few, including the New Smyrna Jazz Festival last week in the Ray Guiser Quartet. There are a few more in November, listed on the home page. I continue to play in a band called the Blue Notes every Wednesday for a dance down here - a lot of fun with excellent song selections; and we are by far the jazziest dance band down here. ;)

Radio show is going great!! (WFCF 88.5 St. Augustine) Again - too much fun! I love being exposed to artists I've overlooked as well as new jazz. It's all pretty vast, and a bit overwhelming, but I absorb what I can; dj-ing is a blast; and I love the various contact from listeners who can hardly contain themselves, sometimes. Jazz inspires!

The podcast has taken a break after 27 episodes, but I think we're coming back in November. Lots of work, but I'm happy with the results.

Once a month I'm releasing an electronic number (as Seven Octaves) for the rest of this year, free to download. Some of them will make it onto a new full-length. You can hear them easily on the Seven Octaves home page.

And finally, if you missed it, the trio put out "Rekeb" earlier this summer! You can hear/buy it on the updated home page, and there are new live selections on the Listen page, featuring Ray Parker on bass and Matt Kane on drums. New jazz works will be forthcoming, as the opportunities arise. Thank you for your support and for stopping by! - Kenny

Site spritz-up and the low-down...

 

KMT live in Jacksonville August 2012

Hello! Hope you are all doing well & have survived Sandy, Nemo, Q & all the other rascals that've torn through lately! I've been a neglectful blogger, for sure. I'm on a bit of a performing hiatus, as well, taking gigs here and there, but not really doing the trio thing just now. We'll see what Spring/Summer have in store!

Meanwhile - I've a bus-load of mov & wav files to sort through and make somethin' out of. While poking through them today, I found an odd gig at Jazzland where only the first 3 songs were recorded - so I mastered them & they are up on the listen page.

In addition - the home page has been tidied up some, and since I'm "on vacation", there's a list of a bunch of the social networks where you can find me, if you so choose. I'm not often on Pinterest or Last Fm, but they're up there anyway - you never know. I'm always on Facebook - if you friend me, maybe message and introduce yourself - "Hi I like your band" or "Hey wassup - I stalk jazz musicians..." - whatever!

Just trying to keep it fun! Thanks for stopping by - Kenny

Missing in Action...

in the booth at WFCF Saint Augustine

For the few of you who stop by here - I do apologize for not keeping things lively. And for those of you wondering what's going on with the band - I'm taking a little break. We had a nice run at Jazzland in Jacksonville, but John wasn't up for the drive anymore (he turned 80 in June) and I wasn't up for working in a new bass player just now. We capped off the summer with a packed house at the New Smyrna Library, and then one more Jazzland show.

In the meantime - I'm fully engaged in promoting the music of other Florida musicians with Palm Coast Jazz - which continues to do well; and I'm now a jazz jock at WFCF in Saint Augustine - a truly hip college station with 20 hours of jazz a week and no automation. It's a lifelong dream come true - and basically taking my love for sharing good music to another level. You can listen online Tuesdays 3-5pm (Eastern) via Iheart, and I'm actively blogging & tweeting in that context.

I haven't abandoned the piano playing thing lol, just taking it easy (very easy!). A new album has been in my mind for a while now - it will come to fruition I believe, but it may be a little while before it happens. A few collabs are on the back burner as well!

I encourage anyone who truly likes the music I put out to have a listen to the Palm Coast Jazz podcast. There is some fine, tasteful & even progressive music being made down here by some serious cats and kittens. Thanks for stopping by! - Kenny