JAM Magazine: October/November 1995 Issue: For the Record

Sonny Kenner
YESTERDAY, TODAY AND TOMORROW

Personnel; Sonny Kenner, vocals, guitar and piano; Jessie Barnett and Rich Hill, piano; James Whitney, keyboards and background vocals; Donald Cox, keyboards; Andre Hampton, bass: Dwight Jenkins, percussion and vocals; Khalil Ahmad, tenor sax; Ronnie Brow, trumpet; Sarah Kenner, vocals; Amir Kenner, Erick Baker, Demond Robins and Earl Brown, rappers; Eric Verner, background vocals.

Tracks: Sunny Side of the Street; Kim Koshi; Mustang Sally; Lullaby of Birdland; What's Up; Along Came Betty; I Found a Love; Eleanor Rigby; The Dope Game; I'll Play the Blues for You; Brickhouse; Wonderful World; Romaine; Time for Love; Nothing Can Come Between Us.

Recorded at Chapman Studios, Kansas City, MO

Guitarist Sonny Kenner has been thrilling audiences in Kansas City and beyond for over fifty years. And with the release of his second album, Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow, he proves the thrill is never gone.

As he did with his debut album, Never Give Up On Love, Sonny serves up an eclectic mix of music ranging from blues and jazz, rap and soul, to a dash of poetry and Japanese ("Kim Koshi"). While those fortunate enough to have caught one of Sonny's explosive Monday/Tuesday shows at the Levee will recognize most of the songs on this album, others will be in for a new feast for the ears.

With this album, Sonny Kenner has taken the opportunity to pay tribute to the many musicians who have influenced his career. Never is this more evident than on his take of the classic "Wonderful World," a tune made popular by Louis Armstrong (as a youngster, Kenner once played with Armstrong).

Sonny proves to be a true blues craftsman with his electrifying cover of the Albert King standard, "I'll Play the Blues For You," as well as his soulful banter on, "I Found a Love." Other highlights include a version of "Sunny Side of the Street" (first learned from Scatman Carothers) and two original compositions "Romaine" and "Time For Love"

Overall, this album's diversity provides a little something for everyone. Sonny Kenner does an exceptional job of taking a wide range of musical styles and crafting them together into a cohesive whole that will delight the ears of music fans everywhere.

-- Bart Swartz

The Dave Zoller Sextet
SNUG HARBOR
DPZ Jazz 3061

Personnel: Dave Zoller, piano & composer; Randy Lee, alto & tenor saxes, clarinet; Rod Booth, trumpet & flugelhorn; Chris Seiter, trombone; Chris Clarke, bass; and Bobby Breaux, drums.

Tracks: Snug Harbor, Cherb, J.R. Plays the Blues (pts. 1-2-3), Abracadabra!, 7th and Christopher, A Sketch of Fred Crane, I'm Easy, Sunday Brunch Musique, Gremlins

Recorded at JAM Creative Productions, Dallas, TX.

Dave Zoller hasn't lived in Kansas City since 1969, but he is still greatly respected by those who remember his big band arrangements (Warren Durrett, Marilyn Maye, Larry Sutherland's late '60s University of Missouri jazz studio band) as well as his engagements as a jazz pianist at clubs like The Baghdad and The Lemon Tree on Broadway, and The Castaways and The Leopard Lounge on Main. As a student at UMKC, Dave studied with Herb Six, Laurance Rast and Catheran Farley and he handled the keyboard duties in Ozzie Miller's "stage band" ("I guess the faculty was still gun-shy about the word 'jazz' back then," Zoller says with a smile). Just last spring he returned to UMKC as a soloist at the university's annual Jazz Band Festival.

Since moving to Dallas in the spring of '69, Dave has been one of the most prolific and in-demand arrangers, composers and studio musicians in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area, remaining busy these many years with an abundance of jingle work along with numerous gigs and tours with various jazz groups (there was even a three year hitch as musical director with trumpeter Al Hirt). He has also managed to find time to release several albums of his original compositions, the latest of which is the outstanding Snug Harbor, a CD/cassette that features his current working jazz sextet (for that group alone, Zoller has written 56 charts).

Snug Harbor is a collection of nine Zoller originals played by six highly skilled jazz musicians, several of whom are graduates of the famed University of North Texas. The title selection kicks off the album on a festive, New Orleans-flavored note. It's Mardi Gras with a high hipness quotient, indeed.

Like all the charts on this recording, "Cherb" is tightly arranged with all three horns playing as if one (note the close harmonies, and the flawless attacks, releases, dynamics and intonation throughout the album); a Clark Terry-esque plunger solo by trumpeter Rod Booth is an added treat.

"J.R. Plays The Blues" is 11 minutes in length and in three sections. A highlight of Part 1 is a laid back, low down 12/8 groove that features Randy Lee's torchy alto. While listening to this movement, it's hard not to conjure up images of flashing neon signs seen through the window of a Big Apple cold water flat. In Part 2, the tempo picks up slightly and Lee ups the ante with animated bluesy testimony. In Part 3 the time picks up again as Lee hops onboard for the ride and more of a good thing, all as backup horns and rhythm section lay down close-knit beds that are at once subtle and sizzling.

"Abracadabra!" is a smoky 6/4 ensemble piece with still more close harmonies and a solid stop time piano solo by Zoller halfway in. Trombonist Chris Seiter logs on with an angular chorus that's just as clean as his ensemble playing, and drummer Bobby Breaux's solo leads perfectly into a recap of opening piano/bass ostinato.

The rest of Snug Harbor follows suit in style. "7th and Christopher" is an in-the-pocket medium up that features a crisp, inventive solo by bassist Chris Clarke and the customary precise stacking of horns; "Sketch of Fred Crane" offers another in a series of sparkling piano solos by Zoller; "I'm Easy" finds a medium swing groove that nicely complements tight horns and stimulating solos by Clarke, Seiter, Booth, Zoller and Lee (this time on tenor); "Sunday Brunch Musique" is an uptempo cooker replete with smoldering bass, piano and alto choruses respectively; and "Gremlins" is a free spirited burner and well placed album bookend.

Snug Harbor is a small jazz band lover's dream. Mr. Zoller's compositions are fresh and full of surprises; the solos are consistently intense and exciting; and the arrangements are carried off impeccably with flare, pizzazz and musicianship of the highest order. It's an album you will enjoy adding to your collection.

Look for Snug Harbor at your nearest retail outlet, or order by contacting D.P.Z. Jazz at P.O. Box 59659, Dallas, TX 75229 (phone 214-247-7627).

-- Mike Metheny

RETURN TO OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 1995 MAIN INDEX

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© Kansas City Jazz Ambassadors 1996-2001. All rights reserved.






	Search our site:		Sonny Kenner YESTERDAY, TODAY AND TOMORROW Personnel; Sonny Kenner, vocals, guitar and piano; Jessie Barnett and Rich Hill, piano; James Whitney, keyboards and background vocals; Donald Cox, keyboards; Andre Hampton, bass: Dwight Jenkins, percussion and vocals; Khalil Ahmad, tenor sax; Ronnie Brow, trumpet; Sarah Kenner, vocals; Amir Kenner, Erick Baker, Demond Robins and Earl Brown, rappers; Eric Verner, background vocals. Tracks: Sunny Side of the Street; Kim Koshi; Mustang Sally; Lullaby of Birdland; What's Up; Along Came Betty; I Found a Love; Eleanor Rigby; The Dope Game; I'll Play the Blues for You; Brickhouse; Wonderful World; Romaine; Time for Love; Nothing Can Come Between Us. Recorded at Chapman Studios, Kansas City, MO Guitarist Sonny Kenner has been thrilling audiences in Kansas City and beyond for over fifty years. And with the release of his second album, Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow, he proves the thrill is never gone. As he did with his debut album, Never Give Up On Love, Sonny serves up an eclectic mix of music ranging from blues and jazz, rap and soul, to a dash of poetry and Japanese ("Kim Koshi"). While those fortunate enough to have caught one of Sonny's explosive Monday/Tuesday shows at the Levee will recognize most of the songs on this album, others will be in for a new feast for the ears. With this album, Sonny Kenner has taken the opportunity to pay tribute to the many musicians who have influenced his career. Never is this more evident than on his take of the classic "Wonderful World," a tune made popular by Louis Armstrong (as a youngster, Kenner once played with Armstrong). Sonny proves to be a true blues craftsman with his electrifying cover of the Albert King standard, "I'll Play the Blues For You," as well as his soulful banter on, "I Found a Love." Other highlights include a version of "Sunny Side of the Street" (first learned from Scatman Carothers) and two original compositions "Romaine" and "Time For Love" Overall, this album's diversity provides a little something for everyone. Sonny Kenner does an exceptional job of taking a wide range of musical styles and crafting them together into a cohesive whole that will delight the ears of music fans everywhere. -- Bart Swartz The Dave Zoller Sextet SNUG HARBOR DPZ Jazz 3061 Personnel: Dave Zoller, piano & composer; Randy Lee, alto & tenor saxes, clarinet; Rod Booth, trumpet & flugelhorn; Chris Seiter, trombone; Chris Clarke, bass; and Bobby Breaux, drums. Tracks: Snug Harbor, Cherb, J.R. Plays the Blues (pts. 1-2-3), Abracadabra!, 7th and Christopher, A Sketch of Fred Crane, I'm Easy, Sunday Brunch Musique, Gremlins Recorded at JAM Creative Productions, Dallas, TX. Dave Zoller hasn't lived in Kansas City since 1969, but he is still greatly respected by those who remember his big band arrangements (Warren Durrett, Marilyn Maye, Larry Sutherland's late '60s University of Missouri jazz studio band) as well as his engagements as a jazz pianist at clubs like The Baghdad and The Lemon Tree on Broadway, and The Castaways and The Leopard Lounge on Main. As a student at UMKC, Dave studied with Herb Six, Laurance Rast and Catheran Farley and he handled the keyboard duties in Ozzie Miller's "stage band" ("I guess the faculty was still gun-shy about the word 'jazz' back then," Zoller says with a smile). Just last spring he returned to UMKC as a soloist at the university's annual Jazz Band Festival. Since moving to Dallas in the spring of '69, Dave has been one of the most prolific and in-demand arrangers, composers and studio musicians in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area, remaining busy these many years with an abundance of jingle work along with numerous gigs and tours with various jazz groups (there was even a three year hitch as musical director with trumpeter Al Hirt). He has also managed to find time to release several albums of his original compositions, the latest of which is the outstanding Snug Harbor, a CD/cassette that features his current working jazz sextet (for that group alone, Zoller has written 56 charts). Snug Harbor is a collection of nine Zoller originals played by six highly skilled jazz musicians, several of whom are graduates of the famed University of North Texas. The title selection kicks off the album on a festive, New Orleans-flavored note. It's Mardi Gras with a high hipness quotient, indeed. Like all the charts on this recording, "Cherb" is tightly arranged with all three horns playing as if one (note the close harmonies, and the flawless attacks, releases, dynamics and intonation throughout the album); a Clark Terry-esque plunger solo by trumpeter Rod Booth is an added treat. "J.R. Plays The Blues" is 11 minutes in length and in three sections. A highlight of Part 1 is a laid back, low down 12/8 groove that features Randy Lee's torchy alto. While listening to this movement, it's hard not to conjure up images of flashing neon signs seen through the window of a Big Apple cold water flat. In Part 2, the tempo picks up slightly and Lee ups the ante with animated bluesy testimony. In Part 3 the time picks up again as Lee hops onboard for the ride and more of a good thing, all as backup horns and rhythm section lay down close-knit beds that are at once subtle and sizzling. "Abracadabra!" is a smoky 6/4 ensemble piece with still more close harmonies and a solid stop time piano solo by Zoller halfway in. Trombonist Chris Seiter logs on with an angular chorus that's just as clean as his ensemble playing, and drummer Bobby Breaux's solo leads perfectly into a recap of opening piano/bass ostinato. The rest of Snug Harbor follows suit in style. "7th and Christopher" is an in-the-pocket medium up that features a crisp, inventive solo by bassist Chris Clarke and the customary precise stacking of horns; "Sketch of Fred Crane" offers another in a series of sparkling piano solos by Zoller; "I'm Easy" finds a medium swing groove that nicely complements tight horns and stimulating solos by Clarke, Seiter, Booth, Zoller and Lee (this time on tenor); "Sunday Brunch Musique" is an uptempo cooker replete with smoldering bass, piano and alto choruses respectively; and "Gremlins" is a free spirited burner and well placed album bookend. Snug Harbor is a small jazz band lover's dream. Mr. Zoller's compositions are fresh and full of surprises; the solos are consistently intense and exciting; and the arrangements are carried off impeccably with flare, pizzazz and musicianship of the highest order. It's an album you will enjoy adding to your collection. Look for Snug Harbor at your nearest retail outlet, or order by contacting D.P.Z. Jazz at P.O. Box 59659, Dallas, TX 75229 (phone 214-247-7627). -- Mike Metheny RETURN TO OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 1995 MAIN INDEX ------------------------------------------------------------------------ © Kansas City Jazz Ambassadors 1996-2001. All rights reserved.