KENNY CARR - radio vinilemania web-radio Latin - Jazz

KENNY CARR (JAZZ GUITARIST)

Guitarist and composer, Kenny Carr, began playing violin at age nine, but at age eleven he realized his true passion was the guitar. Growing up in Santa Cruz with its inspiring natural beauty set the stage for Kenny’s musical career. It seemed everyone in his small California beach town loved jazz. By his early teens, he was studying jazz theory with vibraphonist Rob Lautz as well as renowned trumpeter Ray Brown. GrowIng up in Santa Cruz, he found himself surrounded by talented and aspiring musicians who became his closest friends. By age sixteen, he was performing at local venues where he met drummer Kenny Wollesen and bassist Anders Swanson, as well as 2004 Grammy nominated saxophonist Donny McCaslin. In 1981, Kenny and his fellow Santa Cruz musicians were invited to open up for Carmen McCrea and Freddie Hubbard at the Mount Tamalpais jazz festival.

After high school, Kenny attended Berklee College of Music in Boston. During his final year in 1986, he received the call to audition for Ray Charles. “I remember running onto the stage as Mr. Charles instructed me to ‘play the blues’,” Kenny explains. He toured worldwide with Ray Charles as his guitarist for over ten years.

KENNY CARR - CHANGING TIDE (2008)

Changing Tide, my third release since 2005, explores my love for straight-ahead jazz with some contemporary jazz influenced selections. Changing Tide kindles and evokes a blend of emotions and moods flavored with blues inspirations. Changing Tide features both trio and quartet settings, featuring my childhood friend Donny McCaslin who eloquently expresses my melodies with his tenor sax. Once again, I have been blessed with my creative rhythm section, Frank Russo and Tom Baldwin, who so skillfully create the many canvases to express my music.
I hope you enjoy the ebb and flow of these compositions. – Kenny Carr

many thanks to Lisa Reedy Promotions

KENNY CARR - CHANGING TIDE (2008)