Jazz Articles about Kenny Lavender

About Kenny Lavender

Album Review

Kenny Lavender: Conscious Journey Part 1 & 2

Read "Conscious Journey Part 1 & 2" reviewed by Dan Bilawsky

by Dan Bilawsky
August 16, 2014

Texas-born, New York-based trumpeter Kenny Lavender is as versatile as can be. He's put his horn to good use on Broadway, playing lead trumpet on Bullets Over Broadway and working in the pit orchestras of other hit shows like The Drowsy Chaperone and West Side Story; he's backed up old pros like Frankie Valli, The Temptations, and Johnny Mathis; and he's screamed and roared in the trumpet section of jazz groups like The Birdland Big Band and The Chico O'Farrill ...

Album Review

Kenny Lavender: Conscious Journey Part 1 & 2

Read "Conscious Journey Part 1 & 2" reviewed by Nicholas F. Mondello

by Nicholas F. Mondello
July 22, 2014

"Big D, Texas!" If that's the “Final Jeopardy" answer based on this recording, the obvious and very correct question would be: “Where does the featured artist on Conscious Journey Part 1 & 2 come from?" Yep, it's where everything is expansive, free-wheeling and hot--and ditto this recording. Spanning two CDs and offering a dozen superbly-performed selections with nine originals, this is a Longhorn Steer of quality music--most of it exciting, swinging and all of it definitely entertaining. ...