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Jazz Articles about Kim Pensyl
Cincinnati Contemporary Jazz Orchestra: The Nutcracker Remix
by Jack Bowers
For those who assumed that Duke Ellington may have had the last word when it came to jazz interpretations of Peter Tchaikovsky's memorable Nutcracker Suite, welcome to The Nutcracker Remix, a sharp and stunning new portrayal of Tchaikovsky's enduring work by the stellar Cincinnati Contemporary Jazz Orchestra. This is Tchaikovsky for the 21st century, saluting and appreciating the Ellington orchestra's legacy and using that as a stepping- stone on which to create a fresh and exhilarating narration ...
Continue ReadingKim Pensyl & Phil DeGreg: Melodious Monk
by Greg Simmons
At some point or another, it seems, every jazz musician takes up the challenge of interpreting Thelonious Monk. It must be an unbearable temptation to try to bring some perceived new angle to such a distinct set of compositions, especially when those compositions are so inextricably intertwined with Monk's odd playing style. As if responding to that ancient query about why someone would climb Mount Everest, with the inevitable “because it's there," trumpeter Kim Pensyl and his partner, pianist Phil ...
Continue ReadingTake Five with Kim Pensyl
by AAJ Staff
Meet Kim Pensyl: Kim Pensyl is a prolific jazz recording artist, composer and arranger who has twice been named one of Billboard's Top-20 Contemporary Jazz Artists of the Year. A pianist and trumpeter, he has had four Top-10 albums on Billboard's Contemporary Jazz chart. He has recorded with jazz legends such as Toots Thielemans, and modern greats like Joey Calderazzo and Bob Mintzer. He has performed at such esteemed jazz venues as The Blue Note and Blues Alley ...
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