Jazz Articles about Larry McKenna

Larry McKenna: Profile

by Victor L. Schermer
January 4, 2010

Tenor saxophonist Larry McKenna could well deserve a place among giants like Lester Young, Stan Getz, and Zoot Sims as a lyrical player whose artistry, precision, and interpretive capacities almost always exceed expectation. As Philadelphia DJ Bob Perkins states, in his liner notes to McKenna's Profile, “With Larry, the quality goes in before the McKenna name goes on."

A highly sought after and experienced musician--touring with Woody Herman and accompanying vocalists including Rosemary Clooney, Tony Bennett, Mel Tormé, and Frank ...

Larry McKenna: Keeping the Legacy Alive

by Victor L. Schermer
November 21, 2007

Larry McKenna is a master tenor saxophonist. He has resided in Philadelphia all his life, and so is best known in that city, although he has been on the road a number of times, in particular with the Woody Herman band, and musical insiders everywhere know his work. His CDs as a leader include My Shining Hour (EPE, 1996), It Might As Well Be Spring (Dreambox Media, 2001), and 4 Brothers 7 (Jazzed, 2007), the latter with Frank Tiberi and ...

John Swana & The Philadelphians: Philly Gumbo Vol. 2

by David A. Orthmann
June 4, 2005

The sequel to a memorable 2001 release, Philly Gumbo Vol. 2 consists of pleasurable hard bop by John Swana and a band of mainstays from the fertile Philadelphia jazz scene. Despite the familiar stylistic trappings, the music stands up to repeat listening for several reasons. The original material (nine of ten tracks) transcends the tired, derivative tunes often written in homage to masters of the genre. Swana's compositions, especially “Sid's Dilemma, “Three Of A Kind, and “Quasimodo's Uncle, are catchy ...