Ken Wessel

Donald Fagen: Morph the Cat

by Woodrow Wilkins
July 4, 2006

There's an engaging quality to Donald Fagen's songwriting and perfectionism that makes Steely Dan fans flock to his solo albums. While The Nightfly (1982) and Kamakiriad (1993) were expressly Fagen, Morph the Cat closely resembles Steely Dan without Walter Becker. The lineup partially reflects the ensemble that recorded the Dan's 2003 release, Everything Must Go, and toured with the group that year. The cast includes drummer Keith Carlock, guitarists Hugh McCracken and Jon Herington, and trombonist Lawrence Feldman. An assortment ...

Donald Fagen: Morph The Cat

by Mike Perciaccante
March 10, 2006

Donald Fagen's third solo CD, his first such recording in thirteen years, blends jazz, soul, funk and just about every other musical influence you can name on nine new songs whose subject matter runs the gamut. The eclectic songs on Morph The Cat cover some interesting topics: a romantic interlude with an airport security guard ("Security Joan"); a conversation with the ghost of the late Ray Charles ("What I Do"); mortality ("Brite Nightgown"); and a cult taking over the US ...

Donald Fagen: Morph The Cat

by John Kelman
March 7, 2006

Sometimes tight-knit teams like Donald Fagen and Walter Becker--better known as Steely Dan--make it difficult to determine what each individual brings to the table. It's no secret that Becker and Fagen have strong jazz sensibilities, not to mention an affection for Tin Pan Alley, having started out as staff writers for ABC Records before realizing their music was too sophisticated for the artists they were writing for. But Fagen's previous solo albums--Nightfly (Reprise, 1982) and Kamikiriad (Reprise, 1993)--and Becker's 11 ...

Westchester Arts Council Presents John Abercrombie & Ken Wessel + Sundad Saturday--January 26--7PM

Source: Jim Eigo, Jazz Promo Services
January 22, 2008

Westchester Arts Council presents JAZZ - LIVE @ the Arts Exchange! Catch the hottest acts at this unique venue in the heart of downtown White Plains. This Saturday--January 26th at 7pm JAZZ GUITAR DUO: JOHN ABERCROMBIE & KEN WESSEL JOURNEY TO ENTERNITY: SUNDAD A double bill not to be missed! Giant of jazz guitar John Abercrombie pairs up with the prolific Ken Wessel for a stellar set of masterful guitar PLUS Father and son ...
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Jazz guitarist Ken Wessel on new Donald Fagen album

Source: All About Jazz
July 13, 2005

Randy from the Music History Site:

“A few weeks back, I posted that a friend of a friend -- who happens to be a jazz guitarist -- was invited to participate in the sessions for the new Donald Fagen album. As promised, here are the sordid details:

My friend Steve (who among other things, works for WFMU / 91.1FM here in the tri-state area) was in NYC visiting his friends, Kenny Wessel and his wife Diana. Wessel is a jazz ...
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