Kenny Davern, Ken Peplowski: The Jazz KENNection

Nine action-packed cuts, and even a little musical trickery are the order of the day for The Jazz KENNection. The trickery occurs, well, let’s just say song titles can be deceiving! Ken and Kenny have put together a rousing collection of tunes from “Georgia On My Mind” to Ellington’s “Creole Love Call.” There is no really slow tune on this album, and it really plays to the improvisation abilities of both Ken and Kenny. The rhythm section is comprised of talented veterans that British trumpeterJohn Chiltonsays in the liner notes are the perfect compliment to these two richly talented lead men. PianistJohn Bunchis the doer of the unspeakable musical trickery, and the whole group pulls it off without a hitch. Each cut is a pretty hefty piece of musical wonder, with the shortest being the “transvestite dance from the Apex Club.” The culmination of dual woodwind excitement comes in the last cut, when both Ken (who fronts with an alto sax throughout the album) picks up a clarinet and the two play off of each other for nearly the entire piece. For foot-tapping, finger-snapping, make-you-feel-better-on-the-way-to-work music, The Jazz KENNection is a must have CD!