Event

John Stowell and Kendra Shank in Concert: An Album Release Event

Portland guitarist jazz guitarist John Stowell and New York City-based singer Kendra Shank perform tunes from their new album, New York Conversations, Friday April 25 at O'Connor's Vault in Portland, OR.

Kendra Shank, acclaimed for her "delectable voice" (Time) and "breathtakingly original concept" (Boston Globe) joins master guitarist John Stowell who "seems to pull arching motifs out of thin air, eschewing clichés" (All About Jazz), in this co-led project. The interactive duo pushes boundaries with a personal mix of originals, reimagined jazz standards, a Fred Hersch/Norma Winstone song, a folk song medley, and improvised pieces. Moods range from intimate tender ballads to mixed meter jaunts, syncopated swing, sensuous samba, and the evocatively experimental. Stowell plays pianistic chords and rich unexpected harmonies on a colorful array of guitars: electric, steel string acoustic, nylon acoustic, and fretless. In addition to her compelling interpretations of lyrics, Shank employs electronic looping and effects to improvise multi-layered wordless collages in organic interplay with Stowell.

Born of an impromptu Manhattan studio session, New York Conversations captures the playful, conversational synergy that encapsulates this duo's two-decade collaboration. To be released April 8, 2014 on TCB - The Montreux Jazz Label.
Hear samples and pre-order on Amazon.com.