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Jazz flutist
Kenny Stahl has been one of the stalwarts of the local jazz scene for
years. Whenever a flute player is called for, whether for a recording
or in performance, Stahl is invariably the first one anyone calls.
Stahl has had a long and distinguished
career that has included stints with such diverse artists as country singer
Lee Greenwood and soul man Stevie Wonder, as well as jazz greats like
Cal Tjader and Jaco Pastorius.
But for the last several years Stahl
has been doing the solo thing, leading his own bands (duo, trio, quartet,
you name it) as well as finding time to record three albums, “Kenny’s
From Heaven,” “Scentuality,” and his latest, “Mpingo,”
named after the African blackwood that is used in his flutes.
Stahl will celebrate the release of
the album with two shows, Friday night at Kuumbwa Jazz Center in Santa
Cruz (see Beth Peerless’ Cruzin’ column for more details), and
Saturday night at The Jazz & Blues Company in Carmel.
Stahl’s quintet those nights
will be the same group that opened for Diana Krall earlier this year:
Murray Low on piano, Stan Poplin on bass, Paul van Wageningen on drums,
and special guest George Young (a former member of the Saturday Night
Live Band) on saxophone.
The new CD, which not only features
the players listed above, but pianist Weber Iago and drummer Eddie Marshall,
is a mix of Stahl originals (“Mpingo,” “Theme for R.J.”)
and well as compositions from Brazilian music great Dori Caymmi, jazz
sax giants Benny Carter and Michael Brecker and a Miles Davis/Bill Evans
classic. There’s also a classically sounding piece by the always
creative Iago titled “Fantasy on Amazing Grace.”
Stahl’s warm, versatile and ever-searching
flute is at the center of these tunes, of course, flowing almost effortlessly
on top of a solid base created by the other players. Stahl really lets
loose on many of these tracks, playing with forceful abandon at times.
He even plays tenor saxophone on one tune.
The Carmel show starts at 7:30, tickets
are $25 and there will be two full sets. Call 624-6431 for reservations
and information.
The Carmel
Pine Cone
November 3, 2000
Flutist Kenny Stahl takes the stage at
Jazz & Blues Company
By Stephen L. Vagnini
Kenny Stahl is a world-class musician
who happens to live on the Monterey Peninsula. Like a host of other talented
musicians who choose to live in the relative obscurity of our little paradise,
Stahl has traded in a potentially more lucrative career in order to call
Carmel home. This Saturday, Nov. 4 at the Jazz & Blues Company, Stahl
celebrates the release of his latest CD, “Mpingo.” The Swahili
word for tree - specifically the type of tree from which the wooden head
joint of his flute is made - “Mpingo” is the follow-up to his
highly successful album, “Kenny’s From Heaven.”
Born and raised in Chicago, Stahl
attended the universities of Alabama and Nevada where he studied music
- including various form of jazz - from contemporary and bebop to Latin
and Brazilian. Prior to moving to Monterey in 1980, Stahl played principal
flute in the Miami and Reno symphonies and toured with a number of popular
recording artists including Stevie Wonder and Lee Greenwood.
Lured to the Monterey Peninsula in
the early ‘80’s by a steady music gig at the Monterey Hyatt,
Stahl has lived here ever since. A regular performer in San Francisco
clubs and at Monterey casuals, Stahl prefers the quality of life over
the lure of more success.
“My manager has tried to talk me into moving to New York City,”
said Stahl. “But I could never imagine trading Carmel for New York.”
New York City’s loss is truly Carmel’s gain.
Performing with Stahl at Saturday’s
concert is Murray Low on piano; Stan Poplin on bass; Paul Van Wageninen
on drums, and special guest George Young on saxophones.
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