Tennyson & Keiser

I edited my profile with Thomas Myspace Editor V3.6 !
POPJAZZ
"Groove" is the name of the game!
"There once was a time when even the most prominent jazz musicians would get involved in what in the USA is generally known as pop music. Miles Davis, Sonny Rollins, Bill Evans (especially him!) - they all interpreted in their own personal manner the well-established standards of the «All American Songbook». There is no reason whatsoever why young musicians on the current scene shouldn't do the same. But there is a serious difference: The old standards are all built on the rhythmic pattern of the 4/4 time signature. Today, the orientation lies in the diverse rhythmic facets of each composition! "Groove" is the name of game! And that is exactly what this production projects. Bass player Peter Keiser is well versed in this category. He knows exactly how to supply the foundation on which a composition can be made clear, interesting and innovative. Keyboard wizard John Gentry Tennyson succeeds time after time in giving each tune the desired colour, idiomatic legitimacy and of course making his own mark when it comes to melodics, technique and harmonic embellishment. It therefore comes as no surprise that these two musicians have found each other. And it is even less of a surprise that this duo works organically and perfectly together. The description «Popjazz» thus acquires a legitimate meaning. Even in a remote sense more than often, all compositions lean on patterns which derive from the upper class of pop music. The rhythmic aspect stays within the guidelines of funk, soul and last but not least jazz rock. Tennyson and Keiser are on their way to showing new and absolutely justifiable perspectives within the musical understanding of pop and jazz during the past twenty years. Both protagonists do it with all the means they both possess on an extremely high level. The times have changed - even though creativity, innovation and enormous ability are still very much in demand. Both Tennyson and Keiser are devoted to a task which, when given a closer look, makes just as much sense as the pop interpretations of the great masters during the Fifties. The small and subtle difference is that while many different aspects can be studied on this production, the main thing that counts is the direction in which it goes. Everything else is a musical definition of the position and a creative expression of two excellent musicians."
-Kurt Weil/Jazz Magazine/Zurich 2003
JOHN GENTRY TENNYSON
During his youth, John Gentry Tennyson from Houston, Texas devoted himself to classical music. Highly celebrated as an up-and-coming star, he played with the University of Houston Symphony Orchestra at the tender age of 11 and started his career as a professional pianist when he turned 14 years old. During his college years he developed a great enthusiasm for jazz music. Due to his overwhelming technique acquired by means of intense studies of classical literature and his natural musicality, he soon became a highly sought-after jazz pianist. He played with Diana Ross, Les Paul, Dewey Redman, Randy Brecker, Jennifer Holliday, Al Di Meola, Mel Lewis, Buddy Williams, Bucky Pizarelli, Mark O'Connor, Terri Lyne Carrington, Rodney Jones, Tom Harrell, Will Lee, Hiram Bullock, and many more well-known jazz greats. His interest in many different musical styles and his enormous capability to develop his own skills took him down various musical avenues. He soon became Musical Director on tours with the pop singer Sophie B. Hawkins and also accompanied cross-over sensation diva, Sarah Brightman, as well as soul star, Diana Ross. Parallel to these prestigious engagements, he became more and more dedicated to composition: Subtle and sensitive CD productions with his Real World Trio and the project «Europa» together with a string quartet and the extraordinary bandoneon player, Raul Jaurena, are the first two albums this exceptional musician has released under his own name. John Gentry Tennyson can by rights be called a gifted instrumentalist who combines varied musical influences with unique and brilliant technique. At the same time he always remains faithful to his melodic and rhythmic concepts which are not tainted by technical effects but rather impress and inspire in a poetic sense with incredible musical finesse. These characteristics are fully featured on his new project «Tennyson & Keiser» which he founded together with Swiss bass player, Peter Keiser.
PETER KEISER
Peter Keiser was born, together, with his twin brother, Walter Keiser, into a highly acoustic world and tried at first with all his own might to dodge the professional voice of his mother and the dissonant clanging of his brother. These initial steps into the brothers' musical career came to an abrupt halt due to the biological reasons of growing up. But as the yodelling mom, Martheli Mumenthaler (even today still very well known by many Swiss people!), was at the peak of her career and continued to fill up the household with her powerful voice, Peter was condemned to play the role of a passive musician. When he turned 16, the experiment was called off to try and convert Peter into a concert pianist - at long last he was given an electric bass. Soon the first band saw the light of day, comprising the twins Peter and Walter (on drums) as well as guitarist Walter Rohrbach. Initial successes encouraged them to carry on ... In 1974, Peter and Walter founded the group «SHIVANANDA» together with Kurt Baebi and thus entered the world of professional music-making. Today, Peter Keiser is a household name in the musical department so lovingly known as «Rhythm Section». His steady and groovy bass has elevated and been a part of many productions, i.e. Polo Hofer, Andreas Vollenweider, SINA, Vera KAA, DODO HUG, Klaus Hoffmann & Reinhard Mey, Yvonne Moore, Phil Carmen, Bill Cobham, Gölä III, Aextra, Werner Widmer and many more. Since 2002, Peter has devoted most of his precious time to the project «Tennyson & Keiser», which he founded together with John Gentry Tennyson.