Ken Slavin

Music:

Member Since: 11/8/2006
Band Website: KenSlavin.com
Band Members: Ken Slavin, vocals; Morris Nelms, piano; Chuck Moses, bass; Kevin Hess, drums. Ken also works with select guest musicians, most of whom have been friends of his for nearly two decades, including legendary pianist John Sheridan, formerly of the Jim Cullum Jazz Band; Barry Brake of The Jazz Protagonists; Grammy-nominated and multiple award-winning Latin jazz legend Henry Brun; Grammy-winning Latin jazz trumpeter Al Gomez; alto saxophonist and New Orleans musical phenom Pierre Poree; seven-string jazz guitarist Polly Harrison; musical genius, jazz pianist and arranger/composer Andrew Langham; pianist/producer Mark Rubinstein; and Ken's first jazz mentor, bassist George Prado of The Regency Jazz Band and his son, pianist Aaron Prado. Ken sometimes collaborates with other singers, including the incomparable Joan Carroll.
Influences: Tony Bennett, Nat "King" Cole, Johnny Hartman, Mel Torme, Sarah Vaughan, Ella Fitzgerald, Joe Williams, Jo Stafford, Dinah Washington, Frank Sinatra, Nancy Wilson, Billie Holliday, Billy Ekstine, Bobby Darin, Connie Francis, Peggy Lee and many other classic jazz and pop artists.
Sounds Like: REVIEWS OF NEW CD, "I'LL TAKE ROMANCE": SCOTT YANOW, LOS ANGELES JAZZ SCENE: "During an era when male jazz singers are few and far between, a new recording by Ken Slavin is a welcome event...On “I’ll Take Romance,” Ken Slavin sounds warm and expressive on the ballads while cooking on the uptempo tunes, most notably “Just You, Just Me.” He sticks to the lyrics while his phrasing gives the music a strong jazz feeling. Joined by pianist Morris Nelms’ trio, a few guest soloists (including trumpeter Al Gomez) and occasionally four violins, he swings his way through 16 standards including “Tea For Two,” “I’ll Take Romance,” “Day By Day” and “Summer Samba,” making the vintage material sound fresh and lively.This is a fun CD that is easily recommended to fans ofthe small field of male jazz singers."---------------------GILBERT GARCIA--SAN ANTONIO CURRENT: “A sultry, late-night ode to love...a seductive 16-song collection that features both the lushest texture(particularly with the string-laden bookends “Thoughts of Your Smile” and “I’ll Take Romance”) and the most intimate, casual vibe ever heard on a Slavin album...More than most contemporary interpreters of the Great American Songbook, Slavin delights in turning his material sideways, making even the most familiar tunes sound like new discoveries...”-----ADAM HARRINGTON, WHISPERIN' & HOLLERIN' (INDEPENDENT MUSIC REVIEW SITE, BASED IN UNITED KINGDOM): "The number of well-groomed, immaculately attired artists today who believe they can croon as well as Frank Sinatra is growing like an infected wound. Blame it on the surprise success of Michael Buble, the Harry Connick, Jr. of this generation. Most of the time (they) probably will not find a following outside of the nightclubs they frequently perform at; after all, despite the popularity of Buble and Connick, Jr., jazz standards aren't the hot topic in contemporary music.But Ken Slavin is different. Slavin isn't attempting to be Sinatra or anybody else for that matter. His voice is stunning by itself. Brimming with passion and soul, Slavin could be a role model on how this style can be pulled off. There are compositions on here dating back 60 years; however, you won't be able to tell because of the fresh-faced and lively renditions that Slavin offers. The title track is invigorating cocktail jazz which finds Slavin giving one of his most soaring performances. Slavin has a deep, penetrating voice; that he can probably woo women of all ages with this instrument is further evidence of how timeless it is. Slavin is not trying to sing like it's 1940; he simply sings, letting the emotional weight of every word, either lovelorn laments or unrestrained giddiness, leap from his silky throat.The musicianship is crisp and engaging. "Alone" features seductive saxophone from Pierre Poree while "Come Rain or Come Shine" delivers Kevin Hess' most robust drum work. The production is top-of-the-line, placing Slavin's vocals in front of the mix; on "Thoughts of Your Smile (Manha de Carnaval)," it almost sounds like Slavin is whispering in your ear. Slavin has taken these heavily aged tunes and made them his own, free from any imitation. It's almost as if he was born to sing them, which he probably was."------------------MICHAEL SUTTON, SHOTGUN REVIEWS.COM: "Give Ken Slavin a sad song, and you will hear some of the most beautifully melancholic crooning in quite a while. That’s no exaggeration. Slavin is blessed with a haunting, broken-hearted baritone that reaches beneath the skin, crawling its way into the deepest recesses of your soul. Accompanied by lush strings and lovely piano on the opener, “Thoughts of Your Smile (Manha de Carnaval),” Slavin is a knockout; his booming, sultry voice weaving its way into the black-and-white atmospherics of the lyrics, yearning, pleading for affection. That moment alone justifies the existence of this CD, a collection of smoothly polished and well-sung jazz standards.On I’ll Take Romance, Slavin balances slow and upbeat numbers, making sure that the listeners don’t linger with one emotional response for too long of a time. For me, Slavin is at his best when he sings low and sad, such as the unrequited love of “I Can’t Reach Your Heart,” which should be on every mix tape given to a prospective date. The more spirited tracks on I’ll Take Romance, like the jubilant “Just You, Just Me” and the tropical “Mangos,” offer delicious fun; however, Slavin is truly mesmerizing when the material has him looking for, and not celebrating, love. Nevertheless, there isn’t a bum cut on the record; these are all classics, and Slavin performs them with class, respect, and warmth."THE HOMER NEWS (HOMER, ALASKA): "With his mellow baritone, on 'I'll Take Romance' he finds the heart of classic show tunes and jazz standards like Cole Porter's "You'd Be So Nice to Come Home To" or Duke Ellington and Bob Russell's "Do Nothin' Till You Hear From Me."...With his fourth CD, Slavin thinks he has the chops to follow his dream. He's been shopping his CD all over the world, with orders coming from France, Portugal and Italy. He's gotten positive responses from jazz clubs and cabarets in New York. He said he hopes to take a year off from his public relations business to focus on his music career." .......................AARON PRADO, MUSIC DIRECTOR, KRTU 91.7 FM: "The new CD is really special. We’ve been playing it pretty much every day since we got it, and I did a 30-minute feature a few weeks ago on the South Texas Jazz Project show. I hope the disc is getting national attention, because it deserves to heard in L.A., NYC, etc."-----------JIM BEAL--SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS: “Through hard work, determination, innate chops and...good sense...Slavin became a first-class singer with a repertoire that transcends nostalgia. And it hasn't hurt that Slavin has become a top-flight showman. ‘I'll Take Romance’ is a romantic effort indeed, packed with ballads including "But Beautiful,"... and "Alone." To describe the CD as anything but beautiful would be a mistake. Though it's ballad heavy, with only a few selections, including "Just You, Just Me" and "Day by Day," hitting the up category, Slavin's voice is excellent, Brake's production deft and the music, by Slavin's band and a few talented guests, is exactly what the songs call for.”-------"JIMMY R. SMITH-THIS WEEK IN TEXAS: "Ken's new CD is simply stunning...I haven't heard 'But Beautiful' done so well since Billie Holliday."-------------- OTHER REVIEWS OF KEN'S PERFORMANCES, RECORDINGS, ETC.: SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS: “When it comes to crooning in the classic jazz/pop saloon style, Ken Slavin has no peers.”....................."The power of American Idol was no match for the velvety pipes of Ken Slavin, as SA’s favorite torch singer bested Idol contestant Haley Scarnato.“ THE SAN ANTONIO CURRENT, "Best of 2007" edition (Readers voted Ken "Best Vocalist" of the year).......................JAZZ ONLINE: “Ken’s vocals are clear, rich and swinging... great heart and soul....His interpretations of classics like ‘Fever’. . . display his command of the material and his strong understanding of jazz vocal performance.”.........................JAZZREVIEW.COM: “San Antonio based vocalist Ken Slavin is one of the most popular singers in that Texas town, and the hardest working. (He) has paid his dues in the home of the Alamo, having played everywhere from local meet markets to the ritziest lounges in the city…’The Song is You’ is a sincere effort…Slavin has an expressive timbre…and a knack for choosing good songs…”..............“Ken Slavin’s got some pipes and he knows how to use them. Attend a show and you are likely to fall in love – not only with his sultry voice, but also with that mile-wide, boyish grin and those handsome good looks. Slavin is funny, charming and works hard to ensure the entire audience has a great time.” Misi Woolard’s “Art & Soul” North San Antonio Times........................CLINT BROWNFIELD, TRAVEL WRITER, NEW YORK CITY: “I heard Ken stop the room (Manhattan’s Townhouse)...literally one of the most difficult rooms to stop in New York City and perhaps the entire world. This crowd never asks for encores, but they asked for two from Ken that night. I'll never forget it.”........................TEXAS MONTHLY: “Slavin slays the crowd with his Bobby Darin tribute, Mack the Knife.”....................
Record Label: unsigned
Type of Label: None