THE SHOWROOM SESSIONS: Streaming LIVE from Piedmont Piano Company
Kenny Washington & Larry Dunlap
Vocalist Kenny Washington, a native of New Orleans, teams up with composer, arranger, and pianist Larry Dunlap for an evening of rare musicianship and unique interpretations.
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Kenny Washington has thrilled San Francisco jazz audiences with his soulful interpretations, seemingly limitless range, and rapid-fire scatting ever since making his home in the Bay Area in 1995. He brings a rare musicianship, earned from years of studying and playing saxophone, to his performance as a vocalist.
Born and raised in New Orleans, Washington’s deep love of music began early in the gospel church choirs. After studying music at Xavier University, he joined the U.S. Navy and shortly thereafter the honorary U.S. Navy Band. For 20 years, Washington traveled across Asia, Russia, Australia, Micronesia, and the U.S. playing saxophone and, increasingly, performing as the band’s lead vocalist.
After the Navy, Washington’s travels continued, including a performance in Roy Nathanson’s off-Broadway production of “Fire at Keaton’s Bar & Grill” with a glittering cast that included Elvis Costello, Deborah Harry, and Nancy King. The show premiered in New York City and continued on to London and Holland.
Back home, he continues to win over enthusiastic audiences at all of the major San Francisco Bay Area jazz venues and festivals. Described as one of “the Bay Area’s best kept musical secrets,” Washington fuses the classic styles of Johnny Hartman and Billy Eckstine with elements of Stevie Wonder, Donny Hathaway, and a secret ingredient of humor. The result, Washington’s playful, free approach, is truly awe inspiring. kennywashingtonvocalist.com
Larry Dunlap is an extraordinary pianist and arranger, a player with taste and sophistication. He has been praised as a “remarkable and versatile accompanist” and “one of the best jazz pianists around - anywhere” (San Francisco Examiner). Besides his ongoing career with his wife, vocalist Bobbe Norris, Larry has served since 1983 as pianist for the British diva Dame Cleo Laine and has performed and/or recorded with such luminaries as vocalists Mark Murphy, Joe Williams and Sheila Jordan and instrumentalists Gerry Mulligan, Art Farmer, Bud Shank and Ernie Watts, to name a few.
Larry has composed works for chamber orchestra and jazz ensembles of all sizes as well as many songs and jazz sketches. He received a grant from The National Endowment for the Arts and has been commissioned to compose several pieces. He has orchestrated and arranged music for the Marin and Peninsula Opera Companies as well as big bands and orchestras and has acted as musical consultant to the composer/tycoon Gordon Getty.
For the past 30 years Larry has worked closely with the Cape Verdian composer Amandio Cabral, recording several cds of his own interpretations of Mr. Cabral’s music. He has also recorded music by composer Earl Zindars. In the pop music field Larry has toured with The Pointer Sisters, Mary Wilson (or The Supremes), Country Joe McDonald and others. He appears as keyboardist, arranger and producer on many recordings.
Larry transcribes and edits music for publications from Sher Music Company and The Hal Leonard Corp. These include The New Real Book, Volumes 2 & 3, The Standards Real Book, The European Real Book and others. Recent publications for Hal Leonard include The Oscar Peterson Omnibook, The Clarinet Omnibook and the soon-to-be released Thelonious Monk Omnibook.
At home in jazz, classical, and popular styles of music, Larry Dunlap brings a wide range of talents and a unique perspective to each of his musical undertakings.