THIS IS NOW a COLLECTORS item, with the Last 2 for sale on the planet, of 2nd full edition...and no plans to do a third edition for years to come...
Please note: the Bridge Guitar Reviews links to this older album, not the reviewed cd "AMADEO"
PLEASE CHECK OUT THE NEW CDS, STILL AVAILABLE at REASONABLE prices... ie $15
Please see my other albums, on CDBaby:
my second cd... another fingerstyle acoustic album..."AMADEO" which is far more "reasonable" at $15(with 20 copies left) and a breast cancer benefit album I produced,
"the AMADA project"... which has been just released. (approx 300 copies left)
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SONGS from the HACIENDA:
~ RELEASED IN JULY 2000 (this is now an out of print collectors item in Arizona & there are only 2 left on line on cdbaby, and essentially sold out of a total of 1500 printed editions of 1000 first edition, 500 second) There's a few in a box at home and that's it!
THERE ARE ABOUT 20 COPIES OF AMADEO left out of a total of 1000 printed...
and "the AMADA project" has just been released in an edition of 4000 with about 300 available.
The YEAR of the TIGER, 1986 cassette is out of print.
Reviews re' HACIENDA:
"solid" Kerry Lengel, Local Music Writer, THE REP, The Arizona Republic's entertainment guide
"accomplished musician" Dan and Tara (Good Morning Arizona, T.V. 3 performance
"masterful"...editors pick Derek Sivers et al. cdbaby.com
"awesome" Steve Shippe, Jazz Pianist/ AM Radio Show Host, Phoenix, AZ
"a well thought out work of art" Gus Brett ( Arizona Acoustic Scene)
"you're a great guitar player, man" Jessie McGuire: Jazz Trumpet Master,2001 World Series Fame
AMADEO: ~ RELEASE IN JANUARY 2003 (in edition of 1000, with 50 available)
"Kenn Harris has developed his own, unique style ... has demonstrated his wonderful artistry in this cd, through excellent techniques, balance, structure and dedication." Henk te Veldhuis, Editor, Bridge Guitar Reviews. October 2003 (see links to www. and cdbaby.com.)
"ZiaZine LOCAL reVIEWS:
Kenn Harris
Amadeo
Clarence & Blue Recording Co.
When Bill and Ted (of Wyld Stallyns fame) get old an mellow, this will be their jam.
Though Harris clearly has an education in classical guitar, his music is equally informed by modern artists. Jimmy Page's work on "Black Mountainside" by Led Zeppelin best approximates Harris' style and niche.Though younger fans of John Fahey and recent work by Papa M or Will Oldham might be intrigued by the finger work here, this album is trully for fans of the eclectic virtuosity of Adrian Legg or Michael Hedges." Albert Mudrian, Editor et al. "ZiaZine October 2003"
"Kenn Harris' CD Amadeo features his instrumental compositions for acoustic guitar and some truly fantastic playing." Phillip Black, Music Editor, JAVA, (Art.Ideas.Taste.PHX Culture) Music News, Local Notes, July/August 2003
"... a work of art ... impeccable playing ... simply beautiful ... with only scarce accompaniment here and there, you'd think hearing a single guitar would grow tiresome after a while, but this disc is entrancing for its full 74 minutes. A" Thomas Bond, Music Editor, GET OUT ( Scottsdale/East Valley Tribune) entertainment Section March 6-12, 2003
Kenn Harris grew up in New York in the 50's and 60's and soaked it all up! ... "In 1961, at age 11, I taught myself how to play some chords, and then learned fingerstyle technique with classical lessons at around age 14, and finally learned how to find music within the chords by the time I was 30, and taking jazz ballad lessons in New Mexico" In 1984, Harris began composing his first album The Year of the Tiger which was released on cassette (remember those?) in 1986.
Fast forward almost 15 years to the release of Songs from the Hacienda, which received critical acclaim, earning him an appearance on T.V. Channel 3's Good Morning Arizona. What took him so long to come up with his second album? "Well ... I've been a musician my whole life ... and a doctor for about half ... but I never stopped playing the guitar ... and I'm actually starting to get good at it." Sure enough, the 55 year old Neurologist who attended the original Woodstock, and doesn't wear shoes when he plays has gotten good at it, and has been compared to: Adrian Legg, Ottmar Liebert, Leo Kotke, Earl Klugh, and Michael Hedges.
On his new record, Amadeo, all of the interludes and the Amadeo Suite, (tracks 7,8,9 ...Ah Recuerdos, Antara, Amadeo, were performed on his 1959 classical guitar, handmade by Amadeo, a Spanish guitar maker, in New York City, whose friend Andres Segovia was one of the first to play this instrument. Other selections were performed on Kenn's other vintage acoustic guitars including his 1956 Martin 00-17 that he bought with rolls of quarters from his paper route, his 1973 Martin D-28, and his 1966 Gibson L-50 carved archtop.
On track 12, the September Anthem, Kenn played multiple instruments, including acoustic and electric guitars (utilizing his 1986 Fender Strat, and a Marshall Half-Stack,) midi-keys, as well as percussion. Collaborative additions of bass, and tambourine, by Arizona rockers, Odie, and Tina of The Tina Bailey Band, and an Arizona summer storm, recorded by his daughter Anna, and Kenn's soulful, solo acoustic rendition of The Star Spangled Banner, completed his first multitracking effort. (This 'soundtrack' was just aired with a video montage, at the end of each segment of, the PHX local affiliate CBS TV NEWS on KPHO Channel 5, as a September 11th Memorial for the past 2 yrs.)
Kenn performs at:
Cave Creek Coffee Company (C 4 is our equivalent of Austin City Limits/thanks to Anita & David , and Gus check their show schedule...it is awesome)
www.cavecreekcoffee.com
in Java, arts and culture, November, and The REP (AZ. Republic) also listed with best of Phoenix area venues!
Fiddlers Dream in PHX (the most supportive, pure... NO AMPS ALLOWED... acoustic place on the planet)www.fiddlersdream.org.
And at benefit/charity events.
Giving Back: 10% of all proceeds goes to philanthropic organizations ( such as the West Side Food Bank in the Phoenix area)... Kenn has also performed as a guest artist at benefits with The Rockin' Docs...and has contributed to a benefit album for the 'Y- Me' breast cancer support group. Kenn performed at the Susan G. Komen Foundation "Lighting the Way for a Cure" benefit dinner, on Thurs. Sept. 25th in downtown Phoenix, in celebration of Survivors of Breast Cancer, and his original composition Sarrah Mahove, was played during the candle lighting ceremony. A related local affiliate NBC TV News storey on KPNX, Channel 12, aired on Sept. 12th 2003.
I have produced a Breast Cancer Benefit Album thanks to Joyce and Christi, Co-Chairs of the Susan G. Komen's Race for the Cure. please check www.kennharris.com for other details, released in October 2004.
(THIS has been a main focus and thus performances and my next solo guitar Album entitled "Jornada" are kinda on hold for now)
Amadeo was recorded, mixed and mastered by Otis Francis at Abcat. Recording Studio, Odie's tel # (602) 696-8763
Concert/Performance news report:
April 2006 two benefit performances, one for Ending Homelessness in AZ, and another for the PHX Children's Hospital.
10October2004: Performed at the Survivor's Ceremony in Patriots Square Park in Downtown Phoenix, after the Komen, Race for the Cure. 1800 copies of "the AMADA project" given to the survivors.
11SEPTEMBER2004 September Anthem/Video Collage Memorial, after segments of local Phoenix Channel 5 CBS News
24January2004: guest artist with The Rockin' Docs, at benefit for a friend who has cancer. with thanks expressed to Dr. Alan Miles for coordinating the event.
11JANUARY2004: performed at C4 the Cave Creek Coffee Company's benefit for David Grossman...an award winning/best of Phoenix, local folk artist, injured in an accident. See www.cdbaby.com/davidgrossman and links to his www and please support his albums at Borders and other record stores in the Phoenix area.(thanks to Jennifer Spector for letting me play her beautiful D28) and to Gus Brett for adding me on stage.)
8NOVEMBER2003: Thank to all our friends who came out to the SG3 at C4 concert on 8November2003!!! Your presence was a gift! "SG3 at C4: the passion, grace & fire epiphany concert," was sold out ! Kenn (acoustic fingerstyle guitar) I had arranged a guitar supergroup with friends Chris Burton Jacome ( flamenco guitar) and Pete Pancrazi ( jazz guitar) on the 8th of November at the Cave Creek Coffee Company, in a first collaboration...(see above and links to www.petepancrazi.com and www.chrisburtonjacome.com www.cavecreekcoffee.com to be put on future announcement list please email kennharris@kennharris.com or call Mary 623-933-3865 to leave email address/snail mail address/ or tel. # or fax # etc. Nov. 8th, Sat. pm 8-10+ SG3 at C4, passion, grace & fire,epiphany concert : an evening of passion, grace and fire, celebrating the diversity and beauty of the guitar, with our first ever concert of a "guitar supergroup" featuring 3 of Arizona's finest composer/musician/guitarists as they coverge upon the same stage, under the stars, by the fire, for what started out as an epiphany was transformed into a magical alchemy, in solo/ duo/ and for the encore, trio formats featuring: Chris Burton Ja'come ~ Flamenco Kenn Harris ~ Acoustic Fingerstyle Pete Pancrazi ~ Jazz on Saturday night, on the 8th of November 2003, from 8-10+ pm at the Cave Creek Coffee Company 3+ miles North of the Care Free Highway, on Cave Creek Road, thanks to: Anita and David and Gus. tickets $ 10 were limited to 70 seats/reservations needed and the concert was SOLD OUT Chris is a phenomenal musician, guitar player, composer, and a rising star in the flamenco world! His tones, nuance, technical flare and compositions are the best of both "old" as well as "new" flamenco! Pete is an award winning jazz wonder( composer, musician performer) and is known as "the #1" jazz guitarist in town, who plays jazz in a number of different combinations, solo, duo, trio, etc and has developed his own unique/individual style... Anyone who loves the approaches to the instrument as exempified by Johnny Smith ( my personal jazz/ tone hero, Joe Pass ( Pete's Hereo) , Wes Montgomery, Jim Hall, Tal Farlow et. al. will feel wonderful about hearing Pete play!I am still all :) s that my epiphany actually came true...and will have to say that this was awesome! We were really very excited to have done this, playing together trusting a combined, 90+ years of experience, as, musicians, composers and guitar players, to create a magical moment in our musical histories...and we were so happy to have had such a wonderfully attentive audience there to share the experience with us...this was as live=real time, as music gets! Guitar music afficianados will understand immediately, the homage to Paco de Lucia, Al Di Meola, and John McLaughlin in their sentinnel albums, and legendary performances: " Friday Night in San Francisco" and "Passion, Grace and Fire," and others as The Guitar Trio, which are some of the best guitar musical recordings of all time, and Chris, Pete and I were all :) :) :) s about our involvement in this SG3 at C4 epiphany concert ...It was a truly enchanting evening, celebrating our music, and our instrument ! and yes I am a fan of Stargate !
25SEPTEMBER2003 Susan G. Komen's Lighting the Way for a Cure, Benefit dinner
12SEPTEMBER2003 "Buddy Check 12, " TV segment
11SEPTEMBER2003 September Anthem/Video Collage Memorial, after each segment of local news
22MARCH2003 AMADEO Cd Release Party, at the Cave Creek Coffee Company with guests, Gus Brett, Saggio, and Millie on harmony :)
KENN SAYS:-) I am very pleased to announce that AMADEO, finally released in the first edition of 1000 CD's on 17JAN03... has been doing pretty well, and is almost sold out about 150 are left, THANK YOU for all the awesome words re' the Album...and IT NOW HAS 4 OFFICIAL REVIEWs thanks to Music Editors THOMAS BOND...GET OUT, and PHILLIP BLACK... JAVA see above...and on line Bridge Guitar Reviews, thanks to HENK te VELDHUIS and a very funny/cool review in ZiaZine (see above) thanks to Albert Mudrian et al.
It has been a great honor to have September Anthem, aired with a video montage, on TV Channel 5 (CBS affiliate,KPHO) as the concluding segment of each local news broadcast, as a Memorial to September 11th...in for the last 2 yrs !(THANKS to Steve, and team!!!)
TV Channel 12 (NBC affiliate,KPNX) aired a segment, at my home, as a husband/friend/musician/doctor as part of a breast cancer screening public awareness campaign (Buddy Check 12) (Thanks to Lin Sue, Faye, Suzanna, Juan, and team!!!) .....in the universe strange things happen...last month on 12 August, the featured artist on this segment was Olivia Newton John, who is a survivor of breast cancer and a great supporter of the Susan G. Komen foundation's benefit programs...who peformed here last month...this month it was ME, kinda funny :) but the message is equally clear...don't sit on it, if there is a problem, get it checked out...early detection is the key to doing well...just do it!
AFTER SONGS from the HACIENDA was released I wrote: "Having "La Musica" as I call my compositions, out there in the world has been a wonderful experience for me. With my first release SONGS from the HACIENDA I had alot of support from family/friends/fans, and got to be on TV for my 14 and 1/2 minutes of fame...(Good Morning Arizona, thanks to Rolf,Kim,Tara,Dan,Scott)Radio (thanks to Steve Shippe)and have received some nice reviews by the Az. Republic's REP (thanks to Kerry)and the Jewish News of Greater PHX (thanks to Leisah) and The Acoustic Scene (thanks to Gus Brett...check his site at www.cdbaby.com/gusbrett also) , and have been able to play at FIDDLER'S DREAM in PHOENIX (THE MOST SUPPORTIVE ACOUSTIC PLACE ON THE PLANET, a few Borders, and the Glendale Library,thanks to Anne and events, at the Scottsdale Civic Center, and a few benefit concerts. THANKS TO YOU ALL FOR SHOWING UP to support the music, for your kind words and encouragement! About 1500 copies are "out there" and about sold out!(there are a few left in Arizona, and 2 left on line as rare vintage items...cdbaby.com/kennharris ... a collectors item??? ....
and THANKS as noted to DAVID & ANITA and GUS BRETT at the Cave Creek Coffee Co.... having such a beautiful stage to play on AND LETTTING ME PLAY ON THAT BEAUTIFUL STAGE !THANKS to CHRIS at the Biltmore Borders/ 24th St. & Cammelback) who has been helpful in placing AMADEO (New Age and Local Artist's sections) see above re' stores and thanks! Only 20 copies of AMADEO are still available...
"La Musica" is 90% work and 10% gift, and I like to give the gift back, ie. 90% goes to recording and production costs. 10% of all efforts for La Musica, goes to organizations that try to repair the world. From AMADEO funds have gone out to the West Side Food Bank's "Kid's Cafe" program, and the Susan G. Komen, foundation and other charity benefits...,educational grants, and gifts... and from HACIENDA checks went out to The Lois Sullivan Scholarship Fund(Brighton Evangelical Congregational Church and the Boston University's Community Servic Center's Student Food Rescue Program in MA., The Pappas School for homeless kids, the Antidefamation Leage, the W.Side Food bank, in AZ, and the Sept.11th relief efforts in NY. THANKS to those who gave extra $ to the charities! Right now I am producing a benefit cd for the Komen Organization and if it is as good in reality as it is in my head, I am hoping it will make a ton of $ for charity programs... see cdbaby.com/amadaproject.
I got an AMAZING call from Johnny Smith my jazz-tone hero, just after HACIENDA was released....I'm still floating on air from that, and a comment from , Phoenix's own Jessie McGuire!!...and hearing how much my music means, or is used by my friends/fans makes me smile!!!
I started AMADEO in July, 2001 and all of the basic recording (prior to editing and mixing and mastering) was completed by September; then the events of 9-11 occured and changed our world. That week I spent about 20 hrs in the studio, recording and working on multitrack sound tracks that eventually after countless of hrs of editing thoughts over the next few months, became the requiem, SEPTEMBER ANTHEM. It took f o r e v e r , to finish the final editing, and then album design, and finally it was sent off for manufacturing in late 2002, and it is now done, out there in the world. Again my thanks goes out to OTIS FRANCIS, the most AMAZING recording engineer, who captures the tones and helps me create the final product, and to KIKI PARRY for the awesome layout/design. If you need a studio call OTIS FRANCIS, ABCAT RECORDING STUDIO, see my www for inf to contact Odie...
THE ALBUM...ART...& PHILOSOPY or Why I am saying NO to digital distribution ..........
I am r e a l l y old fashion and have chosen to preserve the 'album' in entirety, all 74 minutes of each album in sequence as the issues of song placement, relationships of keys, tones, emotional effects of the interludes is the subject of way too many hours of thought/... hundreds of photos are taken prior to selection of the few that will be included/ and artwork, texts, fonts, colors, disc graphics,(I spent several hundred dollars extra to reproduce the disc in full color to capture the sublte artistry of details of the handmade guitar that is the 'star' of this album and took the maker a year to complete/ I spent a few months of critical listenin to over 20 hrs of recordings, and drew out and tested and retested various sequences to come up with the final format of September Anthem...) and despite popular culture and changes in 'the industry' I have decided to NOT participate in digital distribution of individual songs/tracks... I grew up in the 50' and 60's and believe in simplistic concepts of respect of artistic truth and intent, golden rules... it is wrong to commit digital piracy via file sharing/ equals stealing, of anyones intellectual property and the heart and soul and efforts that go into it... I actually have bought multiple copies of my favorite albums for gifts for example Blue by Joni Mitchell etc. and think about the energy/creativity/of not just the music but the most simplistic yet beautiful album cover in my opinion ever done by a design team( Photographer Henry Diltz, and art director Gary Burden which was the focus of an entire PBS documentary ...( they also did 100+ other of my favorite ALBUM COVERS such as The Doors, Eagles, James Taylor, Crosby Stills and Nash etc...) or the Koln concert by Keith Jarrett, well, I could go on... and on and etc... but since it is SO important to me, I will settle for less/fame/'sales'/exposure, and stick to my personal beliefs and roots that are in essence the nature of and approach to my art/musical composition, performance, and graphics, and design, layout, and in essence my own personal search for truth... for me it is a spiritual thing..."
the breast cancer benefit album has been manufactured by CDForge, and is now available on CDBaby... cdbaby.com/amadaproject
updated 26 March 2006 be well, KENN
Check out the artist's website:
http://www.kennharris.com/Track List:
1. When Horses Dance
2. Moteck
3. Ah Love
4. Diangle
5. Three Strings
6. The Moons of Jupiter
7. Requerdos de Flavio y Silvia
8. Para Elana
9. Erev
10. Adj
11. From New York to New Mexico
12. The Bedeken
13. Spanish Blue
14. Nightsong for Jacob and Anna
15. Song from the Hacienda
16. Themysterytrack 4:54 TOTAL TIME
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