Kendra ShankİAndrea Canter

"One of New York's most original performers." --Gary Giddins, Jazz Times

For the past year, vocalist Kendra Shank has been celebrating the release of A Spirit Free: Abbey Lincoln Songbook (Challenge Records). On many “best of the year” lists, the recording and her recent tours are finally bringing the West Coast native the recognition that her talent has long deserved, inviting comparisons to the most innovative singers of modern jazz, from Abbey Lincoln herself to Betty Carter, Patricia Barber, and Kurt Elling. On April 25th, Kendra adds her 50th birthday to the celebration at the 55 Bar, along with her long-time collaborators, pianist Frank Kimbrough, bassist Dean Johnson and drummer Tony Moreno. Expect surprise guests throughout the evening as Kendra performs at the small jazz club that has been a regular home for the past six years.

In 1999, Kendra was voted Talent Deserving Wider Recognition in the Downbeat International Critics Poll. Recognition came slowly, but since the 2007 release of A Spirit Free, the elastic improviser has accumulated a pile of accolades, with a “unique and immediately identifiable sound and style” (Don Heckman, LA Times), as “a singer with a sound” (Abbey Lincoln) who “phrases inventively, whether crisp and sizzling or sensuously smoky” (Patricia Meyers, Jazz Times).

Kendra Shank

In recent years, Shank has headlined at major jazz venues across the U.S. and internationally, and has been featured on NPR's JazzSet and Marian McPartland's Piano Jazz. Later this spring (May 8th), she will return to perform at the Seattle Art Musuem with her long-standing rhythm section (Frank Kimbrough, Dean Johnson and Tony Moreno).

Frank KimbroughİRay Gawlak

Seattle transplant, bassist Dean Johnson has been a busy freelancer in New York for the past 28 years, including a decade with Gerry Mulligan. He’s performed with a list of stellar artists including Bob Brookmeyer, Randy Brecker, Joe Lovano, Dave Liebman, Dave Douglas, Lee Konitz, Wynton Marsalis, The New York Voices, Jackie and Roy, and Roseanna Vitro, in addition to Kendra Shank.

Dean JohnsonİAndrea Canter

If you are in or near Manhattan on April 25, come join the party at the 55 Bar—where free spirits reign and great music is more than the frosting on the cake. And while the spirits are not free (two-drink minimum), there is no cover!

The 55 Bar is located in Greenwich Village at 55 Christopher Street between 6th and 7th Avenues; 212-929-9883; www.55bar.com. On May 8th, the Kendra Shank Quartet performs at the Seattle Art Museum, 5:30 and 7:30 pm, at 1300 First Ave., Seattle; 206-654-3100; www.earshot.org/Events/Art_of_Jazz.html. On May 9th, the quartet goes east to Yakima at Season’s Performance Hall at 7:30 pm; 101 North Naches Ave., Yakima, WA; 509-453-1888; www.seasonsmusicfestival.com. More about Kendra Shank at www.kendrashank.com. See an exclusive interview with Kendra at www.jazzink.com (see Musicians/Interviews on the home page menu).