Kendra ShankİAndrea Canter

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

Returning to her native San Diego area, acclaimed vocalist Kendra Shank will appear at the Athenaeum Music and Arts Library in La Jolla on June 28th. Voted Talent Deserving Wider Recognition in the 1999 Downbeat International Critics Poll, recognition came slowly  for Kendra. However, 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). On many “best of the year” lists, the recording has prompted critics to compare Shank to the most innovative singers of modern jazz, from Abbey Lincoln herself to Betty Carter, Patricia Barber, and Kurt Elling. For her first appearance in San Diego in nine years, Kendra will be accompanied by her standing New York band--pianist Frank Kimbrough, bassist Dean Johnson and drummer Tony Moreno.

Kendra Shank

Kendra Shank first fell under the spell of jazz listening to a professor’s recordings of Billie Holiday; the attraction was furthered as she spent time in Paris, listening and sitting in at jazz clubs. Back in Seattle she began studies with Jay Clayton, and later landed a gig with the great Bob Dorough as vocalist/guitarist/percussionist for his West Coast tour. It was Shirley Horn who took notice and co-produced Shank's critically-acclaimed debut, Afterglow (Mapleshade, 1994), and invited the young singer to sit in at the Village Vanguard in New York. Relocating to New York in 1997, Kendra released two recordings for Jazz Focus—Wish (1998) and Reflections (2000), the latter with pianist Frank Kimbrough, bassist Dean Johnson, and drummer Tony Moreno, who also appear on the new recording. Named to “best of year” lists by Down Beat, Jazz Times, All Music Guide and Jazz Police, the Abbey Lincoln tribute creates "...a practically telepathic integration...these four people appear to have emerged from the same womb" (Lawrence Brazier, Jazz Now).

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. She's a regular performer at the 55 Bar in Manhattan.

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

It's a long overdue homecoming for Kendra Shank on June 28th!

The Athenaeum Music and Arts Library is located at 1008 Wall Street in La Jolla. Show starts at 7:30 pm on June 28th; tickets at (858) 454-5872 /www.ljathenaeum.org. 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).