MP3 Ken "Bari" Murray - Away From Home

island rhythms surrounding urban insights in a harmonious package

10 MP3 Songs
POP: Folky Pop, WORLD: Island



Details:
KEN MURRAY

Ken has three independently-produced CDs (Away From Home, Koitori, and Now And Then), which were released in 2005. As early as the 70âs, he was doing cabaret slots in variety shows and loft parties. As a founder/composer of the influential group, the Leftovers, he guided that group of Americans and West Indians into new territory, which blended the rhythms of the Caribbean with the melodies and harmonies of rock to create a pleasing multi-cultural sound, which he continues to draw on to this day Following the stint with the Leftovers, Ken managed an after-hours club in Park Slope, Brooklyn, named after the doomed city in Jamaica, Port Royal. Subsequently, he has continued to perform at venues on both coasts and in Hawaii. As an independent performer, Ken has currently been doing âhouse concerts,â which have proven to provide a nice fit for his style of music.

â Iâm back in Jamaica now and still do some of the tunes that âKentuckyâ (another nickname) wrote for the Leftovers. We laid down the bottom, he did the rest.â Harold Dixon-bass/Leftovers.

â I cannot believe what I am hearing! The song, Thank You, Dorothy Parker, for example, is written with the same self-mockery that Parker herself employed in her poetry and the Blues progression that is the foundation of the song would have been familiar to somebody sitting at the Algonquin Roundtable on 44th ST. during the Roaring 20s.These songs are rich!â Marcie Gordon of Brian and Marcie

âBonsai compares one of those tiny trees to the unyielding reserve of a Japanese lover, who cannot find a way to let loose. Here I Am delves into macho head games; Our Garden Has Suffered explores an inferiority complex; We Two and the Gods uses a Calypsonian beat and shows the hand of fate in our relationships. There are many levels of complexities in these songs, which will reward the listener, who returns again and again as I do.â Kevin MacDonald-lead guitar player for the Leftovers.

âI am a purist when it comes to Calypso and Scorcher is definitely not Calypso. But I can see why my Trinidadian brother, Beck, calls it âYankee Calypsoâ My crowd was windinâ to itâ DJ Flexie

âWe Two and the Gods canât be Calypso. A JAMAICAN CANâT DO CALYPSO AND KENâS BEEN NATURALIZED. What he does is what we call in Jamaica, 'mento.'â Yvonne Holder, Jamaican Spiritualist and Healer.

âThe baritone uke lends itself to the âdancing fingersâ style of rhythmic strumming, which explodes during songs like Obsession and Not Fair. He needs to keep writing!â Mihana- Hawaiian Songstress

âThe man understands the Blues. I donât know why he doesnât do more songs like Dorothy Parker or One Way or Another.â Patti Bown, Jazz Pianist Extraordinaire.