On his second ZOHO release, jazz saxophonist Paul Kendall switched from tenor to baritone sax, showcasing tunes from the Great American Songbook.

My Shining Hour is an hour of jazz for the world to hear and enjoy: a collection of my favorite songs, mostly written between 1940 and 1960. It is intended as a companion project to my first ZOHO CD release 'Whisper Not' (ZOHO ZM 202401) where I was heading a swinging organ trio and playing tenor sax. For this album, I chose a quartet setting grouped around pianist George Grund who has been a Lehigh Valley, PA staple. He is one of the best players I have met since moving out here, and I tapped him for this recording.

There seems to be a desire in a musician's life to return to one's musical roots. This was the pull for me to revisit my baritone sax. It was my first sax in high school, and my only sax entering college in 1979. The desire for professional work compelled me to add alto and tenor saxes. It paid off, and I was able to sustain being a musician. My first notable band on baritone sax was as a founding member of the long standing Long Island, NY based Funk Filharmonic, 1985-88. I acquired the Yamaha model 61 baritone heard on this record during that run.

You Stepped Out of a Dream is a tune that our bassist Roy Cumming would often call on our gigs. I chose a straight eight groove to make it cook and Rudy was up for it.

The Cole Porter classic All of You has that mysterious feel that is helped along by that suspenseful pedal in the bass, and the long-awaited release from it.

Everything Happens to Me was the perfect ballad for the plaintive low register of the baritone, and Roy's favorite take of this session.

On My Shining Hour, we did a few not quite successful takes with the quartet, so I paired it down to a duo with drummer Rudy Petschauer and it became my favorite take of the session!

Joy Spring was a tune we just called at this recording session, and its intricate melody took me a few takes to get under my hands. On Invitation, I asked Rudy for a 6/8 groove. I liked the result!

Paul Kendall

Track Listing

• You Stepped Out Of A Dream
• All Of You
• Everything Happens To Me
• My Shining Hour
• Joy Spring
• Invitation
• If You Could See Me Now
• Once I Loved
• Confirmation
• Desafinado
• Tangerine
• Hi Fly
• I Hear A Rhapsody
• It Could Happen To You

Additional Details

Label: Zoho

Genre: Jazz

Run Time: 59 mins

Region: 0

Release Date: 06/21/24

UPC: 880956240329