Kent Kessler Explained

Kent Kessler
Background:non_vocal_instrumentalist
Birth Date:28 January 1957
Birth Place:Crawfordsville, Indiana, U.S.
Occupation:Musician
Instrument:Double bass
Label:Okka Disk
Associated Acts:Michael Zerang, Ken Vandermark

Kent Kessler (born January 28, 1957) is an American jazz double-bassist.

Career

Although born in Crawfordsville, Indiana,[1] Kessler grew up on Cape Cod, Massachusetts. He began playing trombone at age ten. When he was thirteen, he moved with his family to Chicago and a few years later became interested in jazz. While attending St. Mary Center for Learning High School, he took lessons in bass guitar and jazz theory from Kestutis Stanciauskas.[2]

In 1977 he formed Neutrino Orchestra with percussionist Michael Zerang and guitarists Dan Scanlan and Norbert Funk. He spent three months in Brazil during 1980–81 and intermittently attended Roosevelt University in Chicago. He and Michael Zerang also formed a group called Musica Menta, which played routinely at Link's Hall.

Kessler began playing double bass in the 1980s. It became his primary instrument in 1985 when he was asked to join the NRG Ensemble, which toured Europe and recorded for ECM under the leadership of Hal Russell until his death in 1992.[2] In 1991 he worked with Zerang and guitarist ; in need of a hornist, they called Ken Vandermark, who had been considering leaving Chicago. Kessler and Vandermark worked together in the Vandermark 5, the DKV Trio, and the Steelwool Trio.

In the 1990s and afterwards he worked with Hamid Drake, Fred Anderson, and Joe McPhee and with Peter Brötzmann, Mats Gustafsson, Misha Mengelberg, and Luc Houtkamp. In 2003 Okka Disk released his solo album Bull Fiddle.[3]

As of 2021, Kessler has occasionally accompanied Chicago country-music singer-songwriter Jane Baxter Miller, in performance and on record. In the 1990s, Baxter Miller, who is also Kent Kessler's wife, had performed and recorded with his sister Kelly Kessler, as the Texas Rubies country-music duo.[4] [5] [6] [7]

Discography

[8]

As leader

As co-leader or sideman

With Boneshaker (Mars Williams, Paal Nilssen-Love, Kent Kessler)

With Peter Brötzmann

With DKV Trio

With NRG Ensemble

With Hal Russell

With Territory Band

With Ken Vandermark

With others

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Layne . Joslyn . Kent Kessler . AllMusic . 19 September 2020.
  2. Web site: Margasak. Peter. Peter Margasak . Upright Citizen . https://web.archive.org/web/20041025012120/https://chicagoreader.com/TheMeter/030124.html . 2004-10-25 . Chicago Reader . 24 January 2003. 2021-12-11.
  3. Web site: Dusted Reviews: Stepping Into the Spotlight. April 2, 2003 . Dusted . 2021-12-10.
  4. Web site: Chicago Tribune. Chris and Heather add new twist to country calendar show for 20th anniversary. Kot, Greg. Greg Kot. November 30, 2017. 2021-12-10.
  5. Web site: Jane Baxter Miller. Jane Baxter Miller: About. 2021-12-10.
  6. Web site: Bloodshot Records. Harm Among the Willows: Jane Baxter Miller. 2010. 2021-12-10.
  7. Book: Dowling Press. 1999. 9781891847035. Goodman, David. Modern Twang: An Alternative Country Music Guide and Directory [relevant paragraphs- 'The Texas Rubies: Working Girl Blues']]. 2021-12-11.
  8. Web site: Okka Disk . Okka Disk Titles . 2019-11-23.

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