Guitarist Steve Cardenas Interviewed at AAJ
Kansas City has had a long and storied place in jazz history. From Count Basie
Count Basie
1904 - 1984
piano
, to Charlie Parker
Charlie Parker
1920 - 1955
sax, alto
and Lester Young
Lester Young
1909 - 1959
saxophone
, some of the best and brightest in the genre have either been raised or cut their teeth in K.C. While there seems to be an historical tinge to the city whenever its contribution to jazz is concerned, the Paris of the Plains still produces many top-notch instrumentalist and vocalists from its clubs, high schools and universities. With such a storied past, and love of all things jazz, it's no wonder that players like Danny Embry, Karrin Allyson
Karrin Allyson
vocal
and guitarist Steve Cardenas continue to grow out of the city's musical soil.
Cardenas' playing mixes the lyrical simplicity of his Midwestern roots with the hustle and bustle of the New York scene, the city he now calls home. Having made a name for himself as the consummate sideman, sharing the stage with Marc Johnson
Marc Johnson
b.1953
bass
, John Patitucci
John Patitucci
b.1959
bass
, Charlie Haden
Charlie Haden
b.1937
bass, acoustic
, Norah Jones
Norah Jones
b.1979
piano
and Paul Motian
Paul Motian
1931 - 2011
drums
, to name a just few, Cardenas has also released three excellent albums under his own name, including 2010's West of Middle (Sunnyside).
AAJ Contributor Matthew Warnock spoke with Cardenas as he returned from a gig in Moscow, and the guitarist sheds a little light on Russian audiences, in addition to his new album and approach to playing.
Check out Steve Cardenas: From K.C. to N.Y.C. at AAJ today!
