Hennessy brothers: press

Hennessy brothers Chunky The Hennessy brothers, members of one of Columbia’s strongest musical families, led by father Frank Hennessy, founder of Hennessy Music, 1729 W. Broadway, have issued "Chunky," a new self-produced CD. In the name of disclosure, let me mention that Hennessy Music has been a longtime sponsor of the "We Always Swing" Jazz Series, which I direct, and the Jazz Series has had guitarist Sean Hennessy and bassist Kevin Hennessy perform for its events. This certainly does not alter the fact that "Chunky" represents a strong musical effort. The nine compositions on the disc, recorded in Columbia by musician-composer Pete Szkolka, who also contributes "Shades of Grey" to the project, features all original work. A number of the pieces are co-written by Sean and Kevin Hennessy. However, each of the brothers - with Sean writing three and Kevin one - delivers his own work. Pianist Ken Kehner offers his "Waltz for Camille." The recording represents the brothers’ varied leanings and gives listeners a composite taste of their combined musical interests. The opening track, their co-written "Have Another Hot Dog," edges toward the heavier funky side, and a lighter piece such as Sean Hennessy’s "Portrait" draws perhaps from the modal sector of Pat Metheny’s world. Meanwhile, there are ethereal and more abstract moments, such as those in "Angles," another co-written Hennessy Brothers piece, and Szkolka’s "Shades of Grey" reminds us of Oliver Nelson’s "Stolen Moments," with its mellifluous and fluid groove. In part this recording is as strong as it is because of the sense of community it delivers. The brothers use Kehner on all of the tracks and the returning Missouri native drummer Marty Morrison on the majority of them. There are a plethora of Columbia’s and/or Missouri’s better musicians contributing on various cuts. "Chunky" can be purchased through the Hennessy Brothers’ Web site at www.hennessybrothers.com and through cdbaby.com/cd/hennessybrothers.

"Thank you for keeping unadulterated subsonics alive and throbbing!"

Hennessy Brothers
FORGOTTEN STORIES

Personnel: Sean Hennessy, guitar; Kevin Hennessy, acoustic & electric bass; Duncan Moore, drums; Rob Whitlock, piano & Hammond B-3; Dave Scott, trumpet; Peter Sprague, nylon string guitar on "Obrigado Tom," Tripp Sprague, tenor saxophone, pandeiro

Tracks: Forgotten Stories; Orion, the Hunter; Joe's Good Side; Bunkin' With Duncan; Obrigado Tom; Wes Coast; Chant

Recorded at Spragueland Studio, Leucadia, CA; Peter Sprague, engineer. Additional recording at the Wildlife Room, Columbia, MO; James Steffan, engineer.

This album is drenched in rich jazz traditions, covering a wide palette without losing a central, identifying sound. Missouri natives Sean and Kevin Hennessy, and Ruskin High alum Dave Scott, are joined by four other West Coast heavies for seven original compositions (six by Sean, one by Kevin).

Forgotten Stories starts off with a lilting 6/8 head, shifting through harmonies reminiscent of early Pat Metheny, breaking into a straightahead blowing rampage, particularly notable for Sean Hennessy's lyrical bebop leanings. It would be easy to pass this off as a lost recording of Emily Remler, with its clear, well developed structure and melodic sense.

"Orion, the Hunter," which was inspired by Sean's study of a McCoy Tyner solo, has the open, West Coast feel of vintage Wayne Shorter. It's up-tempo bebop featuring burning solos by Dave Scott and Sean Hennessy.

"Joe's Good Side," dedicated to Joe Diorio, with whom the brothers Hennessy studied in their youth, is a ballad featuring Tripp Sprague on tenor as well as Sean on guitar. Sean's ballad playing again calls early Pat Metheny to mind, probably a sign of their common influences (Sean sites Wes Montgomery and Pat Martino among them).

Kevin's compositional contribution, "Bunkin' With Duncan," is an up-tempo blues featuring Rob Whitlock on the Hammond B-3 as well as Sean's bop-oriented blues blowing.

"Obrigado Tom," a tribute to Antonio Carlos Jobim, brings in Peter Sprague on nylon string guitar to complement Sean creating a blend of instruments and styles familiar to fans of KC's Interstring.

With a bow to Wes Montgomery, "Wes Coast" brings the Hammond B-3 back out (Wes aficionados may remember an album called Boss Guitar, with a similar feel). And "Chant" closes out the CD and is a tune which Sean explains was written while studying Gregorian chant in school and listening to Coltrane at the same time. It is a haunting piece, with the muted trumpet of Dave Scott set against a moody bass line. A solo by Kevin harkens to some of the darker passages of Marc Johnson's Bass Desires recordings.

Columbia-based Sean Hennessy is clearly the central figure of this album. His compositions and blowing are the glue that holds the project together, though all the musicians involved are top-drawer. Traditional jazz lovers owe it to themselves to check out this CD, and to catch Sean live when he plays in the area.

Those hungry for more should also seek out Jim Widner's Body And Soul CD, which features Sean on guitar.

-- Rod McBride

For ordering information, call
(573) 239-4161