KURT ROSENWINKEL IN CONCERT:
Over the past two decades, jazz guitar virtuoso Kurt Rosenwinkel has been a continual source of jaw-dropping improvisation and game-changing fretboard innovation. Rosenwinkel’s knowledge of harmony verges on encyclopedic, and his live shows treat ticket buyers to a dizzying array of complex and unique chords as he deftly works his way up and down his signature D’Angelica New York semi-hollow guitar. His live sets combine original material and improvised numbers with jazz classics, which he invariably reworks with his own unique flair – his rendition of beloved standard “Stella by Starlight” has been known to pass the 17-minute mark. Rosenwinkel’s singular sound is matched by his unique taste in gear – in addition to several rare and coveted guitars he takes the stage with a seriously impressive arsenal of effects pedals that help him further shape the instrument’s tone and texture. Anyone looking to experience world-class jazz guitar improvisation by a true master won’t want to miss Rosenwinkel whenever he works his magic on stage.
BACKGROUND SNAPSHOT:
Philadelphia-born Kurt Rosenwinkel attended Boston’s Berklee College of Music before leaving in his junior year to tour with renowned jazz vibraphonist Gary Burton. Following the tour he relocated to Brooklyn, where he began performing with groups like Human Feel, Joe Henderson Group, and the Brian Blade Fellowship. In 1995 he won the Composer’s Award from the National Endowment for the Arts, and the following year he released his debut album East Coast Love Affair. A string of critically acclaimed albums followed in the ‘00s, including the Verve Records releases The Enemies of Energy (2000) and Heartcore (2003), which was co-produced by Q-Tip of A Tribe Called Quest. In addition to his work as a bandleader he has also played as a sideman for an impressive array of artists including Donald Fagen, Charlie Peacock, and Aaron Goldberg. In 2012 he released his 12th album Star of Jupiter, a collection original new material that All About Jazz called “a contemporary classic”.
