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walter kemp 3
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bio
walter kemp 3 bio
Viscount-endorsed artist, Walter Kemp 3 owes much to his father,
a classical and gospel composer, who sparked Kemp's early
interest in piano. Seeing and hearing his father's compositions
performed at Carnegie Hall, opened Kemp's eyes to a world of music. He soon began studying classical piano. After a brief interest in drums, he gravitated toward jazz, continuing to play gospel organ. Kemp, lead composer/pianist for (most recently) the Black Whole, Kemp + the Reyvolation, and the Walter Kemp 3oh! has won widespread critical acclaim for his classic and compelling compositions which experiment with traditional chord progressions with inventive finesse. As the winner of numerous awards with his international touring and recording projects, he has collaborated with various musical greats like the late greats Juini Booth and Rey Scott, of Sun-Ra’s Arkestra, as well as living legends like Bobby Militello, (Dave Brubeck), and Sabu Adeyola (Ahmad Jamal). As a highly-sought professional in the progressive music scene, Walter is the youngest musician, in more than three decades, to serve as Artistic Director for the CMC Jazz Festival. He teaches jazz studies at Villa Maria College.
photos
photos: Kasia Idzkowska
black whole
Walter Kemp 3 set out to explore diverse sonic exchanges, pushing the boundaries of sound, and bringing with it a sense of cosmic freewheeling. Kemp, on piano, Rhodes, and Viscount organ, GRAMMY award-winning improvisational violinist Scott Tixier, maverick woodwind master Brent Birckhead on alto sax, clarinet and flute, bass prodigy Rishon Odel and Allan Mednard, an NYC fixture on the percussion scene, add tonal richness to the group’s deconstructivist musical approach. What began as a Point9Mile Collaborative Artist Residency has emerged as an attention-grabbing ensemble that's way ahead of its time.
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