Press

Press for Closer to Home, released 12 January, 2018

PDF One-Sheet for Closer to Home

As of 1 April, 2018, Closer to Home had gone to #1 on the Roots Music Report Top 50 Jazz Album chart and stayed for a second week, and then spent four weeks (onetwothree, four) at #2, followed by two weeks (one, two) at #3, for a total of eight weeks so far in the top three and eleven consecutive weeks so far in the top ten. It also had appeared on the NACC Jazz top 30 chart for eight weeks, earning the top debut position at #5 in its first week and charting in the top ten for four weeks in a row. On the JazzWeek Top 50 albums chart, Closer to Home had charted for six weeks, peaking at #32 for the week of 12 March, 2018. JazzWeek’s history for Closer to Home is here.

“…dripping with deeply felt swing and a style entrenched in the traditions of jazz organ.” — Nolan DeBuke, The Jazz Word, 9 August, 2018

“Kennedy has a style that oozes with polished confidence and a gutbucket, down-home vibe… The authenticity of his playing is slow, low, and righteous. Joined by a band of San Francisco brothers, Closer to Home is … flat out is a great listen from top to bottom with a firmly rooted 60s sound.” — Geannine Reid, AllAboutJazz, 20 June, 2018

“… a sound that is rich in the organ tradition… Great solos throughout, and a nice mix of styles… an excellent listen. …improvisations that make the music feel and sound like the next evolution in the tradition of the Hammond organ…” — Steph Cosme, Staccatofy, 12 February, 2018

“… a joy to unravel… Wholeheartedly Recommended!” — Mike Greenblatt, Goldmine Magazine, 10 February, 2018

“Robert Kennedy definitely has proven himself as a bandleader and terrific organist. His playing on the album is superb and the musicians he brought in as members of his combo more than complement Robert’s playing.” — Bruce von Stiers, BVSReviews.com, 20 January, 2018

“B3 jazz at its best! … All three soloists establish the evocative shadings and dynamic grooves that make this music glow with authenticity.” — Robbie Gerson, Audiophile Audition, 8 January, 2018

“Robert Kennedy’s new album, Closer to Home, is one of my favorites to come down the pike… Most B-3 players seem hyper-aware of the timbre of the instrument and know, in advance, that certain feelings will be evoked. These feelings may be mostly nostalgic, which tends to give most B-3 recordings a specific sense of time and place. Kennedy can do that… when he wants, but it’s surprising how he’s more interested in creating layers of sound and texture that allow his fellow musicians to shine. … [T]here’s something more here, something that makes me really settle in and float along with this music… The sound quality is superb, and that allows you to hear the B-3 in its fixed point in space against the other superb musicians (guitarist Terrence Brewer, sax player Ben Torres and drummer Cody Rhodes), and that illustrates how the entire instrument is a living, breathing thing. That may be the characteristic I find most impressive…” — Marc Phillips, The Vinyl Anachronist, 23 December, 2017

“… a purely bad ass organ combo date, you can feel the grease dripping as it wends it’s funky way home. Check it out.” — Chris Spector, Midwest Record, 1 December, 2017

“Sometimes the world needs more music that is centered around the magnificent Hammond B-3 organ…” — Paul Wilson, audiophilereview.com, 16 March, 2018


Press for Big Shoes, released 24 March, 2015

PDF One-Sheet for Big Shoes

As of 22 June, 2015, Big Shoes had been on the CMJ [ web site now defunct ] Top 40 Jazz chart for nine weeks, peaking at the #11 position, and had been in the JazzWeek Top 100 for nine weeks as well, peaking at the #47 position.

“I met Robert at the beginning of his Hammond journey, and where that journey has taken him just amazes me. Everything about this CD [Big Shoes] delights me, especially the writing, Robert’s choice of players and the musical interplay among them, and most importantly, the development of Robert’s distinctive and uniquely melodic voice on the instrument, both as a player and composer. For me, Hammond players make the world a better place, and I am so glad Robert is doing his part! I hope he continues on this journey!” — Nancy Wright [saxophonist to B.B. King, Elvin Bishop, John Lee Hooker, etc.]

Marcel the Drunkard featured Big Shoes on his YouTube Channel, calling the album a “superb example of what a great combination hammond, guitar and drums are.”

“Robert Kennedy’s Hammond B3 trio… plays straight-ahead music with convincing authority. It’s Kennedy’s debut album as a trio leader and he’s… in thoroughly communicative form throughout. …a really enjoyable and swinging disc that augurs well for more Kennedy trio projects.” — Jonathan Woolf, MusicWeb International, November, 2015

“… my favorite jazz find this year is Robert Kennedy Trio. Traditional sounding organ trio … really fun to listen to. The guitarist, Mason Razavi, is totally killer!” — Josh Mundt (Zberblank), November, 2015

“… Nowhere is [the trio’s high energy and talent] more evident than on the blues-laden title track, ‘Big Shoes‘… this brings back memories of many late night sessions I had with the master of B-3, Jimmy Smith, in the old days and is my personal favorite of the nine tunes [Kennedy] offers up for jazz organ euphoria. I give Robert & crew a MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED, with an ‘EQ’ (energy quotient) rating of 4.99.” — Rotcod Zzaj (Dick Metcalf), September, 2015

Big Shoes… [is] a wonderful collection of original compositions… Kennedy’s playing is full of excellent musical taste, and an intrinsic ability to swing… [Kennedy, Razavi, and Rhodes] groove ourageously throughout the CD… The title is Big Shoes but it could be Big Shoes and Big Ears!” — Musicscribe, emusic.com, 22 July, 2015

“… Big Shoes will please B-3 aficionados, and jazz lovers alike.” — Robbie Gerson, Audiophile Audition, 12 April, 2015

“ROBERT KENNEDY TRIO/Big Shoes: A B3 ace leading a classic organ jazz trio through a set that’s loaded with originals that are stocked with vibes that make you think you heard them somewhere else before by a cat that doesn’t have to worry about any blurred lines. In the pocket throughout, you’d be hard pressed to find any better top down listening than this. Well done throughout.”  — Chris Spector, Midwest Record, 20 March, 2015

Music Man Blog review of Big Shoes, 19 April, 2015


Press for Will Weston’s Heart of the Order, released 29 January, 2015

Rock and Roll Chemist review of Will Weston’s Heart of the Order on which I played all the organ and electric piano, 28 May, 2015