Paul Kendall WHISPER NOT

March 4, 2024

PAUL KENDALL

WHISPER NOT

Zoho Records

Paul Kendall, tenor saxophone; Dan Kosteinik, Hammond organ; Rudy Petschauer, drums.

It’s nice to hear a trio that features saxophone, Hammond B-3 Organ and drums. Paul Kendall says years ago he was hooked on that organ sound when he worked a few gigs with Bobby Forrester at a local jazz club in Long Island, New York called Sonny’s Place. Bobby was the musical director for singer Ruth Brown for many years and a respected organist. That early experience for Kendall solidified a deep love for playing his tenor saxophone with an organist. Once Kendall moved to Pennsylvania, he ran into an old friend. It was drummer Rudy Petschauer. Come to find out, they lived in the same neighborhood. Soon they were talking music and making music.

It didn’t take long to put a group together. Dan Kosteinik joined them on the Hammond organ and the result is this wonderful album of traditional Jazz that swings from start to finish. Paul Kendall’s trio reminds me that bebop is still king. They open with “Whisper Not” that rolls like a steam engine across my listening room. It starts at a slow chug, picks up energy as it moves along and then rumbles at full speed ahead. It’s not the tempo that changes, but the energy that grows. Kendall’s tenor sax caresses the melody at first and then takes off like a surprised starling, flying higher and higher during his improvised solo. Where they really take off (tempo-wise) is on the Sonny Rollins tune, “Airegin.” Spurred by Rudy Petschauer’s power-drums, the trio flies high at a speedy pace. Clare Fischer’s Latin tune “Pensativa” meanders off this whirling CD machine with its familiar melody humming in my head like a friendly hug. The bebop is back in spades on “It’s You or No One” and this is followed by a lovely tenor sax rendition of “These Foolish Things.” Every tune on this album will entertain and please you. It’s wonderful to hear organ, saxophone and drums playing jazz standards. Kendall has a smooth, soulful technique on his tenor and Kosteinik lays down a tight, supportive rhythm section locking in with Rudy’s drums. This album takes me back to the days of Jimmy Smith on organ at his jazz club in a Southern California valley community. Paul Kendall brings sweet nostalgia and Straight-ahead jazz to the table with no reservations.

Reviewed by Dee Dee McNeil

BUY NOW!

Buy Us a Cup of Coffee!

Join the movement in supporting Making a Scene, the premier independent resource for both emerging musicians and the dedicated fans who champion them.

We showcase this vibrant community that celebrates the raw talent and creative spirit driving the music industry forward. From insightful articles and in-depth interviews to exclusive content and insider tips, Making a Scene empowers artists to thrive and fans to discover their next favorite sound.

Together, let’s amplify the voices of independent musicians and forge unforgettable connections through the power of music