Search - Kenny White :: Uninvited Guest

Sweet smoky vocals laid over beautiful rhythmic arrangments

06/05/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Uninvited Guest is a must have for every one who really loves music and words....this man is a virtuoso piano player as well as a stunning lyricist...his songs cinematic in nature, evoking images and emotions sometimes hard to bare - his lyrics shine with such clariy and honesty and emotion rarely
found...Not a bad song on this cd, but the ones that stand out the most to me are Cold Winter Wind, In My Recurring Dream, Last Stop, Uninvited Guest, Beautiful Changes and Johnny Has a Crush on Marilyn...This is A Level musicianship. Beautiful arrangements, amazing piano solos. And his sweet smoky vocals are the cherry on top of this treat!I guarantee you will walk away singing these songs in your head.......and if you ever get to see him live..DO IT!"

Kenny- You're Invited

Lili Love | Beverly Hills, CA United States | 08/27/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I recently became aware of Mr. White (Kenny) when he opened for Shawn Colvin, in two L.A. shows. I was immediately struck with his music and his thoughtful lyrics. After his set, I bought the CD. He was signing CDs and I said I particularly liked that line about "It's not Jesus, it's music that saves" (or something along those lines). So, he signed it, "Hi Lili - It's always music that saves - but you knew that, huh?" I thought that was sweet.
Back to the CD, Kenny's tunes tend to be somewhat sad in nature, but he also has humor and he plays a mean piano. His voice is nice, and it's easy to see him fitting in with Marc Cohn, and Shawn Colvin, who, indeed are people he plays with, at times.
I particularly like the duet on the CD "In Our Hands" for it's beautiful harmonies and it's ironic lyrics. For example,
"Took a vow to be true
and now look at you
chasing small girls with big shoes and punctured skin
staring blank with fatigue
Cause you're out of your league
are you sure it's you heart your following?"
"Last Stop" takes place on some form of public transit. Kenny refers to the cell phones that "shut in some crazy syncopations except those whose time is way too valuable to let a little interferenence get in the way of making sure we all hear how important their lives are."
Clearly, Kenny's a keen observer of human hubris. Yet, he seems alienated, as can be surmised by the title.
He also invokes dreams and "In my recurring dream" "this cloud above me suddenly explodes into little lullabies...." and he realizes "it's not Jesus, it's music that saves."
Recurring Dream was particularly powerful live. Kenny jammed on a grand or baby grand the first night at the Coach House in San Juan Capistrano. The acoustics were phenomenal there. The following night, he played only on a Keyboard. I guess the House of Blues, West Hollywood, doesn't have a piano.
If you enjoy thoughtful lyrics, great musicianship and songs that go beyond the usual tripe we're exposed to, by all means, get this CD and if you get a chance, see him in concert, now, before he starts filling stadiums."

Brotherly Love

Larry White | AdultPop.com | 11/19/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"At an age when most artists are compiling their drug-addled memoirs for VH-1's Behind the Music, my kid brother has finally released his first album. And what an album it is. An eclectic mix of song styles with only their beautiful melodies, exacto-knife lyrics, and Kenny's evocative voice in common. As one would expect from an artist with Kenny's wealth of experience, the production and sterling musicianship ( a crackerjack band including Shawn Pelton, Duke Levine and Larry Campbell and guest stars Shawn Colvin, Marc Cohn, and Peter Wolf) serve to present these poignant and powerful songs in their best light. If I have a complaint, it is that the CD is almost steadfastly earnest. There are only rare displays of Kenny's playfulness and humor (although, unless you yourself are or know a digital amputee, we defy you to keep a straight face during the opening verse of "In My Recurring Dream" which, by the way, to these 2 biased ears, is the most exciting rock epic since Springsteen's "Rosalita"). But that should be My complaint, not yours. I'm his big brother. If You have a problem with this marvelous album, I guess you and I will just have to take it outside."