Eitan Kenner & Natalie Tenenbaum - Duets / Solos (2023) [Official Digital Download 24/96]

During the years and months leading up to the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Natalie Tenenbaum & Eitan Kenner were both living in New York City. The two were circling in sometimes overlapping music scenes yet had never met and did not know each other.

The two connected in August 2020 after discovering each other's playing on Instagram posts. Both artists living in Manhattan, they soon realized that they share a common background, having attended the same high school in Tel Aviv. They also realized that they both had found success in rather unusual career paths; unlike certain other musicians on the New York scene who stick to one musical lane and its afforded opportunities, both pianists enjoyed very versatile careers; although nowadays Kenner is one of the most in-demand jazz musicians on the scene, he had spent several years stepping away from Jazz and working on a prog-rock album which resulted in him performing with Gentle Giant, among others. Natalie, a Juilliard-trained classical pianist and composer, has been busy working as a composer and as an arranger/orchestrator and music director across recording projects, film, TV and Broadway. Another common thread the two discovered is that they both share a musical as well as a spiritual passion being involved with the black Christian church. Kenner states: “My church is the closest thing I have to a family in this country”.

In the midst of an ongoing lockdown, the two began fostering a friendship on Facetime/WhatsApp as Tenenbaum was taking remote video lessons from Kenner on jazz improvisation. During their video exchanges, the two quickly realized that they share a similar musical upbringing and background, and that they had essentially been living somewhat parallel lives; they related to each other's experiences of working as a musician across different facets & genres of the music industry. After years of individually crafting their improvisation, arrangement & composition skills and techniques, both of their playing styles had become all-inclusive and influenced equally by old and new classical (concert) music, jazz of all eras, world & gospel music. Sharing this profound core of common inspirations, musical experience and knowledge made the two connect instantly on a deep musical level. Each video session began with both artists playing a completely "free" improvisation and then going back and forth, picking up where the other left off and drawing inspiration from the other. They exchanged short solo piano impromptu performances- all on FaceTime, and started having more and more of these sessions. They soon connected on a deeper level and started sharing their personal and professional thoughts and goals with each other, communicating daily although never having met in person.

TRACKLIST

1. Eitan Kenner - Home Away From Home
2. Eitan Kenner - Stride Etude
3. Eitan Kenner - Jester's Dilemma
4. Eitan Kenner - Pizza
5. Eitan Kenner - Rhythmlude I
6. Eitan Kenner - Waltz For Debby
7. Eitan Kenner - Different Strokes For Different Folks
8. Eitan Kenner - Body and Soul
9. Eitan Kenner - Prélude
10. Eitan Kenner - Reflets Dans L’eau
11. Eitan Kenner - Rhythmlude II
12. Eitan Kenner - Chords
13. Eitan Kenner - Knocks Me Off My Feet
14. Eitan Kenner - Fugue in C Major, BWV 952
15. Eitan Kenner - Billie's Bounce
16. Eitan Kenner - Wutaishan
17. Eitan Kenner - Rhythmlude III
18. Eitan Kenner - Avinu Malkeinu
19. Eitan Kenner - Always Remember



Thanks to the Original customer.