Pennies from Heaven - Veronica Swift & Larry McKenna with Alex Claffy Trio & Drew Nugent (2020)
325,548
Published 2020-03-15
Larry McKenna - tenor sax
Alex Claffy Trio: Alex Claffy - bass, Tim Brey - piano, Joe Strasser - drums
Drew Nugent - trumpet
"Pennies From Heaven" (1936) - music by Arthur Johnston, lyrics by Johnny Burke
Filmed & edited by Melissa Gilstrap
©2020 Melissa Gilstrap. All rights reserved.
www.melissagilstrap.com
Veronica Swift:
At age 25, Veronica Swift has become one of the world's most sought-after jazz talents. Having grown up on the road with her parents - jazz pianist Hod O'Brien and jazz vocalist Stephanie Nakasian - she was exposed to some of the greatest musicians of the time; Annie Ross, Jon Hendricks, Bob Dorough, Paquito d'Rivera, and Marilyn Maye. Swift was awarded second place at the Thelonious Monk 2015 Jazz Vocal Competition landing her a showcase at the esteemed Birdland Jazz Club in New York City. She then moved to New York in 2017 to continue pursuing her growing career. Maintaining a weekly residency at Birdland, Veronica toured internationally and joined the lineup on the show of Trumpeter Chris Botti. In 2020, Swift will release her next album on Mack Avenue with her regular touring trio: The Emmet Cohen Trio. For more about Swift, please see her website: veronicaswift.com.
Larry McKenna:
One of the world’s finest jazz saxophone players, Larry McKenna is known for his gorgeous tenor saxophone sound, the beauty of his balladry, and his fluid, bebop-inspired improvisations. After six decades in his profession, his international reputation as both a masterful jazz improviser and educator is firmly established. Over the years, Larry has performed and recorded with many jazz stars including Woody Herman, Clark Terry, Buddy DeFranco, Barry Harris, Tony Bennett, Rosemary Clooney, Jimmy Heath, Jon Faddis, Harry Allen, Terell Stafford, Eric Alexander, Bill Charlap, Warren Vaché, Kenny Barron, Randy Brecker, Wynton Marsalis and Frank Sinatra.
Larry McKenna’s composing, songwriting and arranging skills received critical acclaim with the 2013 release of his CD, “From All Sides,” supported in part by a Subito Grant from the American Composers Forum. Among other originals, this CD introduced his popular bossa nova “One Falling Tree” with lyrics by Melissa Gilstrap sung by Joanna Pascale, voted the number two song of the year out of 100 by listeners of WRTI 90.1 FM Philadelphia in 2013.
Larry’s writing and arranging skills are further showcased by the Larry McKenna Jazz Orchestra, a 17-piece band dedicated to presenting Larry’s original compositions and arrangements. In 2018, the Larry McKenna Jazz Orchestra was invited by WRTI to video three of Larry’s original songs, two with lyrics by Melissa Gilstrap sung by Joanna Pascale, to be presented on VuHaus.com, public media’s music discovery video platform (now NPR.org).
Recently Larry McKenna partnered with longtime friend and fellow Philadelphia tenor player, Robert "Bootsie" Barnes, to release their CD, "The More I See You" (Cellar Live 2018). This critically-acclaimed CD placed on national jazz charts for several weeks, and WRTI selected it as "Jazz Album of the Week" in November 2018.
In addition to being a frequent guest on recordings by other top jazz players, Larry has released three other CDs under his own name to critical acclaim. “Profile” (Dreambox Media 2009) mixes jazz standards with Larry’s original compositions, including the poignant ballad “Perhaps This Wintertime” with lyrics by Melissa Gilstrap. Premiered on the CD by vocalist Nancy Reed, this ballad was critically praised as “destined to become a new standard” and subsequently performed and/or recorded by other internationally known vocalists, including Denise King, Mary Ellen Desmond and Jackie Ryan. Larry’s earlier CDs, “It Might As Well Be Spring” (Dreambox Media 2001) and “My Shining Hour – Music of Harold Arlen” (EPE Records 1995), received praise from jazz critics across the United States and Canada.
Recent performance highlights include Larry McKenna’s 2018 and 2015 “Barry & Larry” concerts with the legendary pianist Barry Harris at William Paterson University in New Jersey. In 2018 and 2014 Larry appeared with the Woody Herman Tribute Band in Los Angeles, including in 2018 a special quintet performance with trumpeter Bobby Shew. Larry was also a featured soloist in two concerts in 2014 with The Jazz Orchestra of Philadelphia under the direction of Terell Stafford, together with jazz greats Wynton Marsalis, Jimmy Heath, Kenny Barron, and Randy Brecker. In 2011 the world-renowned Philadelphia Orchestra showcased Larry as a soloist, performing movements from an orchestral arrangement of Duke Ellington’s “Nutcracker Suite."
Larry is one of the most sought-out saxophone and jazz theory teachers in Philadelphia. He has taught countless students at University of the Arts, Temple University School of Music, West Chester University, Widener University, and Community College of Philadelphia.
Larry resides in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
All Comments (21)
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Never heard of Larry. So impressed. Gotta listen to more of him. Tremendous musician.
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Larry's tone is beautiful. A musician's musician.
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Larry McKenna - incredibly fantastic sound !!! A thousand likes !!!
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Larry McKenna, one of the great great masters still living! Every note of pearl!
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I really like the sound of Larry McKenna's tenor saxophone. The neat old-fashioned jazz of that era- Dexter Gordon and Chet Baker. Thank you, Mr. McKenna. Rest in peace, and we will remember your beautiful music!!
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Larry McKenna, great musician, moving performance. Hat off !
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This is the quintessential club performance of a standard. Good humoured, a bit chaotic, oozing with charm, great musicianship.
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Larry McKenna is a beautiful sax player. The appreciation of the audience is magic.
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Veronica's talent goes without saying but Mr. McKenna is killing it....lovely!
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Mr. McKenna.......PERFECTION!
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Fantastic saxophone player and Veronica Swift is fantastic.
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Wow, just in awe of Larry, he just does it so easily, looks like he doesn’t breathe, even. How great.
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i ca tell Mrs. swift came from a very musical family. Music has become her dedication. outstanding.
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Through out his long distinguished career, Larry has played live gigs on stage with the best of them, and yes, the worst of them. This kind gentleman is always consistent in his demeanor not to show shock or surprise during someone's performance. He contains himself and continues on, as hard as it is to be in sync with another player who is searching on stage to find himself, and then only to be a step flat. Mr.McKenna has always supported other musicians and is one of the kindest in the business. He remains in Philly to become a giant instead of running off to NY or LA to be lured into producing changing crass commercial covers of forgettable pop tunes.
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Larry owns everything he plays
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The interaction with Larry and Veronica is ever so good, around 7:00. This is really difficult to pull off and still keep all the chord changes in tact. Also, this is the way a classic jazz song should be played. Great arrangement too!!!
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that beautiful improv convo between Larry and Veronica <3 love the way they (and most of the band lmao) honored one another chefs kiss
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The interaction between Veronica and Larry is just wonderful. Priceless music making. Loved the whole thing. More please.
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Larry is fantastic, as usual! His tone is sublime and his vocabulary is so refreshing to hear. He is an inspiration to all of us who play. The guy with the trumpet is definitely out of his element. Too bad he never heard the old jazz adage...When in doubt, lay out!
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She can sing anything, so good jazz group . She just gets better and better love her voice.really love to see her in person. Never events are close to here far away in Colorado, California.
