KJ Denhert

10th Annual Adult Contemporary Album Nominee
10th Annual Sing Out For Social Action Song Winner
8th Annual Live Performance Album Nominee

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Hear More At The Vox Pop Jukebox:
Adult Contemporary Album
Sing Out For Social Action Song

Record Label: Motema
www.kjdenhert.com

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Home Base: New York City, NY, U.S.A.

Genre: Urban/ Folk/ Jazz

Categories Entered: Adult Contemporary Album, Sing Out For Social Action Song

Works Submitted: Album No. 9; “Choose Your Weapon”

Artists Featured: My band The NY Unit; Mamadou Ba (Bass), Ray Levier (Drums), Aaron Heick (Sax), KokoJones (Percussion). Etienne Stadwijk (Keys), Manu Koch (Keys) Special guests: Ralph Farris, Dorothy from String Quartet Ethel Acoustic Bass Special Guest Francois Moutin

Label: Mother Cyclone Records is my Label- This CD is licensed to Indie label Motema at this time,

Influences: OMG! James Taylor, Joni Mitchell, Thomas Dolby, Sergio Mendes, Prince, Bruce Cockburn, Steely Dan, The Police, The Pretenders, Sting, Roberta Flack, Rickie Lee Jones- not in that order. If Sting married Roberta Flack while having an affair with Rickie Lee Jones- I would write the musical This has been a phrase that I like!

What’s the meaning of your bands name? KJ Denhert and The NY Unit. A quickie name chosen in 1996 because I had a band in Cleveland where I lived for three years. When I returned to NY I had a new band all living in NY- ergo the NY Unit.

Describe your nominated work: Album No. 9 is a collection of Pop And Jazz classics mostly form the 60′s and 70′s. Radically inverting the ration of cover tunes on this album I only performed three original tunes and each were with friends and songwriters (San Glaser, Germany and Johnny B (Witter) .

Why did you choose to submit this work to The 10th IMA’s? I thought I might get laid! Just seeing if you’re skimming or truly reading. I think it’s a mild departure and one of the best recorded albums of my life. I want an award! (the opening joke is loosely stolen from the Movie Toys, Robin Williams)

Did you use any unusual effects or instruments in this recording? Other than a typewriter the point was to use the normal instruments bass drums piano guitar. The typewriter was used in part as homage to my hero Thomas Dolby. I adore an album he did called The Flat Earth-

Were there any happy accidents while in the studio, or did everything go as planned? The happiest accident was to be in the studio. In 2009/10 I had two very important gigs get cancelled. Each time I was going to use the money I made to make the CD- both times the work fell through but the time was booked and I persevered. Not to worry or misrepresent, other work came in-

Did fans help you fund this project? I only collect money from fans when they buy a CD. I know it’s very old fashioned- a pre order comes with pressure in my world.

Who’s sitting in your audience? Men and women twenties to 60′s. A lot of folks tell me they gave my music to their parents and some tell me they play it for their children.

What makes your fans unique? Their taste!! We have fans around the world that are diverse, some jazz festivals yield jazz fans some fans of pop enjoy our take on classics and come for the show and the stories.

Are there any songs you wish you wrote? Maybe “Alfie”

What artists are you listening to that would surprise your fans? Soul Coughing- band broke up years ago but I still love their sound, still play the songs.

What is your dream show lineup? I dream of playing at least one James Taylor song with him. I’d love to open for my heroes- Steely Dan or Prince .

What is your guilty pleasure on the road? Coca Cola in a bottle or a can. I always have one when I finish a CD!

Any close calls or mishaps while on tour? That is the definition of a tour- I’ve been lowered from a helicopter in a horse collar onto a ship to perform on A ship.

Do you have any rituals before you go on stage? I try to pray on my own that I will not let me ego get the best of me on stage. Sometimes I can get hung up wanting a show to be so excellent that I start to play it too safe. If I meditate on the idea of being in the songs without ego or trying to be impressive- it’s just better all around. As a band we don’t join hands or do any of those team type things- it’s very real between us- without a lot of structure but it fells like family with 12 and thirteen years behind the drummer bassist and me.

Should music be free? No- not all the time. I don’t know how much choice we’ll have. I still sell CDs and I use that money to make more CDs

How has digital affected your career? Some things are easier – delivering songs to other people is easier- There are a lot of companies offering services that are untested.

Are digital singles vs. full albums the future of music? I honestly don’t think so. We still have magazines.

Finish this sentence: The music industry is… weird, lot’s of posing- lot’s of outmoded ideas still float around. I think Singer-Songwriters should have a monument erected in New York City. In so many ways we are the people that take the risks make the music give musicians the chance to perform locally and sort through all of the services trying to market the music. I want a monument!!!