First Friday with the Ken Morr Band

The Ken Morr Band will be performing for Bartow-Pell’s October First Friday on the back terrace overlooking the pebble court and formal garden.

The Kenn Morr Band is on a roll in 2023, pleased to be touring in support of its latest release, “Open Field”. Recorded at Sandy Brook Studios in Colebrook, CT, the album features ten new songs penned by Morr highlighted by the cohesive playing of the Kenn Morr Band.

The result is an organic collection of lush three-part vocal harmonies and sparkling instruments—real musicians playing soulful music in real time. United Kingdom’s Folk Word states: “Among its many vagaries life offers some certainties – they include the flow of memorable melodies and deeply-thought themes that permeate Kenn Morr’s mix of folk rock Americana. The latest album from The Kenn Morr Band, ‘Open Field serves up a selection of laid-back warmth, involving softly embracing songs and pin-sharp observational lyrics.”

Growing up on Long Island, Kenn was inspired by such lyric and melody-minded acts as Gordon Lightfoot, Simon and Garfunkel, Graham Nash, and Jackson Browne. Rex Fowler of Aztec Two-Step became his friend and supporter and recorded Morr’s “Following the Moon.” When a college baseball scholarship didn’t work out, Kenn turned—appropriately—to Communications, a field for which he is well-suited. He’s got a radio announcer’s rich baritone and the kind of humor and charisma that enthralls audiences of all sizes, from intimate coffeehouses to the stages of venues as demanding as the famed Bitter End in New York City and the International Festival of Arts and Ideas on the New Haven Green.

Kenn left Long Island and found in Connecticut a home, new friends, and—eventually–the band that brings his music to life featuring: violin virtuoso and multi-instrumentalist Tom Hagymasi, Berkelee College of Music grad, Pat Ryan, on (soulful, melodic) bass and “the heartbeat of the band,” drummer Tido (T-Bone) Holtkamp. Known for its close three-part vocal harmonies and fiery instrumental interplay, the group has been together for many years, becoming fast favorites on the outdoor festival scene. They’ve paid dues of every kind and played gigs of every stripe, along the way sharing the stage with artists like John Sebastian, Al Kooper, Eric Burdon, and John Wesley Harding.

Kenn’s 2003 album “New Moon Rising” was produced by legendary producer Bob Johnston (Dylan, Cash, Simon & Garfunkel, Leonard Cohen and many others.) The experience of working with Johnston greatly influenced Kenn to continue to write and produce honest and pure music. “Open Field” is Morr’s seventh album since the Johnston collaboration.

With airplay across the country and in Europe (England, Italy, Spain, Belgium, and the Netherlands), “Open Field” is set to bring the Kenn Morr sound to many new listeners.