Kevin Mahogany
Photo by Steven Sussman
Kevin Mahogany
"the standout jazz vocalist of his generation." -- Newsweek
Want to study with Kevin? He will be teaching Session 5: August 5 - 10.With his gift for bebop, ballads, blues, and swinging jazz, Kevin Mahogany's talents emerged quite young. “When I was a kid, music was just as important as English and math in our household" says Kansas-City-born, Kevin Mahogany. "In fact piano lessons were a grade school staple for the whole family." By 1970 after starting on piano and moving to clarinet, 12 year-old Kevin was playing the baritone saxophone. That same year he first played professionally with Eddie Baker's "New Breed Orchestra." Throughout high school he played in marching and concert band, orchestra and stage band as well as continuing his professional playing with Eddie Baker. But it was during his senior year in high school that his true talent was discovered- singing.
When Kevin got to Baker University, he performed with various instrumental and vocal ensembles. There he was allowed to form his own vocal jazz choir. After graduating, he returned to his roots in Kansas City and played with a couple of bands helping him attract a huge following in Kansas City throughout the 80's. In the early 90’s he was introduced to Frank Mantooth and a friendship developed that had Kevin being featured on Frank's next CD. In February 1993, Kevin released his debut album "Double Rainbow." He has since released albums on Enja, Warner Brothers, Telarc and finally on his own label, Mahogany Jazz. With 11 CD's as a leader, and quite a few as a sideman, Kevin has proved to be the quintessential jazz vocalist. New Yorker magazine writer Whitney Balliet writes, "There is little Mahogany cannot do," and the LA TIMES said, "Mahogany is one of the first truly gifted male vocalists to emerge in years." And we agree -- he appeared on the 1999 and 2003 Litchfield Jazz Festival. Kevin joins the Litchfield Jazz Camp faculty in 2011.