For a musician, Kingsley Durant’s career path may be unusual. He has a PhD in maths and spent years teaching the subject. However, he grew up in a musical family and learned piano, trumpet, French horn and guitar from the age of eight, so it’s not so surprising that he proves a sophisticated and talented guitarist.
He got his musical break when one of his compositions appeared in a promotional video for St. Andrew’s School, which eventually led to the creation and release of his 2003 debut album, Away From The Water.
His oeuvre can be placed somewhere among the likes of Herbie Hancock’s Headhunters or George Duke and later bands such as Rippingtons, Yellowjackets and Fourplay. But this is just a ballpark orientation not a definitive description. His main jazz influences were gleaned from listening to Miles Davis, Weather Report and Gary Burton, but the origins of his convincing electric guitar style derive from assimilating the astounding technique of guitar supremos Jeff Beck and Steve Howe. He has even admitted to being “a rock and roll player messing with jazz” which on the evidence of Convertible is a little too modest.
For this recording, Durant has surrounded himself with some world-class musicians including keyboardist Steve Hunt (who’s recorded with Allan Holdsworth and Chick Corea), bassist Roscoe Beck (who’s collaborated with the likes of Robben Ford and Leonard Cohen), drummer Tom Brechtlein (an alumnus of bands led by Chick Corea, Wayne Shorter, Al Di Meola and Jean-Luc Ponty) and percussionist Ricard Monzón (a professor of percussion at Berklee College Of Music).
The beautifully crafted Vivi’s Bounce boasts an irresistible foot-tapping blues shuffle and incorporates some nifty tempo changes and a memorable hook. Funky Princess spotlights the chops both of Durant and Hunt and boasts a cameo appearance by guitar virtuoso Eric Johnson. The slinky Marlowe’s Mood exudes a Latinesque Santana-like feel courtesy of Durant’s liquid guitar and there’s the added bonus of a lithe, ear-catching bass-guitar solo from Roscoe Beck.
Discography
Convertible; Cobblestones; Vivi’s Bounce; Akiko; Funky Princess; Alice; Marlowe’s Mood; Stanky; Sister Suz (49.19)
Durant, Eric Johnson (elg); Steve Hunt (kyb); Roscoe Beck (b, elb); Tom Brechtlein (d, pc); Ricardo Monzón (pc). No place or date given.
Zen Diagram Records ZDR-2302
