MEDIA RAVES ABOUT KEN SLAVIN
"Jazz and cabaret singer Ken Slavin has what it takes to make hearts melt: a deep baritone voice that fills the room and a sincere approach to lyrics that reach out tenderly with genuine passion . . . Slavin feels as comfortable with Brazilian romance as he does with Duke Ellington, Cole Porter, Jimmy Van Heusen, and Harold Arlen: honoring a timeless songbook that will never be forgotton." - JIM SANTELLA, CADENCE MAGAZINE
"Ken's latest CD, I'll Take Romance, is simply stunning. . . I haven't heard "But Beautiful" done so well since Billie Holiday." JIMMY R. SMITH, 'FRESH BEATS,' THIS WEEK IN TEXAS
"It was my pleasure to meet and perform with Ken Slavin. He is a wonderful singer and a first class gentleman. Ken has captured the styles of the great singers that came before him, as can be heard on his CDs "The Song is You" and "I'll Take Romance." Good luck Ken, and I'll be looking for more swingin' music from you." RICHIE COLE, LEGENDARY JAZZ SAXOPHONIST AND FOUNDER/DIRECTOR OF ALTO MADNESS MUSIC
"During an era when male jazz singers are few and far between, a new recording by Ken Slavin is a welcome event . . . Based in San Antonio, (he) has become established as arguably the city's top jazz crooner or saloon singer." -SCOTT YANOW, LOS ANGELES JAZZ SCENE
“Slavin slays the crowd with his Bobby Darin tribute, ‘Mack the Knife.’” TEXAS MONTHLY
“The new CD ['I'll Take Romance'] is really special. We’ve been playing it pretty much every day since we got it, and I did a 30- minute feature a few weeks ago on the South Texas Jazz Project show. I hope the disc is getting national attention, because it deserves to be heard in L.A., New York City, etc.” AARON PRADO—KRTU 97.1 FM “JAZZ FOR SAN ANTONIO
"Slavin is blessed with a haunting, broken-hearted baritone that reaches beneath the skin, crawling its way into the deepest recesses of your soul." SHOTGUN REVIEWS
"Slavin is making inroads in the worldwide music scene...a remarkable talent - a voice that has been variously described as 'velvety,' 'sultry,' 'clear,' and 'rich' - combined with his showmanship, have gained notice as far away as France and Portugal. Slavin says he is a Texas performer looking to break out. The way he's going, it won't be too long before his wish comes true." SCENE IN SA MONTHLY
“San Antonio based vocalist Ken Slavin is one of the most popular singers in that Texas town, and the hardest working. (He) has paid his dues in the home of the Alamo, having played everywhere from local meet markets to the ritziest lounges in the city…’The Song is You’ is a sincere effort…Slavin has an expressive timbre…and a knack for choosing good songs…” JAZZREVIEW.COM
"I would highly recommend Ken Slavin to any group, cruise line or promoter wanting a top-notch talent with much to give. You will not be disappointed. Not only is he a great entertainer, his wardrobe alone would put him on the cover of GQ." SONNY MELENDREZ, NATIONALLY RENOWNED RADIO BROADCASTER , FORMER HOST OF ABC-TV'S "KIDS ARE PEOPLE, TOO," ACTOR AND PRODUCER
“Through hard work, determination, innate chops and...good sense...Slavin became a first-class singer with a repertoire that transcends nostalgia. And it hasn't hurt that Slavin has become a top-flight showman. ‘I'll Take Romance’ is a romantic effort indeed, packed with ballads including "But Beautiful,"... and "Alone." To describe the CD as anything but beautiful would be a mistake. Though it's ballad heavy, with only a few selections, including "Just You, Just Me" and "Day by Day," hitting the up category, Slavin's voice is excellent, Brake's production deft and the music, by Slavin's band and a few talented guests, is exactly what the songs call for.” JIM BEAL, SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS
“I heard Ken stop the room...literally one of the most difficult rooms to stop in New York City and perhaps the entire world. This crowd NEVER asks for encores, but they asked for two from Ken that night. I'll never forget it." CLINT BROWNFIELD, TRAVEL JOURNALIST, NEW YORK CITY (After watching Ken sit in at The Townhouse in Manhattan.)
“Ken Slavin is a San Antonio treasure! Not only are his musical talents phenomenal, but his passion and enthusiasm are contagious. I have never seen an entertainer connect with his audience better than Ken. He doesn't just sing the songs, he involves his audience with the charisma and grace of a master showman. His authenticity and love for people and music make him a rare and special performer. Whenever someone local or from out-of-town asks me where they should go for live music in San Antonio, I tell them to go wherever Ken Slavin is performing. Ken's immense talent on stage is matched only by his heart and soul off stage: he's a tireless supporter of numerous charities, regularly volunteering his time to help those in need. I'm proud to be one of Ken Slavin's biggest fans!" CHRIS DUEL, Host of "The Chris and Jason Show" on radio station ESPN 1250 in San Antonio
"Ken Slavin’s got some pipes and he knows how to use them. Attend a show and you are likely to fall in love -- not only with his sultry voice, but also with that mile-wide, boyish grin and those handsome good looks. Slavin is funny, charming and works hard to ensure the entire audience has a great time." MISI WOOLARD, “ART & SOUL" NORTH SAN ANTONIO TIMES
“A sultry, late-night ode to love, [Ken's latest CD] ‘I’ll Take Romance’ is a seductive 16-song collection that features both the lushest texture (particularly with the string-ladenn bookends "Thoughts of your Smile" and "I'll Take Romance") and the most intimate, casual vibe ever heard on a Slavin album ... More than most contemporary interpreters of the Great American Songbook, Slavin delights in turning his material sideways, making even the most familiar tunes sound like new discoveries...." GILBERT GARCIA, MUSIC EDITOR, SAN ANTONIO CURRENT
"Ken Slavin is an artist who knows who he is and knows what he wants to give his listeners. He takes a song that touches him in some way and sumptuously makes it his own. And at his final note you sit for a moment and breath in that feeling of utter satisfaction that only great music can bring. Ken has got "IT"! He hits every note and you understand every word. He sings I Wish You Love and you are playing on the Riviera. He sings It's a Good Day and you are riding the ferris wheel at Coney Island. Traditionally he ends his show with "Mack The Knife." His audiences want it and they wait for it and there is a reason for this: Ken's version of the song KNOCKS YOU OUT. Hear him sing it once and I promise you'll want to hear him sing it again." MAGGIE WORSDALE, nationally acclaimed American cabaret singer
“A retro rave with a smooth and sultry voice....” TEXAS ENTERTAINMENT NEWS
“Eminent jazz musician Ken Slavin took a new direction this spring with his cabaret debut…an ambitious two-act show designed to incorporate every color in this veteran crooner’s palette…Slavin earnestly studies his favorite singers, (but) takes pains to avoid mimicking their vocal techniques. His phrasing might be as smooth and impeccable as his pinstripe suits, but it is also highly idiosyncratic. And he constantly seeks out obscure material that will set him apart from bandwagon-jumping standards interpreters (raise your hand, Rod Stewart). ” GILBERT GARCIA, MUSIC EDITOR, SAN ANTONIO CURRENT (Upon that publication's naming of Ken "Reader's Pick: Best Musician" of 2006.)
“It was 10 on a sticky Friday night in July, and the dance floor in the Sage bar at the Fairmount Hotel was full . . . Slavin and backup band (did) their best to invoke New York, and if we closed our we could for just a second imagine that were in the King Cole Bar at the St. Regis, or even the holy grail of sophisticated tippling, Bemmelman’s…” ELAINE WOLFF, THE BAR TAB
“The best thing since Frank Sinatra for local smooth-jazz fans.” SUSAN YERKES,
S.A. LIFE, SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS
"Ken’s vocals are clear, rich and swinging.... great heart and soul ...His interpretations of classics like ‘Fever’. . . display his command of the material and his strong understanding of jazz vocal performance.” JAZZ ONLINE
"Buttery, warm tones that suggest a young Mel Torme issue forth from the mouth of Ken Slavin, who caresses each lyric of the jazz and popular standards that compose his sets at local nightspots . . . for those who prefer their martinis shaken, not stirred, and their listening fare melodic, memorable and soothing." SONGWRITER RON YOUNG
“I receive a lot of CDs … many of them from vocalists, and most of them mediocre. But I found ‘The Song is You’ to be a thoroughly enjoyable recording. Ken Slavin has a very appealing voice and a nice, easy-going approach to each performance on the disc. He seems to be having a good time with each song and, more importantly, conveys that feeling to the listener.” LENNY MAZEL, JAZZ DIRECTOR, KCME 88.7 FM, COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO, USA
“…an integral part of the San Antonio fabric for locals and tourists.”SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS
“The smoothness of his voice is rivaled only by the genius in his delivery.” JOHN SANTOS
“Breezy sophistication ... a suave, well-controlled baritone...epitomized in his silky version of ‘Moonlight Serenade.’ This listener's favorite selection of the evening was Slavin's smoldering, understated version of 'Cry Me a River." DIANE WINDELER, ARTS WRITER, SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS
“Ken Slavin, a veteran of five Jazz’SAlive gigs, was excited, and admittedly a little nervous about his first appearance on the main stage...(but) he certainly didn’t show it. The Fairmount Hotel star ...scored with smooth vocals caressing such finger-popping numbers as ‘How High the Moon,’ ‘Summertime,’ ‘What A Difference A Day Makes’ and ‘Route 66.’” HECTOR SALDANA, MUSIC WRITER AND LEADER OF THE NATIONALLY ACCLAIMED POP/ROCK BAND 'THE KRAYOLAS' (NOTE: Jazz’SAlive is one of the nation’s largest annual jazz festivals.)
“The genteel Polo’s Lounge...(is) where jazz crooner Ken Slavin holds court on Friday and Saturday nights with his classic jazz trio. Slavin is known for his unique jazz and pop classics interpretationns and his easy rapport with audiences." BEST READ GUIDE
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KEN'S "VIRTUAL SCRAPBOOK"
