Kevin Mahogany (July 30, 1958-Dec. 18, 2017) was one of the top jazz singers ever since he became prominent in the 1990s. Born in Kansas City, Missouri, Mahogany played baritone saxophone while growing up, performing with bands while in high school He switched his focus to singing while attending Baker University, graduating in 1981 and mostly working in Kansas City during the 1980s. Mahogany’s debut CD, 1993’s Double Rainbow, really launched his career and he became recognized as one of the few significant male jazz singers during the 25 years before his unexpected death in 2017 from a stroke when he was just 59.
Kevin is fantasic here. I saw him last year at a jazz fest in KC and my mom saw him in New York last year too. He is one of the most talented male vocalists of our era. A real treasure!
@ArthurKaletzky Please let me clarify, my question was meant to be rhetorical with the purpose of expressing my jazz preferences, rather than as a true inquiry founded in igorance or curiosity. But I appreciate your civil and educated input, and I completely agree with your points on scatting and vocal jazz. It's only my personal preference that I enjoy purely instrumental jazz and not a judgement on the quality or value of vocal jazz. I just prefer a different style - Bill Evans Trio is my fave
@thecitruscommander Well, besides being great fun for the singer and, one hopes, for the audience, it enables the singer to be be a real jazz improviser- do trades with other instruments and improvised solos, etc. This performance has excellent examples of them. Scatting allows the singer to be a sideman, not just the girl or boy in front of the band. japa1990's comment seconded.
well it was scat singing. and he was singing in the style of charlie parker's saxophone playing, and the name of the tune implies its tributing charlie parker anyway...so yeah i thought it was clever.
I can appreciate the vast talent that the scatting requires, but it's just not my cup of tea. Rather than having a vocalist imitating the sounds of a trumpet or sax, why not just get someone up there to blow some sweet tunes, ya know? That aside. Definitely lovin this rendition.
What a weird video. Ray Brown, be playing with some interesting dude. I guess the piano player is sweet, wit all the same bebop lines. That singer was all over the place. And the drummer could play all those lines, but his feel was straight.
Many times Kevin was rushing his phrasing--who knows the monitor system might have sucked! The drummer was swinging, but unfortunately his soloing lacked imagination and fire.
Kevin Mahogany (July 30, 1958-Dec. 18, 2017) was one of the top jazz singers ever since he became prominent in the 1990s.
Born in Kansas City, Missouri, Mahogany played baritone saxophone while growing up, performing with bands while in high school
He switched his focus to singing while attending Baker University, graduating in 1981 and mostly working in Kansas City during the 1980s.
Mahogany’s debut CD, 1993’s Double Rainbow, really launched his career and he became recognized as one of the few significant male jazz singers during the 25 years before his unexpected death in 2017 from a stroke when he was just 59.
thats probably the coolest thing ive ever seen
ray brown, one of the masters of the quarter note
Kevin is fantasic here. I saw him last year at a jazz fest in KC and my mom saw him in New York last year too. He is one of the most talented male vocalists of our era. A real treasure!
THAT SINGING IS AWESOME!!!!
Kevin awesome as well.
You have to love the drummer as well.
Awesome vid!!
George Fludas can do it all! With anyone in any genre of music...from Bonham to Buddy and everything in between!
kevin mahogany just ran our jazz band's afterschool rehearsal yesterday! He came and coached us and filled in for our band director XD He was amazing
Hey ! big voice and fantastic improvisation !
I really love this singer !
Cela fait du bien d'écouter cette musique...!!!! Avec l'humour qui se doit ....
Merci !!!!!
This is awesome. kevin mahogany obviously knows how the drums should sound.
Awesome!
That was so unique. Incredible Performance.
A class! Sleep well master Jazz singer.
kevin mahogany es fantastico!!!soy su fan numero uno en españa
Looked up "cool" in the dictionary and the link to this video was there. Cool man.
Kevin Mahogany is awesome!
This is very good music. I enjoyed it. Thanks for the share. :o)
Probably one of the best scats I ever heard. Listen to this if you like the bebop.
Fantastic!!!!
3:50 That "Doom" was priceless.
Awesome!!!!
Superb!
realy great timefeel !
LOVE
ski ba doo bop bop bow ski ba DEE bop
killing!
Very sad news about Kevin's passing. My sincere condolences to his family.
shish alter richtig nice!!!!
O___O genial!
Damn !!! that cat can scat !!!
Kansas City does Kansas City.
Cool lives.
Kevin Mahogany
@ArthurKaletzky Please let me clarify, my question was meant to be rhetorical with the purpose of expressing my jazz preferences, rather than as a true inquiry founded in igorance or curiosity. But I appreciate your civil and educated input, and I completely agree with your points on scatting and vocal jazz. It's only my personal preference that I enjoy purely instrumental jazz and not a judgement on the quality or value of vocal jazz. I just prefer a different style - Bill Evans Trio is my fave
@thecitruscommander Well, besides being great fun for the singer and, one hopes, for the audience, it enables the singer to be be a real jazz improviser- do trades with other instruments and improvised solos, etc. This performance has excellent examples of them. Scatting allows the singer to be a sideman, not just the girl or boy in front of the band. japa1990's comment seconded.
Schkeep Bop squidley boosh hose pipe ban!!!
Correction: Apologies
I was wrong about Kevin rushing--my apoligies!
well it was scat singing. and he was singing in the style of charlie parker's saxophone playing, and the name of the tune implies its tributing charlie parker anyway...so yeah i thought it was clever.
Too bad Fludas messed up the end of the trading part. The rest of it was great!
ray brown is shithot! I've been learning this tune and it's a little toughie.
@2:20 SHAQ ATTACK, SHAQ ATTACK, SHAQ ATTACK!!
I can appreciate the vast talent that the scatting requires, but it's just not my cup of tea. Rather than having a vocalist imitating the sounds of a trumpet or sax, why not just get someone up there to blow some sweet tunes, ya know? That aside. Definitely lovin this rendition.
What a weird video. Ray Brown, be playing with some interesting dude. I guess the piano player is sweet, wit all the same bebop lines. That singer was all over the place. And the drummer could play all those lines, but his feel was straight.
Too fast but interesting
Many times Kevin was rushing his phrasing--who knows the monitor system might have sucked! The drummer was swinging, but unfortunately his soloing lacked imagination and fire.
I hate to be a spoil sport but Kevin was off key too often for my liking.
boring drummer.. especially on the trading/chase.. And the vocals is all over the place both in time and pitch.. too bad...