Kim Pensyl is a pop-jazz and New Age music

New Age music

New Age music is music of various styles intended to create artistic inspiration, relaxation, and optimism. It is used by listeners for yoga, massage, meditation, and reading as a method of stress management or to create a peaceful atmosphere in their home or other environments, and is often...

 keyboardist. He attended Ohio State University, and the University of California, Northridge for graduate school and had several CDs produced by Shanachie Records

Shanachie Records

Shanachie Records was founded in 1976 by Richard Nevins and Dan Collins. According to Harvey Pekar , it is one of the largest independent record labels in the world, and is currently distributed by E1 Music. Starting as a label that specialized in fiddle music, they began releasing work by Celtic...

. He has worked in bands with Al Hirt

Al Hirt

Al Hirt was an American trumpeter and bandleader. He is best remembered for his million selling recordings of "Java", and the accompanying album, Honey in the Horn . His nicknames included 'Jumbo' and 'The Round Mound of Sound'...

, Don Ellis

Don Ellis

Don Ellis was an American jazz trumpeter, drummer, composer and bandleader. He is best known for his extensive musical experimentation, particularly in the area of unusual time signatures...

, Hubert Laws

Hubert Laws

Hubert Laws is an American flutist and saxophonist with a 40+ year career in jazz, classical, and other music genres. Alongside Herbie Mann, Laws is probably the most recognized and respected jazz flutist...

, Gerald Wilson

Gerald Wilson

Gerald Stanley Wilson is an American jazz trumpeter, big band bandleader, composer/arranger, 8 time Grammy nominee, and educator. He has been based in Los Angeles since the early 1940s....

, and Guy Lombardo

Guy Lombardo

Gaetano Alberto "Guy" Lombardo was a Canadian-American bandleader and violinist.Forming "The Royal Canadians" in 1924 with his brothers Carmen, Lebert, and Victor and other musicians from his hometown, Lombardo led the group to international success, billing themselves as creating "The Sweetest...

. He is currently part of the Jazz Studies Department faculty at the College-Conservatory of Music (part of the University of Cincinnati

University of Cincinnati

The University of Cincinnati is a comprehensive public research university in Cincinnati, Ohio, and a part of the University System of Ohio....

).

Kim Pensyl is a prolific jazz recording artist, composer and arranger who has twice been named one of Billboard’s Top-20 Contemporary Jazz Artists of the Year. A pianist and trumpeter, he has had four Top-10 albums on Billboard’s Contemporary Jazz chart. He has recorded with jazz legends such as Toots Thielemans, and modern greats like Joey Calderazzo, Bob Mintzer, Chiele Minucci, Andy Narell, Will Kennedy, Steve Rodby, and Alex Acuna. He has performed at such esteemed jazz venues as The Blue Note, Blues Alley, Caravan of Dreams, Scullers, Beacon Theatre, and Great American Music Hall. He has also appeared at the Clearwater Jazz Festival, Sunfest, Summerfest, Stone Mountain Jazz Festival, and Pacific Jazz Festival among others. Also, Kim has toured with the Woody Herman Orchestra and Acoustic Alchemy. He has more than 100 published works recorded and over 150 compositions and arrangements in his catalog. Kim is currently teaching jazz studies at the College-Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati. He is the featured artist in the WJZA Smooth Jazz Trio around Central Ohio and also performs at various clubs and concerts. In addition, he performs with the faculty and guest artists at CCM, such as Arturo Sandoval

Arturo Sandoval

Arturo Sandoval is a jazz trumpeter and pianist. He was born in Artemisa, in the newest renamed Artemisa Province, Cuba....

, Terri Lyne Carrington, and Mulgrew Miller among others, along with several big bands in the Cincinnati area.

Career highlights

• “Pensyl Sketches #1” (1989)
  • 1. 3 on Billboard, Contemporary Jazz Chart
    2. 2 on Radio & Records NAC Chart
    3. 6 on Gavin AA Chart
  • ASCAP Best New Jazz Writer
    1. 10 Billboard Contemporary Jazz Album of the Year
• “Pensyl Sketches #2” (1990)
  • 1. 5 on Billboard, Contemporary Jazz Chart
    2. 3 on Radio & Records NAC Chart
    3. 9 on Radio & Records Contemporary Jazz Chart
    4. 3 on Gavin AA Chart
    5. 16 Billboard Contemporary Jazz Album of the Year
• “Pensyl Sketches #3” (1991)
  • 1. 9 on Billboard, Contemporary Jazz Chart
  • Top 10 at Radio & Records and Gavin
  • N. A. R. M. Jazz Album of the Year
• “Three Day Weekend” (1992)
  • 1. 3 on Billboard, Contemporary Jazz Chart
  • Top 10 at Radio & Records and Gavin
• “Eyes of Wonder” (1993)
  • 1. 16 on Billboard, Contemporary Jazz Chart
• “Jazz Voices” (1996)
  • WOSU-TV’s award winning concert video

External links

• [ All Music]
• http://www.myspace.com/kimpensyl
• http://homepage.mac.com/kim.pensyl