Trespass Music is pleased to share the latest review in for Ken Dunn's new album "Wondrous Beauty" from Rootstime in Belgium!
"Ken Dunn is a mature Canadian folk singer-songwriter based in Gibsons, British Columbia, whose storytelling song lyrics have led to performances throughout Canada and the US. Together with his life companion Anna Green, he performs as a duo or under the name 'Gypsy Starfish.' Just two years ago we reviewed his last album "The Great Unknown."
Ken Dunn's first record "Winds of Emotion" began his troubadour career in 1994 and now, Ken debuts his seventh album titled "Wondrous Beauty" consisting of ten newly crafted songs. This is not a solo album because life and music partner Anna Green again delivers extensive vocal support and plays keyboards on many of the songs that Ken Dunn has pegged for this new album.
Another important instrumentalist on this album is fiddler Tyler Beckett who, among other things, in "Tales Of Wandering" and "Hold On" adds a very satisfying addition to those songs.
For a more traditional Celtic folksong-like "Hills Of Strathavon" and in the bluesy "Crawl On Back" Jacob McCauley puts an extra hand on bodhran (an Irish hand drum) and the short instrumental "The Goddess Theme" is played by Ben Grossman on a 'hurdy gurdy' (a kind of winch, played by turning a handle, which is typically attached to a rosined wheel).
Ken Dunn plays acoustic guitar and sings, while bass player Randy Martin and drummer Mark Mariash complete the stage alongside Anna Green and Tyler Beckett.
Our favorite song from this album is the opening track "Saskatoon," a sober yet beautiful love song about the magnificent, sometimes harsh nature and the changing seasons in Saskatoon, with its 250,000 inhabitants the largest city in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. Also, the album title track "Wondrous Beauty" (see video - https://youtu.be/z6mnqLViPRc ) is about love, and especially about the importance of always being open to a new and fledgling love.
In his maturity, Ken Dunn seems to me, to be a musician who no longer cares about unjust criticism from music critics or comments about his craft by music connoisseurs. He dedicates himself to bringing the stories and songs that have formed in his head and heart, songs that this troubadour really enjoys singing, and presenting to his audience in the hopes of offering them a fun and entertaining performance."
Freddy Celis - Rootstime Belgium
DJS Airplay Direct click HERE
MORE ABOUT KEN DUNN
"Highly evocative and intriguing" (fRoots, UK), the music of Ken Dunn offers "refreshing insight into human complexities" (Festival of Friends, Hamilton) with a style characterized as "the folk tradition, with integrity and sincerity" (Chart, Toronto). Whether mining the depths of human emotion, or pleading the case for social and environmental justice, Ken's songs are "filled with the human spirit" (CFMU Radio, Hamilton).
Combining an adept finger style acoustic guitar technique with "strong, distinctive vocals" (R2, Dublin), and "brilliant songwriting" (Hemifran, Sweden), Ken delivers his positive message directly to the soul of the listener "with a style compared to that of Neil Young" (Roots Time, Germany). Known for his engaging stage presence, sense of humour, and delightful story telling, Ken performs either solo, with partner Anna Green, or his "mighty Gypsy Starfish band" (FATEA Magazine, UK).
Ken often performs with his wife Anna Green, whose beautiful harmony vocals, acoustic guitar, and keyboard work provide added musical dimension and emotional depth to further engage audiences. In addition, his sound takes on a distinctive folk and country rock vibe when performing with Gypsy Starfish band members Tyler Beckett on fiddle, Randy Martin on bass, and Mark Mariash on drums.
A veteran Canadian folk singer-songwriter, now in his mid-60's, Ken has performed at hundreds of venues over the past 30 years, across Canada, the U.S., and Central America from concert halls to festivals and cafes, sharing the bill with folk and roots icons as diverse as Jerry Jeff Walker, Willie P. Bennett, Valdy, Mike Beck, Roy Schneider, Pi Jacobs, and Garnet Rogers.
Ken's passion for social and environmental justice is evident in the many benefit concerts he performs, supporting charities as diverse as the Harry Chapin Food Bank, Amnesty International, and PlayingForChange.
Ken previously released 6 albums featuring some of Canada's finest studio musicians, including Dennis Pendrith (Tom Paxton), Dean Drouillard (Jill Barber), Mark Mariash (Buffy Sainte Marie), Randall Hill, and Roly Platt. Ken's previous recordings have received critical acclaim, extensive airplay, and placement in film scores. His last album, "The Great Unknown" (2015), recorded with Gypsy Starfish won Best Americana Album for February 2016 at the Akademia Music Awards in Los Angeles, and was welcomed by numerous positive reviews, and airplay on folk and roots radio around the world. He lives and performs mainly in British Columbia, but also tours far and wide, when the road inevitably calls.
"Folk Americana music that's both unconventional and classic at the same time" Akademia Music Awards, Los Angeles
"When I first came across Ken Dunn’s music, I realized immediately it was something rather special. Great songs, thoughtfully delivered!"
Folk Roots Radio with Jan Hall, Canada
"Ken Dunn must have that song catcher soul to have such tradition in his musical mind… with forays into the stylings of folk-legends like Tom Rush and Tom Paxton… a stew of wonderful notes, stirred perfectly, sneaks into your feet, heart, and soul”
John Apice - NO DEPRESSION
For more information please visit Ken Dunn's WEBSITE HERE