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Kevin
Kastning For Your Consideration |
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Levitation II Alternative Jazz Album |
Strand in Strands |
Ethereal
VI |
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Levitation II is the concluding installment in the two-album Levitation series. It features Kevin Kastning on 36-string Double Contraguitar, and Laszlo Gardony on piano. Levitation II was recorded in Maine on a summer day in August 2021. The six closely-related compositions of Levitation II inhabit a world equally informed by jazz and modern classical chamber compositions. Kevin and Laszlo possess a rare and special artistic bond, creating musical structures that are at once dense, fiery, intricate, and delicate. This is the first time that the 36-string Double Contraguitar has been paired in duet with piano, and the results are both startling and beautiful. |
Strand in Strands is the sixth album from Kevin Kastning and Carl Clements. On Strand in Strands, Kevin and Carl discover new contrapuntal and melodic worlds. Mediaversal Music said of Strand in Strands, "...pushing the boundaries of what's possible on their instruments. This release is a must for your collection." Guitar Player Magazine called Kastning & Clements’ 2012 release Dreaming As I Knew “sublimely beautiful.” Holland’s DPRP Magazine said of Dreaming As I Knew: “Together, Kevin and Carl create gentle excursions of interwoven beauty that as indicated before, while having a deeply dream-like quality in keeping with the album’s title.” Watercolor Sky, Kevin & Carl's 2014 release, was named 2014 Album of the Year by acousticmusic.com. |
Ethereal VI is the sixth installment in the ongoing Ethereal album series. This album series is special because it features Kevin Kastning (US) on acoustic guitar-family instruments of his own design, and Sandor Szabo (HUNGARY) on electric baritone guitar. This instrumental combination provides a highly unique and one-of-a-kind sound palette for the five new compositions that comprise Ethereal VI. On this installment in the Ethereal album series, Kevin Kastning is featured on 28-string Double Contraguitar, 15-string Baritone guitar, and 12-string Baritone guitar; Sandor Szabo performs on electric baritone guitar. |
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Levitation I - Press
Quotes “With Levitation I, Kevin has finally reached the mountain top...” - Echoes and Dust (US) August 2022
“This is an album which is an absolute delight. Kevin and Laszlo inspire each other to create something which can be as delicate as raindrops or as powerful as a storm.” - House of Prog Magazine/Radio (ENGLAND) July 2022
“(Levitation I) The combination of Kevin and Laszlo gives the listener something that is well beyond any convenient classification, something truly unique." - Exposé Magazine (US) July 2022
“Having played with a pianist for the first time, Kevin Kastning, in my opinion, recorded the best of his duet projects." - Jazz Quad Magazine (RUSSIA) July 2022
“Levitation I has become my morning music. It starts my day off open to the unexpected magic and humanity in every breath. I love this album. I think the combination is amazing.” - Billy's Music Without Borders webzine (MEXICO) June 2022
“With a strong classical/improv feel, these two masters of their crafts are on the money throughout---as usual. Deep listening that will pay dividends and rewards." - Midwest Record Magazine (US) June 2022
“Kevin and Laszlo have a deep and immediate artistic connection, of which can be heard in each of these advanced and intricate compositions.” - Exclusive Magazine (US) June 2022
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Strand in Strands - Press Quotes
"Kevin has long been recognised as a wonderful guitarist, and his
continued use of instruments with far more strings than can be
healthy (in fact, this recording features some of his smaller
guitars) allows him to move music in directions well outside of the
norm, while imbuing plenty of classical feeling into music which is
avant garde and exciting. The saxophones are melodic and provide a
wall for the guitars to be placed against, one having a certain
strength and presence while the other is far more fragile and
fleeting. The result is something which is beautiful and dynamic,
continually moving and shifting, wonderfully invigorating while also
allowing the listener to relax in their world while playing this on
headphones so none of the nuances are missed." -
Progressor Magazine (UZBEKISTAN) "Together, Kevin and Carl create gentle excursions
of interwoven beauty, crafting an intricate dreamlike soundscape
that's both enchanting and immersive. ...while pushing the
boundaries of what's possible on their respective instruments. For
listeners of neo-classical...this late 2022 release is a must for
your collection."
"This is their sixth album together, and that rapport is obvious from the start. As they improvise, they riff off each other's ideas and often find a satisfying resolution at the end. This is still highly unusual music, but there are many points of entry for a more casual listener. Few experimental and improvisational artists have such a solid feel as this duo. This set hews much closer to something recognizable as jazz than previous efforts, but in no way does it set any boundaries. These pieces may be a bit off-kilter, but there's no way to deny their beauty. Quite an intoxicating set." - Aiding & Abetting (US) |
Ethereal V - Press Quotes
Otherworld, Kevin's 2015 solo album, was the No.1 album in the world on the iTunes Classical charts in September 2015. "As a revered guitarist and celebrated acoustic guitar wizard Kastning continues expanding as a guitar phenomenon." - Midwest Record (US)
Ethereal V is a relaxing ambient release that intrigues the senses with its non-pattern based passages. It is a perfect album for juicing one’s creativity as it goes to unusual places in a very pleasurable fashion. The combination of his special acoustic guitar and elongated rolling tones opens this music into a free form world that takes one to alternate universes." - Mediaversal Music(US) January 2022
“Ethereal V: as a journey to the center of the brain, adventurous syncopated textures of experimentation and improvisation in the memory of Ralph Towner.” - El Escribe de Jazz (SPAIN) April 2022
“This is the fifth chapter of Kevin’s Ethereal series and it furthers their expression of galactic improvisation. At times it is like a mystery movie soundtrack, an introspective piece that is suitable for meditation.” - O's Place Jazz Magazine (US) April 2022
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About the Artist
He is based in Maine.
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