Kim Pensyl Interview Page 4

KP:  But not like it was.

Jazz Monthly:  Exactly.

KP:  It started the same in even bop and rock where they would give an artist a couple albums to develop their songwriting skills and get out there and get their name noticed.  Now it’s you gotta do it right now, and it’s a different world but it can be exciting.

Jazz Monthly:  Well, it sounds like a fun gig you have.

KP:  Yeah, well, I spend my whole day around music.

Jazz Monthly:  Yes, when did you discover the passion to play music?  Because it always starts out you’re taking lessons.  Was the passion there instantly or did you discover at some point later on “Man, I love this stuff”?

KP:  Well, the initial passion was being so intrigued by that, as I even say in my long biography on my Web site, that it really happened listening to Herb Alpert play trumpet with the Tijuana Brass.

Jazz Monthly:  Oh yeah!

KP:  I said  “I wanna play the trumpet.  I wanna do that.”  So that was the initial thing and three lessons and then I played bass guitar and then I played piano, and I was writing big band charts in high school and somewhere right around the end of high school, end of college that I knew for sure there wasn’t gonna be anything else.

Jazz Monthly:  Yeah.

KP:  And I know it’s hard to believe it was “X” number of years ago.  (Both laugh.)

Jazz Monthly:  I like that.

KP:  Yeah, but it’s true that passion is still there.  I absolutely love music.

Jazz Monthly:  Well, it is so evident and I think anyone that listens to your new album, When Katie Smiles, they will know that the passion is still there because it is so evident and you can feel it in the music.  In fact, you see colors when you’re playing different chords and different melodies.  When I first listened to When Katie Smiles, I kept saying to myself “I know he’s smiling while he’s playing this.”

KP:  You’re absolutely right.

Jazz Monthly:  It sounds so much—I could feel you having a great time with this album.  You could feel that, yeah.  So yes, the passion is still there and we’re all overjoyed that you still have that great passion to make great music because that is exactly what you have done with this latest album, my friend.

KP:  Well, thank you so much, Smitty.  I hope I can get down your way to see you.

Jazz Monthly:  Yeah, man.

KP:  It would be fun.

Jazz Monthly:  It would be fun.  Bring that Steinway with you!  (Both laugh.)

KP:  We’ll do that and we’ll bring the group down and play some of the tunes live for the people.

Jazz Monthly:  Yeah, I remember years ago you did Rockefeller’s.

KP:  Oh yes.

Jazz Monthly:  Yeah, that was “X” number of years ago.

KP:  Yeah, that was in the 90’s, as they say.

Jazz Monthly: Yeah, what a fun time, man.  That was so much fun.  Well, I am so excited about this new record, man.  I love the album cover.  Great shot of you on the back of the album, and you’ve got that astute, studious, serious, let’s get down kind of look, you know?  And just throughout the album there’s so much to appreciate and to love about this great album.  Thank you so much for doing it, congratulations on it, and I wish you all the best with it, and hopefully we will get to hang out a little bit at a gig soon.

KP: Yes!  Many musical thanks to you.

Jazz Monthly:  Oh, man, my pleasure.  All right, we’ve been talking with the incredible Kim Pensyl.  His great new album is called When Katie Smiles and let me tell you, it will make you smile to hear this fantastic record because it is 11 beautiful tracks and I highly recommend it.  Kim, thanks again, my friend, and all the very best.

KP:  Thank you.

Baldwin “Smitty” Smith

For More Information Visit www.kimpensyl.com and www.myspace.com/kimpensyl