Keenan McKenzie & The Riffers to launch recording project this spring on historic jazz, swing music

Six Count

English - April 21, 2023 09:00 - 24 minutes - 22.7 MB - ★★★★★ - 12 ratings
Music Arts speakeasy dance jazz history roaring twenties 1920s jazz lindy hop speakeasies swing dance jazz music Homepage Download Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Overcast Castro Pocket Casts RSS feed

Previous Episode: Live recording! Laura Windley, vocalist and bandleader of Mint Julep Jazz Band, on the release of the album Watch the Birdie

Next Episode: Jazz vocalist Angela Bingham on storytelling through music, performing little-known lyrics, and creating intimacy with audiences

Keenan McKenzie is a musician (saxophone and clarinet), composer, and educator based in Durham.

On this episode, Keenan shares about an upcoming recording project for his band, The Riffers, to produce the historic jazz group’s first full-length album. The Riffers will record at Magnetic Sound Studios, a new studio in the Lakewood neighborhood of Durham that specializes in acoustic music and vintage equipment.

In addition to his own band, Keenan regularly travels throughout the United States for swing dance events with The Mint Julep Jazz Band featuring vocalist Laura Windley (a past Six Count guest), Michael Gamble & The Rhythm Serenaders, and The Jonathan Stout Orchestra. The musician has also performed in Italy, South Korea, Slovenia, and France.

Around the Triangle, he also performs with the North Carolina Jazz Repertory Orchestra and with The Shakedown, a dance band for weddings and parties.

Keenan is the adjunct saxophone teacher at North Carolina State University. He received a bachelor of music in jazz studies from UNC Greensboro, followed by a master of music from North Carolina Central University.

Finally, as a transcriber for Heritage Sounds, he’s worked to revive the repertoire of Chick Webb, Jimmie Lunceford, and Lionel Hampton.

You can follow Keenan on Instagram and Facebook @keenanmckenziemusic, and you can find his music on Spotify, Bandcamp, and YouTube.

Run for the Roses event this May with Keenan, Xara at Raleigh’s premiere speakeasy

Join Keenan and Xara this spring at Watts & Ward’s Kentucky Derby party on Saturday, May 6! The show (from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m.) by Keenan McKenzie & The Riffers will feature Laura on vocals and dance performances by Xara.

In addition to a viewing party of the 149th horse race, the Raleigh-based event will include craft cocktails, social dancing, and costume competitions. Derby attire required.

Photo credit

Funderburg Films

Music credits

This episode features the songs “One O’Clock Jump” and “Yacht Club Swing,” from the album Forged in Rhythm (2017) by Keenan McKenzie.

This season features the songs “Forged in Rhythm” and “Callous & Kind” by Keenan McKenzie & The Riffers (2017), used by Six Count with permission from the artist.

How to listen

You can find Six Count on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any other listening app! The series also airs on taintradio.org, an online jazz radio station based in North Carolina, on Sundays at 6:00 p.m. and Fridays at 8:00 p.m. EST.

Support the show

If you’d like to support Six Count, you can make a gift on DonorBox or Venmo @thexarawilde. Follow Six Count on Instagram at @sixcountpodcast and Xara Wilde on Facebook and Instagram @thexarawilde.