Real Roots Cafe' - Holland

The Kenn Morr Band - Higher Ground
In a country town in the U.S. state of Connecticut, lives singer-songwriter Kenn Morr. He likes his rustic settings with rushing streams, an entourage that we see reflected on his fifth album, Higher Ground. In a serene, almost intimate atmosphere he and his band play ten velvety folk songs. You initially hear hushed vocals, brooding melodies and gentle instrumental treatment, similar to afserveren. But Listening pays off. You discover slowly the native beauty of the music, thanks to a multitude of mainly acoustic instruments. Drawing on the calm rhythm of drums and bass are the guitars, mandolin, bouzouki, accordion, dulcimer, cajon, piano, African thumb piano (?) Congas and beautiful vocal harmonies. This delivers a very mild character to the songs. Harmony is the key notion and the mood of The Kenn Morr Band transmitts almost a casual naturalness. That might not sound very exciting, but I have increasingly had the pleasure of listening to this 45 minute CD and have used it as a way to relax.
(Huub Thomassen)