(Vocal Jazz,Swing) Kiki Ebsen - Scarecrow Sessions - 2014, MP3, 320

Kiki Ebsen, is an accomplished singer and songwriter, known for backing up such artists as Christopher Cross, Wilson Phillips, Boz Scaggs, Tracy Chapman and many more. She has released five solo records. Her latest, Scarecrow Sessions, is a collection of jazz standards inspired by songs from her dad's life and career to be released as a gift to him on Father's Day 2014. The album features an all-star band with John Patitucci on bass, Chuck Loeb on guitar, Clint de Ganon on drums and Henry Hey on piano. David Mann is producing and adds the saxophone as well. Check this link below for the touching story on how this project came to be.
Kiki started playing piano as a child, following in the footsteps of her mother, aunt and grandmother. Picking up melodies effortlessly by ear, she began composing her own songs at an early age. She pursued her love of music balanced by her love of animals and nature while growing up in the coastal town of Balboa Island and on a ranch in the Santa Monica Mountains. She honed her chops in countless garage bands and eventually earned a degree in classical voice from California Institute of the Arts. Just out of college, Kiki won Collegiate Entertainer of the Year and embarked on a touring career with the legendary band, Chicago, as a keyboardist and MIDI tech.
Two tours and one record later she left them to join Al Jarreau's touring band. They performed on Johnny Carson's The Tonight Show and the Arsenio Hall show before embarking on a world tour. The band featured future stars like N'Dea Davenport (Brand New Heavies), Rickie Minor (American Idol, Jay Leno’s Tonight Show) and Felicia Collins (The Late Show with David Letterman).
Kiki's first CD "Red" was produced by hit smooth jazz producer Paul Brown and features inspired performances from Boney James, Buzz Feiten and Paul Jackson, Jr. It was dubbed "the kind of debut most artists can only dream of creating" by the Mac Report. She went on to play live with a succession of artists including Belinda Carlisle, Bill Champlin, Peter Cetera, Tracy Chapman, Michael McDonald, Stephen Bishop, James Ingram, Jeffrey Osborne, Boz Scaggs, Christopher Cross, Dave Koz, Colin Hay and Wilson/Phillips.
Kiki's songs have been covered by Boney James, Eric Marienthal and Jessy J. Her TV credits include performances with Take Six, Blake Shelton, Glen Campbell, Michelle Branch, Dolly Parton, Lee Ann Womack, Gloria Estefan, Kenny Loggins,Melissa Etheridge, Patty Griffin and many more. Notable performances include The Maui Music Festival, Java Jazz Festival, Waikaloa Music and Wine Festival, FAR-West Official Showcase, Tin Pan South, Pacific Rim Jazz Festival, KSBR 25th and the 26th Birthday Bash, The KIFM Anniversary Party and the Temecula Music and Wine Festival.
Her sophmore effort, "Love Loud" made it into the Muse's Muse Top 10 of 2002. She later reunited with Paul Brown to create "Kiki" which was added to Steve Quirk's Fusion Flavors Best of 2005 list. Says Steve, "Kiki is a sleeping giant in contemporary music, who deserves to be heard." She released her first cover CD in 2009 called Cool Songs Vol. 1. featuring classic pop tunes like Time After Time, It's Too Late and Diary. Kiki's music appears on several compilations worldwide. She has opened for Christopher Cross, Peter Cetera, Emmylou Harris and Al Stewart.
Kiki performs all over the US and will make her debut in Scotland later this summer.

#777Kiki Ebsen is proud to announce the release of her latest album. 
Scarecrow Sessions is a collection of jazz standards taken from her father’s early movies and musical productions. Song selections include “If I Only Had a Brain,” “Moon River,” “Laura” and “Easy to Love.” The booklet includes some of Kiki’s personal notes about his career, such as the true story behind his involvement in The Wizard of Oz. (Buddy was originally cast as the Scarecrow, hence the name of the record.).
She recorded on the East Coast (where her dad’s career started) with an all-star band including bassist John Patitucci and guitarist Chuck Loeb. The album was produced and arranged by David Mann, a veteran saxophonist of the New York City jazz scene.
Kiki is best known as a singer/songwriter, with five previously released albums. Scarecrow Sessions is her first jazz recording and here she explains her inspiration:
“Shirley Temple’s recent passing reminded me that our time is limited. We are losing iconic talents many of us grew up with. By recording these songs I hope not only to honor my father’s memory and his love of jazz, but to create a musical statement that is truly my own, connecting his past to my present in a way that will no doubt leave me forever changed.”

Vocals: Kiki Ebsen
Acoustic and electric bass: John Patitucci
Piano and organ: Henry Hey
Drums: Clint de Ganon
Electric and acoustic guitars: Chuck Loeb
Saxophone and flute: David Mann
Cello: Sachi Patitucci
Violin: Antoine Silverman
Additional musicians:
Trumpet: Trevor Neumann
Acoustic guitar: Bernd Schoenhart
Piano: Kiki Ebsen
Clarinet: Alex Budman