Kendra performs as part of the “Jazz in Rockport” Concert Series, introducing her new CD release Mosaic.

A jazz vocalist that has been described by The Village Voice as “entrancing”, and hailed by The New York Times as an artist with “Effervescence, depth” and “integrity”, Kendra Shank reveals her most personal recording to date, Mosaic (April 14 on Challenge Records).

For a wonderful weekend experience, Swing into Spring with Jazz, Arts, and Flowers. For more information on the Rockport Art Association’s Art and Floral Spectacular and Rockport’s Motif #1 Day salute to Rockport’s heritage of the Arts gala activities, please visit www.rockportartassn.org or www.rockportusa.com.

Mosaic features a compelling book of songs from a diverse group of composers, from Carole King to Irving Berlin, with originals by Kimbrough and Shank; all of the music unified by the highly unique approach this quartet takes in allowing the music to unfold with joy, curiosity and spontaneity, eschewing rigid arrangements. The Kendra Shank Quartet is a working band that achieves a level of interaction, interplay and expressiveness unparalleled in the world of jazz vocalists.

Artist: Kendra Shank (Jazz Vocalist) Quartet

Quartet Members: Mark Soskin – piano, Dean Johnson – bass, and Tony Moreno – drums

Concert Date: May 16, 2009

Place: Rockport Art Association – 12 Main Street, Rockport, MA 01966 Tel: (978) 546 – 6604

Time: 8:00 p.m.

Ticket price: $25.00 Concert

Ticket Special: Persons attending the Rockport Art Association Flower Show and concert: ticket price is $20.00 A $10 savings.

The Rockport Arts and Flowers Show is being held Friday, May 15, 2009. All proceeds from the Art Show support the RAA Children’s Workshop Programs.

Tickets on sale at: Rockport Art Association, (978 546-6604) Toad Hall Book Store, (978 546-7323) Rockport, The Book Store, Gloucester, (978 281-1548).

Information:

Swing into Spring with Art, Flowers, and Jazz is a collaboration between the Rockport Art Association and Jazz in Rockport.

Jazz in Rockport specializes in offering exceptional jazz performances you will not find anywhere else on the North Shore. For connoisseurs of quality music and good times.

Jazz in Rockport Concerts are a Brickhouse Productions.

“This vocalist makes lyrics believable, invents like an instrumentalist, and has an ear second to none for little-known and unknown tunes. …Shank is that rarity among jazz vocalists, a risk taker who stays in tune. Her voice is dark and haunting, and she prefers subtle variations to overly demonstrative embellishments. She also functions like a true equal with her excellent rhythm section…” – Bob Blumenthal, THE BOSTON GLOBE

“Kendra Shank’s delectable voice–warm-toned, fine-grained, quietly sexy–sets her well apart from the crowd, as does her knack for picking unhackneyed, slightly off-center material. The up-tempo tunes swing hard; the ballads shimmer and shine. Get in on the ground floor: this lady is going up.” – Terry Teachout, TIME