Moon Over Babylon

Thanks for checking out 'Moon Over Babylon'!!! I recorded this CD several years ago, but didn't put it out until now, for personal reasons. It's filled with great music played by some of my very favorite musicians in NY and features six of my compositions as well as four 'standards' (three arranged by myself and one arranged Earl McIntyre). The last two tracks feature the GREAT Jimmy McGriff on the organ, who I toured with for about 10 years, off and on. Also featured on 'Moon Over Babylon' are Donny McCaslin (tenor), Clark Gayton (bone), Brad Leali (alto), Gene Jackson (drums), Ugonna Okegwo/Boris Kozlov/Andy Hess (bass), Ben Stivers/George Laks (keys), Bill Sims (vocal), Pat Cisarano (vocal), Papo Pepin/Joe Gonzales (percussion), Douglas Yates (bass clarinet), Bill Sims/Matt Chertkoff (guitar) as well as a choir comprised of Renee Manning, Pat Cisarano, Tricia Scotti, Carol Sims, Bill Sims, Tommy McDonnell and Irving Lous Lattin. This CD is an honest, sincere expression of who I was and where I was at, when it was recorded. Although I've gone through many life changes and grown musically, spiritually and personally since then, I still feel that 'Moon Over Babylon' is a terrific recording that deserves to be heard. I sincerely hope you agree!!!! Trumpeter Kenny Rampton is a regular member of The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra (under the direction of Wynton Marsalis), The Mingus Big Band (playing both lead and solo trumpet) and can be heard freelancing with many of the greatest musicians of our time at jazz clubs and festivals worldwide. As leader of the Kenny Rampton Sextet, he has performed internationally as well as in many of New York City's finest jazz clubs. In August of 2010, Kenny performed the classic Miles Davis/Gil Evans rendition of Porgy and Bess as the guest soloist with The Scottish National Jazz Orchestra (under the direction of Gunther Schuller). Kenny's first road gig was a world tour with The Ray Charles Orchestra in 1990. After leaving Ray Charles' band, Kenny went on the road with legendary jazz drummer Panama Francis and The Savoy Sultans and soon thereafter, with The Jimmy McGriff Quartet. As a sideman, Kenny has also performed with The Mingus Orchestra, Christian McBride's Big Band, The Mingus Dynasty, George Gruntz' Concert Jazz Band, and The Manhattan Jazz Orchestra (under the direction of Dave Matthews), Mingus Epitaph (under the direction of Gunther Schuller), Bebo Valdez' Latin Jazz All-Stars (playing both lead and solo trumpet), Maria Schneider, The Lincoln Center Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra, Charles Earland, Dr. John, Lionel Hampton, Slide Hampton, Jon Hendricks, Takeshi Inomata, Illinois Jacquet, Geoff Keezer, Eijiro Nakagawa, The Chico O'Farrill Afro-Cuban Jazz Orchestra, Dr. Lonnie Smith, The WDR Big Band, Joe Zawinul and a host of others. Rampton, who has made a name for himself as one of the most versatile trumpet players in New York City, has also done quite a bit of commercial work. Kenny has been the trumpet voice on the children's television show Sesame Street since 2010. Also, from it's opening in April 2011 until it's closing in July of 2012, Kenny could be heard playing lead/solo trumpet in the Broadway production of Anything Goes. Some of his other Broadway credits include Finian's Rainbow, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, The Wiz, All About Me and Anyone Can Whistle. In addition, some of the shows Kenny has been a regular sub on include Chicago: The Musical, Young Frankenstein, The Color Purple, 'The Nance', Hair, Spamalot, The Producers, In The Heights, A Chorus Line, Gypsy, Cry-Baby, The Drowsy Chaperone, Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me and Hot Feet. Kenny can also be heard on many R&B, Blues, Pop and Hip Hop recordings. Some of the pop groups Rampton has toured, performed and/or recorded with are The Levon Helm Band, Matchbox Twenty, Katy Perry, Dispatch, Shawn Colvin and Chaka Khan. Kenny has played on countless jingles that include TV and radio adds for Ameritrade, Applebee's, Arby's, AT&T, Bell Atlantic, BestBuy.

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