making the move(s)

first off, i think that this here is my last post on this blog.

i'm moving over to tumblr. where i can post shit that i like and write with a little more ease, as opposed to putting off post updates until the point where i have to write mini essays to catch everyone up on what i've been up to.

so get at me on tumblr, or twitter in the future if you want to see what i'm up to.

thanks for reading,

ken

New World Official Music Video

check it out.

took some time, but we finally got it right.



"Official Music Video for "New World" off Ken Ross' debut EP, entitled Zzzz. (2010)

Directed by Eric Bodge and Collin Davis

Download this song and the full EP at http://kenrossmusic.net
View more works at http://theskypilotschicago.com

more from Magestik Legend: http://magestiklegend.com/
more from Jo'Leon Davenue: http://www.joleon.co.uk/"

S.O.U.L Magazine Feature

Check out my 3rd Degree Burn Interview with SOUL Magazine here Special thanks to Pay for reaching out and supporting gOOd music!

fish are jumping

So this summer has been real good and real bad to me. In the spring I accepted this full time gig in the real world because I needed the financial support to pay for some of these tuition bills. I can't believe I'm heading into my forth and hopefully final year this fall. (Although I wouldn't mind staying in college another year or two after getting a taste of corporate America) Time flies when you're having fun, am I right? Any-oo, I took some vacation off to work at the Litchfield Jazz Camp, and let me tell you, I love that place. The people are great and the players/faculty is KILLIN. Its a great hang and its so inspiring. Its hard to find a group of people that are all on the same page with music and life, and you can definitely find it in that environment. Next year I think I'm going to be on board again and I'm already looking forward to it. My playing grows every time I'm there, so I'll be heading back for as long as I can.

On a related note, this summer I have basically been enveloping myself in jazz music. This has really worked out, as this next album is going to require some new gear to accomplish the sound I want, and since I've sold my soul for a couple months I'll now have the funds to back it. So I'm going on a shopping spree in a couple weeks and then the recording will begin. I'm hoping for another late fall early winter release, but its hard to say at this point when anything will be ready.

Love from Across the Pond and Beyond

Its been crazy how as the summer has taken off I've been getting drops on blogs all over the world. As an album that came out nearly six months ago that's not too bad. (The cover is snow? How "summer" could it be?) Lately I've actually been getting more hits and downloads then ever. I guess it all just speaks to how I'm pretty shitty at the whole self-promotion thing. I've always believed that an artists music should speak for itself and that six-packs, photo-shoots and press-kits shouldn't be "speaking" for their art. (not saying I don't have abs tighter than Usher, just saying its not going to make my music any more enjoyable to listen to)

I just wanted to take a second and acknowledge a lot of these blogs, djs and general fans of good music that have been dropping and spreading my art. Its been crazy some of the lists I have been put on... For instance, right now I'm #1 on the soul playlist of 22tracks. (right next to Dwele, Corrine Bailey Rae and Robert Glasper to name a few.) If you're not already a reader of 22tracks, become one. They are an incredible source for music ranging from indie to electronic and they have a killin blog. Not only that, they're kinda a big deal. And I'm part of that big deal, no big deal yet though (whatup defjam? psh.)



As if that wasn't enough, my music has been breaking language barriers this summer. Recently I was contacted by JoNaY, a DJ for SoulCall, a spanish radio station based in Tenerife. Apparently they have been playing my EP and it has been getting a lot of love from the djs and listeners alike. They even wrote up a little review on me in their blog. Unfortunately I haven't taken enough years of spanish to understand all of the review but google language tools are handy these days:

"Not lying when I say that this is a really brilliant project, since you hear the first song you realize the sound quality of the enigmatic Ken Ross, and we do not know much about his life and career, but as this blog is not a heart (?) gives us the same, and therefore we only focus on their talents and enjoy a perfectly mixed EP with soulful hip-hop, a combination that SoulCall worships."

Those are some kind words, I think the general consensus from blogs and reviewers these days is that my music is real great but no one knows who I am haha, Suggestions? Please let me know how to better convey myself as an artist. I'm dead serious, e-mail me. JoNaY has asked me to do a radio drop on SoulCall as well, so if you're over there in Spain tune in to hear my sultry vocals!


As always, I want you guys to know that I'm humbled and blessed by all of you who have shared my music with others. It always gets back to me and you have now idea how encouraging it is. I'm sure you all already know, but its not easy to be an artist full-time these days, so we really have to do our best to support those who's work we appreciate.

And with that I strive to write another post this weekend to update you all on where I'm at with my life and with my music.

BamaLoveSoul

Somehow I found my way onto this blog that I read pretty frequently. If you're into good music and you like hearing about new artists I suggest you check here often. Its funny cause I actually submitted my shit to this blog and some others that I like, but unfortunately never heard back from. It looks like this is an issue of miscommunication as their post about the EP describes how they're pretty curious about who I am. They will be hearing from me soon.

check it here.

On a side note, props to Green Street for their new website launch and all the love they have been getting on blogs lately. Renaissance and I are cooking up some more heat lately so you will be hearing more about that soon.

Recession

The other night friend and talented vocalist Marley Dzis brought me and some other Northwestern University Jazz cats to a studio to record some joints for her demo. She was kind enough to give the band some extra time to record one of my original compositions entitled "Recession".

Download the joint here: http://www.mediafire.com/?2wgyyjmhez4

Michael Anderson: Tenor Saxophone
Katharine Hedlund: Piano
Cory Grindberg: Bass
Michael Westerband: Drums
Ken Ross: Guitar

hope you all diggg it, Michael Anderson goes INNN on his solo, enjoy.

In other news:
-This Thursday the Northwestern Jazz Orchestra is premiering my first arrangement for full orchestra. Check for more details here.
-A video to accompany the tune "New World" off Zzzz is under production, I'll post it here as soon as its finished!