Ken Dunn
Singer/Songwriter
Precious Life
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Ken's latest recording, Precious Life, is available on both CD and
cassette and features 10 new original songs, plus a unique arrangement
of the jazz/blues standard St. James Infirmary. With entirely acoustic
arrangements, the album takes the listener on a journey which begins in
one bar and ends in another, exploring themes of love, loss,
environmental crisis, and redemption along the way.
Produced and engineered with great love and skill by Karen Kane,
Precious Life features the considerable musical talents of Randal Hill
on mandolin, Dennis Pendrith on bass, Roly Platt on harmonica,
Steve Fuller on violin and viola, Carole Rowe also on viola, Denny
Kennedy on harmony vocals, Ben Grossman on percussion, Karen Kane
on bass and chimes, Steve Didemus on acoustic guitar, and Ken on
vocals, both acoustic and slide guitar, and dulcimer.
Our musical journey begins "down in old Joe's bar room", with a somewhat upbeat, bluesy rendition of the tragic St.
James Infirmary, featuring Roly's dynamite harp work. The title song, Precious Life, reflects on the fragility and
ultimate impermanence of life, imploring us to "hug our child, before this day is done". Carole's viola arrangement is a
real highlight.
Next, we visit an old lover on Ready Bed of Lace. Although the physical may not survive the mists of time, "when all
else is gone away, it's only love that's here to stay". Ken tries his hand at slide on this one. Inside or Hole in the Ozone
Blues is straight ahead environmental protest and despair. Randal and Roly really had a blast on this tune.
Small Planet (Song for Sarajevo), as the title suggests, was inspired by the conflict in the former Yugoslavia. We
must put an end to war now, "...or in this town we're going to die". Every day across the globe, thousands fight a
different kind of war, against hunger, illness, and disease. Cross of Lorraine is a tribute to the courageous warriors in
this battle, and in particular is dedicated to the patients and staff at a Hamilton hospital where Ken was privileged "to hear
the wings of an angel nobody knows".
Bouquet is a simple song of love, a musical anniversary present celebrating longevity in relationships, whereas Heart of
Mine was inspired by the many homeless people with their "hearts for sale" Ken encountered in San Francisco. Steve
Fuller is featured prominently on both.
Don't Believe is about the destructive power of greed. "Money doesn't talk, it screams and it can shout, but it cannot
tell you, what your life's about..." This one was recorded live at the Festival of Friends with additional recording at
Comfort Sound Studio.
Lover True, another simple hurtin' song is followed by Pour Me Home, where we find that our musical journey has
come to a somewhat inauspicious end, in another "broken bar, just around the corner". The challenge is to find our way
home from here...
PRECIOUS LIFE
Snowrose Records CD004
Distributed by RDR Music Group,
299 Lesmill Rd. Suite 8
Toronto, Ontario
M3B 2V1, Canada
Words and music 1996 Ken Dunn (SOCAN/BMI), except St. James Infirmary, traditional arranged by Ken Dunn and Karen
Kane. Live vocal and acoustic guitar tracks recorded at Snowrose Studio, Burlington, ON by Ken Dunn, except Don't Believe
recorded live at the Festival of Friends, Hamilton, ON by Ken Wilson, and Lover True recorded at Comfort Sound, Toronto
by Karen Kane. Additional recording and mix at Comfort Sound, Toronto. Produced and engineered by Karen Kane, assisted
by Crispin Giles and Toby Struwe. Mastered by Joao Carvalho at Umbrella Sound, Toronto. Graphic design by Peter Stevens,
Wordsmith, Hamilton, ON. Additional art work on cover by Vesna Trkulja. Photography by Ken and Kieran Dunn.
![[Contributing Musicians]](musician.jpg)
Ken Dunn
vocals, acoustic guitar and slide guitar, dulcimer
Randal Hill
mandolin
Roly Platt
harmonicas
Denny Kennedy
backing and harmony vocals
C.T. Rowe
viola
Stephen Fuller
violin, viola on Heart of Mine
Dennis Pendrith
bass
Ben Grossman
percussion
Karen Kane
bass on Lover True, chimes
Steve Didemus
acoustic guitar on Don't Believe
PRECIOUS LIFE
- St. James Infirmary
- Precious Life
- Ready Bed of Lace
- Inside (Hole in the Ozone Blues)
- Small Planet (Song for Sarajevo)
- Cross of Loraine
- Bouquet
- Heart of Mine
- Don't Believe
- Lover True
- Pour Me Home
- (3:56)
- (4:54)
- (3:29)
- (3:29)
- (2:50)
- (5:37)
- (4:30)
- (3:44)
- (3:49)
- (3:08)
- (5:20)
Total Program Time: (44:46)
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Precious Life
|
ORDER CD | REVIEWS |
Free RealAudio Clips |
BIOGRAPHY
PERFORMANCES
RECORDINGS
REVIEWS
LINKS
EMAIL KEN
Produced and engineered with great love and skill by Karen Kane, Precious Life features the considerable musical talents of Randal Hill on mandolin, Dennis Pendrith on bass, Roly Platt on harmonica, Steve Fuller on violin and viola, Carole Rowe also on viola, Denny Kennedy on harmony vocals, Ben Grossman on percussion, Karen Kane on bass and chimes, Steve Didemus on acoustic guitar, and Ken on vocals, both acoustic and slide guitar, and dulcimer.
Our musical journey begins "down in old Joe's bar room", with a somewhat upbeat, bluesy rendition of the tragic St. James Infirmary, featuring Roly's dynamite harp work. The title song, Precious Life, reflects on the fragility and ultimate impermanence of life, imploring us to "hug our child, before this day is done". Carole's viola arrangement is a real highlight.
Next, we visit an old lover on Ready Bed of Lace. Although the physical may not survive the mists of time, "when all else is gone away, it's only love that's here to stay". Ken tries his hand at slide on this one. Inside or Hole in the Ozone Blues is straight ahead environmental protest and despair. Randal and Roly really had a blast on this tune.
Small Planet (Song for Sarajevo), as the title suggests, was inspired by the conflict in the former Yugoslavia. We must put an end to war now, "...or in this town we're going to die". Every day across the globe, thousands fight a different kind of war, against hunger, illness, and disease. Cross of Lorraine is a tribute to the courageous warriors in this battle, and in particular is dedicated to the patients and staff at a Hamilton hospital where Ken was privileged "to hear the wings of an angel nobody knows".
Bouquet is a simple song of love, a musical anniversary present celebrating longevity in relationships, whereas Heart of Mine was inspired by the many homeless people with their "hearts for sale" Ken encountered in San Francisco. Steve Fuller is featured prominently on both.
Don't Believe is about the destructive power of greed. "Money doesn't talk, it screams and it can shout, but it cannot tell you, what your life's about..." This one was recorded live at the Festival of Friends with additional recording at Comfort Sound Studio.
Lover True, another simple hurtin' song is followed by Pour Me Home, where we find that our musical journey has come to a somewhat inauspicious end, in another "broken bar, just around the corner". The challenge is to find our way home from here...
PRECIOUS LIFE
Snowrose Records CD004Distributed by RDR Music Group,
299 Lesmill Rd. Suite 8
Toronto, Ontario
M3B 2V1, Canada
Words and music 1996 Ken Dunn (SOCAN/BMI), except St. James Infirmary, traditional arranged by Ken Dunn and Karen Kane. Live vocal and acoustic guitar tracks recorded at Snowrose Studio, Burlington, ON by Ken Dunn, except Don't Believe recorded live at the Festival of Friends, Hamilton, ON by Ken Wilson, and Lover True recorded at Comfort Sound, Toronto by Karen Kane. Additional recording and mix at Comfort Sound, Toronto. Produced and engineered by Karen Kane, assisted by Crispin Giles and Toby Struwe. Mastered by Joao Carvalho at Umbrella Sound, Toronto. Graphic design by Peter Stevens, Wordsmith, Hamilton, ON. Additional art work on cover by Vesna Trkulja. Photography by Ken and Kieran Dunn.
| Ken Dunn | vocals, acoustic guitar and slide guitar, dulcimer |
| Randal Hill | mandolin |
| Roly Platt | harmonicas |
| Denny Kennedy | backing and harmony vocals |
| C.T. Rowe | viola |
| Stephen Fuller | violin, viola on Heart of Mine |
| Dennis Pendrith | bass |
| Ben Grossman | percussion |
| Karen Kane | bass on Lover True, chimes |
| Steve Didemus | acoustic guitar on Don't Believe |
PRECIOUS LIFE
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HOME | BIOGRAPHY | PERFORMANCES | RECORDINGS | REVIEWS | LINKS | EMAIL KEN