Coming to speakers near you right now is Ron Kearns' Handprints.

The opening interplay between piano, bass and drums sets the mood for the trombone and alto to state the theme on the title track, Handprints. Ron then shows that he is a gracious host by stepping back to wait for the third solo.

Allison Miller lets us know she's way more than a timekeeper as she kicks off Kenny's tune Looking For A Job In The City. Her dynamic solo midway displays creative versatility.

Imagine the ocean breezes and the view of ships passing while you listen to Ron's arrangement of Sail Away. Ron and Kenny take us on a musical journey to jazzland.

No one will Fault you if you fall in love with Ron on Don't Blame Me. Bhagwan, Robert and Allison allow him just the right amount of underlying space to let his charisma flow through your system on this one.

Not only can you name that tune in two notes. You can feel the bebop swing thing going on from its very beginning as Ron and Paul weave a pattern that is Sandu.

On Luis Bonfa's Black Orpheus Ron's horn stirs the Afro-Larin rhythms within. Then Mike J's fingers tickle the ivories until Paul Olenick digs in adding even more earthiness with his 'bone.

Ron steps closely behind Kenny's opening trumpet lines on the other ballad Skylark. They continue to intertwine their hems though the bird cannot answer the ultimate question.

George Cable's Song for Helen (or Helen 's Song as you may some times see it listed) is one of my long time favorite melodies. Listen how Ron and Kenny Reed complement one another.

Mike Jones' intro makes ya' wanna say 'Amen' as he leads your ears to receive a soulfilled Moanln' where James King's bass notes walk all around the cymbals of Mike Smith.

Feel free to return to jazzland as often as you wish, just leave the dial set on continuous play.

~

Ron Kearns has been one of the leading professional musicians and educators in the Washington-Baltimore area for over two decades. As an educator, Ron shoulders the responsibility of equipping the future generation of jazz musicians with a solid foundation. In 1975 Ron began his teaching career in Baltimore, MD and in 1977 he was assigned to Frederick Douglass HS, where Cab Calloway, Roger Woods and Gary Thomas attended. Later his assignments brought him to Kennedy HS and Walter Johnson HS in Silver Spring and Bethesda respectively.

Ron also directed the Montgomery County (MD) Jazz Ensemble which was the springboard for the careers of saxophonist Ari Ambrose, drummer Allison Miller, trombonist Paul Olenick, keyboardists Adam Klipple and Marcus Johnson and many others. In 1986-87 the ensemble was selected as one of 60 out of 600 entrants to compete in Chicago at Down Beat's Jazz Ensemble Finals/Showcase which featured some of the nation's best jazz ensembles and young students. They performed very well against other talented teens including Christian McBride, Roy Hargrove and Joey DeFrancesco that first year, and Joshua Redman and others the next. One of the highlights of the first competition was the jam session organized by Ron and trumpeter John Lampkin that give the students an opportunity to learn from one another. Just imagine the swingin' sounds that filled the room till the wee small hours of the morning. This literally lit a fire under the county players and as the competition became tougher, Ron's students voluntarily took residence in the woodshed.

During breaks and vacations Ron travels coast to coast sharing his sounds as a leader or complementing other groups as a sideman. Over the years he has earned the respect of his peers as a composer, arranger and producer.

Those who are privileged know of Ron Kearns tenor work. On this debut CD, however, Ron has opted for the fuller flavors of his alto and soprano thoughtfully blending familiar jazz tunes with skillfully composed originals.

James King, bass, is one of the most in demand bass players on the East Coast. His recent recording/performance credits include work with Stanley Turrentine, Gary Bartz, Buck Hill and Ronnie Wells.

Kenny Reed, trumpet/flugel horn, has been a staple in the Washington DC jazz community for over twenty years. His debut recording, Introducing Kenny Reed has been highly acclaimed by jazz aficionados and credits alike. Kenny has played with a host of nationally recognized jazz artists.

Mike Smith, drums, has performed/recorded with Steve Kuhn, Lisa Rich, Marc Copeland, Ronnie Wells, Herbie Hancock, Frank Wess and many others.

Allison Miller , drums, has become one of the busiest drummers in New York over the last six months. She has performed in Europe and the U.S. with Rachel Z, Sheryl Bailey and the rock group Betty.

Paul Olenick, trombone, has toured with the Tommy Dorsey Big Band and several small ensembles. He is a very busy sideman and is a student at William Patterson College in New Jersey.

Mike Jones, piano, is one of the brightest new stars on the D.C. jazz horizon. He has performed with Kenny Reed, Ron Kearns, Marty Nau and others.

Robert Grimwood, piano, has worked with Ron Holloway, Kenny Reed, Marty Nau and others and has performed in some of Washington's top jazz spots and hotels.

Bhagwan Khalsa, bass, is one of the busiest young jazz players on the Washington jazz scene. He has worked with Kenny Reed, Sharon Clark, and many others. He is known for his steadiness and taste as a bassist.

Thank you. Ron

Faunèe /10.97 /Music Director Jazz Host

~

THANKS: First and foremost, I'd like to thank GOD, not in the usual obligatory way, but for the blessings of talented friends such as these on this recording, for a very supportive family and for giving me strength to complete this project. I'd like to especially thank James, Bhagwan, Allison, Mike Jones, Robert, Mike Smith, Paul and Kenny for sharing their talents with you and me on this recording. Their professionalism and playing abilities made this a very pleasurable experience for me (Paul and Allison are very special to me because they are my former students).

Thanks to my wife Lillie and my daughter Tiffany for their patience and sacrifice. There were of course times during this project when we could have been together but weren't because something needed to be done. Thank you Ruthanna Miller for allowing your husband to spend so much time on this project.

Thank you Jon Miller for your friendship, support and hard work on this project. As a producer, I've worked with Jon on many projects for other artists but this one was different because I spent a lot more time on the other side of the glass.

Thanks go out to Faunee, John Weddle, Dick Morgan, Ronnie Wells and Lorna Gross for all of their help.

Very special thanks go out to my brother, Rev. Curtis A. Kearns, Jr. He has always been a source of strength and encouragement for me. He first introduced me to jazz when he was a student at Princeton and I was in high school. I had never heard of Cannonball, Trane, MJQ or Stan Getz but he made me (at first) listen to their recordings. I've been hooked on jazz since.

I'd also like to send out a special thanks to my parents, Rev. C. Andre' Kearns, Sr. and Mrs. Laura H. Kearns. They taught me to work hard and persevere, a lesson every musician has to learn.

I dedicate this recording to the now defunct WDCU, JAZZ 90 (we all miss you) and all of my present and former students. Keep jazz alive by any means necessary. - Ron

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                          Handprints
                    Ron Kearns and friends
                   © Foxhaven Records 1997
                          FX-70004

1. Handprints[9:36].........................Ronald E. Kearns
                                 Blair Road Publishing ASCAP
2. Looking For A Job In the City [4:51]...........Kenny Reed
                                 Blair Road Publishing ASCAP
3. Sail Away[4:55]...............................Tom Harrell
                                            Influx Music BMI
4. Dont' Blame Me[5:17]........................McHugh/Fields
                                 The Songwriters Guild ASCAP
5. Sandu[5:32]................................Clifford Brown
                                    Second Floor Music ASCAP
6. Helen's Song[7:54]..........................George Cables
                                          Weeamara Music BMI
7. Black Orpheus[7:08]............................Luis Bonfa
                                     Anne-Rachel Music ASCAP
8. Skylar[6:25]............................Mercer/Carmichael
                                          Mercer Music ASCAP
9. Moanin' [9:04]............................. Bobby Timmons
                                      Second Floor Music BMI

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