How long have you been playing?
My dad played piano, I started at age 6.
What was the first concert you ever went to?
I saw Oscar Peterson when I was 6 years old. He was working with a new trio that consisted of Sam Jones and Louis Hayes and I remember how upset I was that I wasn't going to see Ray Brown or Ed Thigpen. Then my dad took me backstage to meet Oscar and I was so transfixed on him that I declined my mother's invitations to meet other musicians who were there including Dizzy and Duke.
Who was your biggest musical influence growing up?
Oscar Peterson and Art Tatum for the first years until I turned 17 and started listening to Elvis Costello and the new wave crowd. Then and most recently Thelonious Monk.
Are you in a band? Have you been in bands?
Currently playing Saturday nights at the NOW Lounge located at 189 Church St.in Toronto Ontario. With me are Owen Tennyson, drums, Lee Saba Hutchinson, bass and Grant Lyle on guitar.
If you could jam with anyone, who would it be?
The people that jam with me now... Or maybe someone like Costello. I must admit that after a "Jam" experience with Wynton Marsalis I find myself a little cautious about just diving in and playing anything. At the same time playing the piano with the likes of Dick Hyman, Jay McShann, and Ray Bryant doesn't help your confidence, but if it doesn't shake you its a great feeling.
What's the biggest audience you ever performed to? What's the smallest?
twenty thousand people.
You're stuck on a desert island and only get to bring one album with you. What do you pick?
Monk's Dream? Because it's great and I may have first heard it in pieces over the years before finally getting a copy.
Playing bass with blues artist Faith Nolan in Kensington Market in Toronto circa 2006.
Ken Skinner
- Bass
Photo
Toronto, Ontario
Kenny and Spenny's "Pitch" which features some of my music. From the last century.
Ken Skinner
- Songwriter
Photo
Toronto, Ontario
The ever amazing Ori Dagan and myself in a game of mic tag. Too much fun.
Ken Skinner
- Vocals
Photo
Toronto, Ontario
Hamilton Art Gallery a few years ago.
Ken Skinner
- Piano
Photo
Toronto, Ontario
Here's my dad Kenny Skinner Sr. on piano with Stu Loseby sax, Order of Canada recipient Charlie Biddle on bass and the legendary Norman Marshall Villeneuve on drums. Montreal, 1969.
Ken Skinner
- Son of pianist.
Photo
Toronto, Ontario
The first album featuring Kirk MacDonald, Kieran Overs, Kevin Turcotte and Norman Marshall Villeneuve.
Ken Skinner
- Piano/songwriter
Photo
Toronto, Ontario
1174 Queen Street East. Open every day from noon, eleven on Saturdays. Maybe I'll run into you there sometime.
Ken Skinner
- Records
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Toronto, Ontario
Ken Skinner
- Piano
Photo
Toronto, Ontario
Ken Skinner
- Paintbrush
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Toronto, Ontario
Ken Skinner - Alone
Ken Skinner
- Piano
Photo
Toronto, Ontario
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An original composition of mine arranged by Buddy Aquilina combining his "Jazz Conspiracy" and the jazzmongers! into a 12 piece band!
Ken Skinner
- Piano/songwriter
Audio
Toronto, Ontario
Night And Day by Cole Porter. Once again featuring the drummerless trio.
Ken Skinner
- Piano
Video
Toronto, Ontario
"This Ain't Europe" from the CD "Maroon" released in the last century. Hope you dig it.
Ken Skinner
- Piano/songwriter
Audio
Toronto, Ontario
Charlie's Changes. Having some fun with Yardbird's toys. The chords are Charlie Parker's changes for "Confirmation". The melody is my little noodle.
Ken Skinner
- Piano
Video
Toronto, Ontario
A Night In Tunisia - maybe this is twice? It's long and harsh, raw and real.
Ken Skinner
- Piano
Audio
Toronto, Ontario
Chopin's Prelude in C minor Op. 28 No. 20 gets a jazz treatment. With Duncan Hopkins and Phil Stewart on bass and drums respectively.
Ken Skinner
- Piano/arranger
Audio
Toronto, Ontario
All Blues (jam session with Rob Christian, Grant Lyle, Lee Saba Hutchison and Owen "Sound" Tennyson.)
Ken Skinner
- Keyboard
Video
Toronto, Ontario
Alone Together (Piano and Sax duet)
Ken Skinner
- Piano
Video
Toronto, Ontario
Blueprints - This is the same instrumentation as my first trio that were called the jazzmongers! back in 1989 before the official band of 1991.
Ken Skinner
- Piano/songwriter
Video
Toronto, Ontario
Maroon (album version and official video)
Ken Skinner
- Piano/songwriter
Video
Toronto, Ontario
Big Band Maroon! Recorded at the Glenn Gould Studio in 1997 with orchestrations by Buddy Aquilina. Great trumpet solo by Joe Allen. Released on the compilation disc "Kin of Kensington".
Ken Skinner
- Songwriter
Audio
Toronto, Ontario
In My Dreams. An Electronic Lullaby.
Ken Skinner
- Keyboard
Audio
Toronto, Ontario
Tell Me Lies. The amazing Chantal Aston Quartet with a song I wrote with additional lyrics by the lovely Miss Aston. Bernie Senesky is the pianist with Duncan Hopkins on bass and Archie Alleyne on drums.
Ken Skinner
- Songwriter
Audio
Toronto, Ontario
A man watches from a distance as his ex re-marries. He muses aloud.
Ken Skinner
- Songwriter/keyboard/vocals
Audio
Toronto, Ontario
The Playground Swings
Ken Skinner
- Piano
Video
Toronto, Ontario
(I Don't Stand) A Ghost Of A Chance
Ken Skinner
- Vocals
Video
Toronto, Ontario
littlebird lied
Ken Skinner
- Piano
Video
Toronto, Ontario
Finding Dark Eyes. Using some classical motifs to find my way to a Russian folk song. Somewhere around the three minute mark it turns into a bit of a swing-fest.
Ken Skinner
- Piano
Video
Toronto, Ontario
Prayer For Peace. About all I can feel good about praying for anymore.
Ken Skinner
- Piano
Video
Toronto, Ontario
Beautiful Mistakes a functional trailer for a work that is to be completed along side a new crop of recordings.
Ken Skinner
- A glimpse into the world of ken skinner part 1
Video
Toronto, Ontario
Beautiful Mistakes is a functional trailer for an unfinished work that will be completed along with a new crop of recordings
Ken Skinner
- A glimpse into the world of ken skinner
Video
Toronto, Ontario
Adventure Time trailer featuring Ken Skinner as the conductor
Ken Skinner
- Conductor
Video
Toronto, Ontario
Kasandra's Dance
Ken Skinner
- Songwriter
Video
Toronto, Ontario
The Loneliest Monk (written by ken skinner - SOCAN)
Ken Skinner
- Piano
Video
Toronto, Ontario
Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen when they were still full figured gals. About fifteen seconds of fame here I think.
Ken Skinner
- The part of a pianist/guitar
Video
Toronto, Ontario
Ken Skinner at NOW Lounge warming up the fingers and throat...
Ken Skinner
- Piano
Video
Toronto, Ontario
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