Early praise for “Comfort in the Static”…

“I’d have to say that Kenny White has earned a place among my favorite singer/songwriters…and particularly, lyricists. As we say in the trade “he goes deep.” A true wordsmith AND musician who reveals a fine sense of humor, as well. Put on your headphones and listen carefully.”

- David Crosby

“Songs of tragedy, comedy, life and death…Kenny White is the troubadour of our sometimes sweet, often troubled times. ‘Carry You Home’ is the big song I’ve been waiting for. Bravo, Kenny, in all categories…writing, playing, singing. Could I have some more, please?”

- Will Jennings (multi Oscar and Grammy winning songwriter)

Kenny White’s latest album Comfort in the Static, containing eleven new tracks from the experient songwriter, leads the listener on an intimate odyssey, the spotlight focused on our commonality as humans. From the first haunting melody of the opening track, Useless Bay, which begins as if White were letting us in on a bittersweet secret, to the catchy pop sensibility of the beautifully melodic Please. From the Dylan-esque sound of Who’s Gonna Be the One, to the plaintive musings of “I was fine until love got in the way” from Where You Are Tonight, Comfort in the Static is an arrestingly candid and personal collection of songs.

White’s Comfort in the Static is soulful singer-songwriting at its best; lush piano melodies combined with vulnerable vocals and smart, insightful lyrics make for a seminal recording that observes the boundaries between jazz, blues, rock, pop and folk…and then proceeds to step over them. With such seasoned, interpretive musicians as Duke Levine, Shawn Pelton and Marty Ballou backing him up, as well as the contributions of Big Al Anderson and ubiquitous T-Bone Burnett collaborator, Stephen Barber, White wrote and produced this new album with the listener in mind. Comfort in the Static showcases White as a deft storyteller employing striking arrangements and spot-on vocals reminiscent of Elvis Costello, Bob Dylan and early Randy Newman. This CD is a feather in the cap for Kenny White whose fan base continues to grow along with his talent as a singer-songwriter. Comfort in the Static is a powerful, sophisticated album that will stay with you long after the CD has stopped playing.

the first song that brought me to this realization, “pat robertson,” is not meant to demean or trivialize the practice of faith or belief in the divine. it’s meant to shed some light on one of the flock’s most unscrupulous lambs. to whom the act of exclusion, of ostracization, and of power is the WORD. and it is one of 5 songs about to be released on an abbreviated CD of mine, called “never like this.”

“pat robertson” is one of the two most recent songs on the CD. the other, “how long”, is a testimony to the way i feel about our present white house occupant. to whom the act of exclusion, of ostracization, and of power is the GOAL. these are two songs that i wish i hadn’t felt the need to write and certainly didn’t try to write. the birth of these songs came out of our nation’s sordid and muddy gestation period.

the 3 remaining songs, “but never like this”, “tender ghosts of autumn”, and “drawing board”…are less pointed, though they offer a schematic to my own network of frustrations. they were recorded during the ‘symphony in 16 bars’ sessions, and then left to ripen.

as i listen to radio, watch the grammy awards, and buy my share of music, i find the lack of political outspokenness to be staggering. music has always had it’s share of entertainers. but it also had it’s share of provocateurs. those who felt an obligation to, if not enlighten, at least encourage participation. and there are so amazingly few that are willing to climb onto that soapbox, i felt the need to try. and so, this CD.

unfortunately, these are my matters of the heart now. because these aren’t just some zany antics from a few misguided well-to-dos turned political. these are very powerful people bent on subversion, and personally, i am sick of them.