Thanks for checking out "Moon Over Babylon"!!! I recorded this CD several years ago, but didn't put it out until now, for personal reasons. It's filled with great music played by some of my very favorite musicians in NY and features six of my compositions as well as four "standards" (three arranged by myself and one arranged Earl McIntyre). The last two tracks feature the GREAT Jimmy McGriff on the organ, who I toured with for about 10 years, off and on. Also featured on "Moon Over Babylon" are Donny McCaslin (tenor), Clark Gayton (bone), Brad Leali (alto), Gene Jackson (drums), Ugonna Okegwo/Boris Kozlov/Andy Hess (bass), Ben Stivers/George Laks (keys), Bill Sims (vocal), Pat Cisarano (vocal), Papo Pepin/Joe Gonzales (percussion), Douglas Yates (bass clarinet), Bill Sims/Matt Chertkoff (guitar) as well as a choir comprised of Renee Manning, Pat Cisarano, Tricia Scotti, Carol Sims, Bill Sims, Tommy McDonnell and Irving Lous Lattin. This CD is an honest, sincere expression of who I was and where I was at, when it was recorded. Although I've gone through many life changes and grown musically, spiritually and personally since then, I still feel that "Moon Over Babylon" is a terrific recording that deserves to be heard. I sincerely hope you agree!!!! Trumpeter Kenny Rampton is a regular member of The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra (under the direction of Wynton Marsalis), The Mingus Big Band (playing both lead and solo trumpet) and can be heard freelancing with many of the greatest musicians of our time at jazz clubs and festivals worldwide. As leader of the Kenny Rampton Sextet, he has performed internationally as well as in many of New York City’s finest jazz clubs. In August of 2010, Kenny performed the classic Miles Davis/Gil Evans rendition of “Porgy and Bess” as the guest soloist with The Scottish National Jazz Orchestra (under the direction of Gunther Schuller). Kenny’s first road gig was a world tour with The Ray Charles Orchestra in 1990. After leaving Ray Charles’ band, Kenny went on the road with legendary jazz drummer Panama Francis and The Savoy Sultans and soon thereafter, with The Jimmy McGriff Quartet. As a sideman, Kenny has also performed with The Mingus Orchestra, Christian McBride’s Big Band, The Mingus Dynasty, George Gruntz' Concert Jazz Band, and The Manhattan Jazz Orchestra (under the direction of Dave Matthews), Mingus Epitaph (under the direction of Gunther Schuller), Bebo Valdez’ Latin Jazz All-Stars (playing both lead and solo trumpet), Maria Schneider, The Lincoln Center Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra, Charles Earland, Dr. John, Lionel Hampton, Slide Hampton, Jon Hendricks, Takeshi Inomata, Illinois Jacquet, Geoff Keezer, Eijiro Nakagawa, The Chico O’Farrill Afro-Cuban Jazz Orchestra, Dr. Lonnie Smith, The WDR Big Band, Joe Zawinul and a host of others. Rampton, who has made a name for himself as one of the most versatile trumpet players in New York City, has also done quite a bit of commercial work. Kenny has been the trumpet voice on the children’s television show “Sesame Street” since 2010. Also, from it’s opening in April 2011 until it’s closing in July of 2012, Kenny could be heard playing lead/solo trumpet in the Broadway production of “Anything Goes”. Some of his other Broadway credits include “Finian’s Rainbow”, “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes”, “The Wiz”, “All About Me” and “Anyone Can Whistle”. In addition, some of the shows Kenny has been a regular sub on include “Chicago: The Musical”, “Young Frankenstein”, “The Color Purple”, "The Nance", “Hair”, “Spamalot”, “The Producers”, “In The Heights”, “A Chorus Line”, “Gypsy”, “Cry-Baby”, “The Drowsy Chaperone”, “Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me” and “Hot Feet”. Kenny can also be heard on many R&B, Blues, Pop and Hip Hop recordings. Some of the “pop” groups Rampton has toured, performed and/or recorded with are The Levon Helm Band, Matchbox Twenty, Katy Perry, Dispatch, Shawn Colvin and Chaka Khan. Kenny has played on countless jingles that include TV and radio adds for Ameritrade, Applebee’s, Arby’s, AT&T, Bell Atlantic, BestBuy.Com, Blistex, Burger King, Charles Schwab, Cheerios, Coca Cola, Disneyland, Dos Equis, Folger’s, Garden Burger, Glade Candles, Gogurt, Head and Shoulders, Hershey’s, Huggies, Hummer, Kohl’s, KoolAid, Lean Cuisine, March of Dimes, Mercedes, Miller Lite, Nair, New York Lotto, Nivea, Old Spice, Pacific Bell, Pampers, Pantene, PEDA, Pepsi, Pillsbury, Popeye’s Chicken, Red Lobster, Sears, Stay Free, Trix, Verizon, Wachovia, Wal-Mart, Wendy’s, Wheat Thins and York Peppermint Patties. Recording credits for Rampton include: • Kenny Rampton Moon Over Babylon (Indy) • Joe Zawinul/WDR Big Band Brown Street (Heads Up International Records) • Mingus Big Band Live at The Jazz Standard (Jazz Workshop, Inc.) *Grammy Winning* • Mingus Big Band/Orchestra/Dynasty I Am Three (Sunnyside Records) *Grammy Nominated* • Mingus Big Band Tonight at Noon (Dreyfus Jazz) *Grammy Nominated* • Katy Perry MTV Unplugged (Capital Records) • Richard Bona Tiki (Decca Records) • Clark Gayton The Best Of (Ritual Records) • Geoff Keezer Yasukatsu Oshima with Geoffrey Keezer (JVC Victor Records Japan) • Roger Davidson Pensando en ti (Soundbrush Records) • George Gruntz Tiger By The Tail (The Montreux Jazz Label) • George Gruntz Merryteria (The Montreux Jazz Label) (Featuring one of Rampton’s compositions) • George Gruntz Global Excellence (The Montreux Jazz Label) • George Gruntz Renaissance Man (The Montreux Jazz Label) • Chico O'Farrill Heart Of A Legend (Milestone Records) *Latin Grammy Nominated* • Chico O'Farrill Carambola (Milestone Records) • Jimmy McGriff/Dr. Lonnie Smith McGriff's House Party (Milestone) • Lalo Half Moon (Kadooga Music) • Beat Kaestli, Happy, Sad and Satisfied (B&B Productions) • F-Train Back On Track (Ramptones Records) • F-Train Live at Cucaracha-NYC (Ramptones Records) • Charles Earland Unforgettable (Muse Records) • Charles Earland Almighty Burner (32 Records) • Various Artists B-3 in Organ Jazz (32 Records) • Pucho & His Latin Soul Brothers How'm I Doin (Cannonball) • Bill Sims Bill Sims (Warner Brothers/PBS) • Bill Sims An American Love Story (Warner Brothers) • Pat Cisarano ah (The Orchard) • Ann Hampton Callaway To Ella With Love (Touchwood Records) • Shawn Colvin Holiday Songs and Lullabies (Columbia Records) • Rueben Wilson Organ Donor (jazzateria) • Tony Monaco Master Chops T (Summit Records) • Andy Farber and Andrew Williams Double 'A' (After 9 Records) • Jay Rowe Jay Walking (Positive Music) • Julia Darling Julia Darling (Stanton Street Records) • Kathy Jenkins From This Moment On (The Orchard) • Veronica Martell The Art of Intimacy (Apria Records) • Veronica Martell Big City Swing (VM Records) • Veronica Martell Lucky (VM Records) • Veronica Martell Veronica Martell (VM Records) • Eric Mingus Um...Er...Uh (Some Records-Southern) • Eijiro Nakagawa Funk ‘55 (King Records) (Featuring two of Rampton’s compositions) • Takeshi Inomata’s New York Jazz Quintet Anthropology (Sticks Inc.) • Lily White No Pork Long Line (Jazz Focus) • George Gee Swingin’ Live! (SWING46 Records) • Nancie Banks Orchestra Bert’s Blues (Consolidated Artists) • Tabou Combo Go Tabou Go (Mini Records) VIDEO • Katy Perry MTV Unplugged (Capital Records) • Dispatch Zimbabwi-Live at Madison Square Garden (Bomber Records) • Wynton Marsalis Why Toes Tap: Marsalis on Rhythm (Marsalis On Music Part 1, Sony Classical) • Wynton Marsalis Listening for Clues: Marsalis on Form (Marsalis On Music Part 2, Sony Classical) • Wynton Marsalis Tackling the Monster: Marsalis on Practice (Marsalis On Music Part 3, Sony Classical) • Wynton Marsalis Sousa to Satchmo: Marsalis on Jazz Band (Marsalis On Music Part 4, Sony Classical) • Bill Sims, Jr. An American Love Story (Warner Brothers/PBS) • Bill Sims, Jr. Bill Sims and The Cold Blooded Blues Band (Warner Brothers/PBS)