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Comment by Dept of PMM Artists & things on April 12, 2010 at 4:23pm

The Fairy Queen
This image of Mab, the Queen Fairy High, was created for singer/songwriter Kenny Klein's album High Grows the Barley.
Copyright Lauren Sinnott 1997

Comment by Dept of PMM Artists & things on April 12, 2010 at 4:21pm

Career

He developed an interest in British Folk music at an early age, and pursued the fiddle and other stringed instruments. He studied music in New York through his college years, taking lessons from noted jazz and bluegrass violinist Matt Glaser, and learning Country and Appalachian music on the streets of Greenwich Village and the mountains of New York, West Virginia and Pennsylvania. In the early 1980s he spent time in Europe studying Gypsy violin, returning to New York City in 1981 and settling in the Punk rock infested East Village. Shortly after he married flutist Tzipora Katz.

In the mid-1980s Kenny and Tzipora, as they were known, recorded several projects on Kicking Mule Records, including the album Wineskins, Tinkers, & Tears in 1985. Together with their children they traveled around the US, performing at pagan festivals, renaissance fairs, and folk music venues.

In 1992 Kenny and Tzipora divorced, and Kenny began his solo music career, subsequently releasing several projects on Blackthorn Records, and returned to performing music at renaissance festivals throughout the U.S. In 1998 he released the CD Muses, an album of all original music produced by Brewers' Witch Productions.

Klein currently lives in Los Angeles, California, and works with Enrichment Works, a non-profit organization that brings performance art to public schools in the Los Angeles area. He originated the role of Ike in Gold Rush Honeymoon for Enrichment Works, and also appeared in his original one-man show, Wandering Minstrel, for the organization. He plays both as a solo musician and with the band "The Long Goners" (who currently records for CMH Records), with various Country and Blues bands, and at renaissance fairs, Neopagan festivals, clubs and bars. His latest project, Meet Me In The Shade of the Maple Tree, is arguably the world's first CD of Pagan Bluegrass Gospel music.

In 2000 Klein began working with Celtic band Odd's Bodkin. Odd's Bodkin has toured extensively, and has played at such venues as the Southern California Renaissance Faire, Northern California Renaissance Faire, Bristol Renaissance Faire, the Starwood Festival, and the Wisteria Cornstalk Festival.

Neopagan activities

Through his interest in British music, Klein discovered the Wiccan and Neopagan communities. He learned a great deal about traditional Scottish Witchcraft from New York merchant Eileen Campbell Gordon, and then joined the Blue Star coven and tradition of Wicca, becoming a High Priest within that tradition in 1983. He helped steer the Tradition towards a more traditional British form, discarding Alexandrian and ceremonial rituals and replacing them with British folkloric Craft practices, including the 8 Paths of Power, the 7 Tenets of Faith, and the Drawing Down of the Moon and Sun. Between 1983 and 1992 he and his wife, High Priestess Tzipora Klein (née Katz) were largely responsible for transforming Blue Star from a local coven to a Wiccan tradition of its own. Touring the country during that period performing music, Kenny and Tzipora continued to teach Blue Star Wicca, initiating many people and founding many covens, at the same time recording and distributing lessons on cassette tapes, and Klein has continued to teach Traditional Wicca since then. In 1992, after separating from Tzipora, he established the Rose and Antler coven of Blue Star, through which he continues to practice and teach. He is the author of The Flowering Rod: Men, Sex and Spirituality, a book on Wicca and Men's Mysteries.

Comment by Dept of PMM Artists & things on April 12, 2010 at 4:18pm

Reviews of Kenny's CDs and Shows:

“This album, like all of Kenny Klein's work, is a must for any music collection. From beginning to end, each song is filled with compelling imagery and the CD crosses through so many musical styles that it is sure to thrill and delight.”

http://www.modernbard.org/

“This is a “Dark Wave” style with more electric tone than some of Kenny’s other works. My first impression was that I wasn’t going to enjoy this disc. It wasn’t my style, or so I told myself. Then I listened to Kenny’s lyrics. And I discovered that whether he is producing a traditional ballad or something a bit (okay, a LOT) more off the wall, his music has the ability to evoke unexpected responses.

“I especially liked “Maria’s Not a Catholic Anymore.” Although short, it reminded me of a couple of other songs I have always enjoyed (Dar Williams’ “Christians and Pagans” and Jim Alan’s “Talking Wicca Blues”), both of which reflect reality. Then there is “Dead Gerbil Jam”…you have to hear this one.”

Mike Gleason, The Pagan Activist, review of Fairy Queen

“Pagan Gospel Bluegrass,” who’d have thought of that combination? Kenny Klein, of course. This latest offering from the talented mind of Kenny Klein is a one-of-a-kind disc, although I have hopes that this style may catch on and inspire further offerings.”

Mike Gleason, The Pagan Activist, review of Maple Tree

“It is hard to find a fiddler at faire who surpasses Kenny in his gypsy flavored fiddle playing. "Audra", the second song on the CD, is a perfect example. The feel of the music conjures images of varda wagons encircling a bonfire under a moonlit night.

"Another favorite (and one worth purchasing the album for) is "The Old Woman Was A Gypsy". The song is more contemporary in lyrical content, but it strikes directly to the heart of anyone who has sat beside a bonfire at faire, watching the smoke carry their dreams skywards.”

http://www.modernbard.org/ Review of Little Birds Of Desire

“Kenny Klein, the fiddler, is a sinfully talented musician, and he brings his many years of fiddling experience with him. To watch him work a fiddle is to realize that this instrument's reputation as the poor man's violin is ill earned.”

www.lasplash.com/

“I've always enjoyed your show. I went to my first fair three years ago, and my friend "volunteered" me to go on stage for 'Oh No, John'. I'm normally pretty shy, so I wouldn't have done it without her prompting, but I ended up having a lot of fun. It's still one of my favorite Faire memories. I've seen most of the shows there, and I honestly think yours is the most entertaining. Whenever I bring new friends with me, I take them to see your show, and they always enjoy it.”

Fan Review

Comment by Dept of PMM Artists & things on April 12, 2010 at 4:17pm

Kenny Klein is a champion fiddler, a guitarist, singer and all-around performer, a veteran of Renaissance Festivals, concert halls and smokey Country bars.

Well known for both serious songs and for his tongue-in-cheek, spry lyrics, Kenny performs such original songs as "Maria's Not A Catholic Anymore," "Goth Girl Blues," and his show ender "What Do You Do With An Old Dead Gerbil?". His stories of renaissance festival life and of the streets of New York are seriously funny.



Originally from New York City, Kenny has traveled throughout the U.S.A. and Europe, playing and collecting fiddle tunes and songs. He has played main stage shows and pub shows at Renaissance Festivals,including Colorado, Georgia, Maryland, New York, Ohio, Scarborough Fair (Texas), Four Winds (Texas),Southern and Northern California; He has performed in legendary folk bars and venues including Folk City (NYC) and Speakeasy (NYC), Ramblin Conrad's (VA), and Marie Poll's (L.A.). He's played with country bands in Missouri, Celtic bands in Belgium, and he's won fiddling championships in New York and Kansas.

First released in '95, High Grows The Barley reflected my renaissance festival repertoire. Includes Fairy Queen (with me singing the lead), High Grows the Barley, John Barleycorn (seeing a theme here?), and Herne the Hunter (an old acoustic version).

Comment by Dept of PMM Artists & things on April 12, 2010 at 4:16pm

Three of these in stock @$15.00 + S/H&I Remember we are a road vendor and plastic wrapping does help, but things do get worn in boxes in travel and weather