CAPE MAY CONVENTION HALL / FRIDAY, MAY 16

The Story

The most highly acclaimed and influential guitarist of his generation, Philadelphia native and longtime resident Kurt Rosenwinkel has released 18 albums as a leader or co-leader, including such pivitol outings as 2001’s The Next Step, 2003’s Heartcore, 2008’s The Remedy: Live at the Village Vanguard and 2012’s Star of Jupiter. Since forming his own label 2016 (Heartcore Records), he has released over 40 albums of genre-defying music from groups around the world, along with his own releases like 2017’s Brazilian flavored Caipi, 2020’s Angels Around, 2021’s Kurt Rosenwinkel Plays Piano, 2022’s Berlin Baritone and 2023’s A Lovesome Thing (documenting his duet concert with the late pianist Geri Allen). He is making his Exit Zero Jazz Festival debut in a trio with bassist Dario Deidda and drummer Joost Van Schaik.

After attending the Philadelphia High School for the Creative and Performing Arts, alongside classmates like bassist Christian McBride, organist Joey DeFranceso and drummer (and Roots co-founder) Amire “Questlove” Thompson, Rosenwinkel studied at the Berklee College of Music in Boston before leaving in his third year to tour with vibraphonist-educator Gary Burton, who at the time was dean of Berklee. After moving to Brooklyn, he began performing with Human Feel, Paul Motian’s Electric Bebop Band and the Brian Blade Fellowship. In the late ‘90s, he forged a solid musical bond with tenor saxophonist Mark Turner which manifested on Rosenwinkel’s first three Verve albums (2000’s The Enemies of Energy, 2001’s The Next Step and 2003’s Heartcore) as well as three with Turner as a leader (1995’s Yam Yam, 1998’s In This World and 2000’s Ballad Sessions). On 2005’s Deep Song, Rosenwinkel premiered a new quintet with saxophonist Joshua Reman, pianist Brad Mehldau, bassist Larry Grenadier and drummer Jeff Ballard. His most recent release on his Heartcore label is one from the archives documenting a gig with his The Next Step Quartet, Live at Smalls 1996. 

The Sound

Be it trio, quartet or big band setting (like on 2010’s Our Secret World with the Orquestra Jazz de Matosinhos of Portugal), Rosenwinkel’s signature sound is always instantly identifiable and exhilarating. With his remarkably fluid legato approach, Rosenwinkel often sounds more like a saxophonist than guitarist when he solos. Whether he’s interpreting jazz standards or introducing new originals, his signature sound and extraordinary chops are immediately identifiable and instantly exhilarating.