KEN SLAVIN – JAZZ CROONER EXTRAORDINAIRE!
“The most stylish, unwavering singer in town. . . When it comes to crooning in the classic jazz/pop tradition, Ken Slavin has no peers.” — SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS
“Stunning!” – JOANNE GOOD, BBC LONDON 94.9
“Magnificent!” – THE METROPOLITAN ROOM, NEW YORK CITY
“His enthusiasm is infectious, he has a real understanding for the lyrics that he interprets and he swings. His voice is excellent, he has a fine range and he is always in-tune . . .” – SCOTT YANOW, LOS ANGELES JAZZ SCENE
“Ken Slavin slays the crowd!” – TEXAS MONTHLY
Ken Slavin is one of the most exciting classic jazz singers in the country – with an international following of all ages.
Some folks describe him as a younger Tony Bennett, Johnny Hartman or Mel Torme. One reviewer dubbed him “Mr. Tuxedo Voice.” Texas Monthly says he’s one of the “Swing Set.” In reality, his voice, persona and performance style put him in a category all his own. But no matter how you describe him, there isn’t anybody on today’s music scene quite like jazz crooner KEN SLAVIN.
Long before the current crop of young interpreters of classic jazz and the Great American Songbook embarked on their careers, Ken — who celebrated 25 years in the music business in 2015 and recently became a voting member of The Recording Academy, which produces the GRAMMY Awards — was working the microphone in a town known more for rock, country and Tejano music than jazz. Over the years he literally has appeared everywhere from hamburger joints to formal concert halls, earning scores of fans and positive reviews along the way.
Ken’s classy and fresh approach to the Great American Songbook and Spanish language classics has landed him headline appearances as far north as Alaska and as far south as Mexico City – and radio airplay around the world. He has opened for such jazz legends as The Four Freshmen, Eddie Palmieri, David Sanborn, Dee Dee Bridgewater and Chico Hamilton, performed in concert with the internationally acclaimed Jim Cullum Jazz Band (whose National Public Radio Program, “Riverwalk, Live From The Landing,” ran for more than 20 years), and has given private performances for GRAMMY Award winners Helen Reddy and Vikki Carr.
Ken is an exciting and naturally gifted singer and entertainer whose good taste and showmanship make him a first-class choice for any setting. A late bloomer who began singing professionally at the age of 29, he was voted BEST VOCALIST by readers of The San Antonio Current two years running. He also has been named BEST MUSICIAN, BEST LOUNGE/JAZZ ACT, BEST LOUNGE/SWING ACT and nominated numerous times as BEST MALE VOCALIST by the same publication.
He has produced five CDs that have all received excellent reviews and airplay across the country and around the world.
His latest recording, “You Gotta Have Heart: Ken Slavin Live at the Metropolitan Room in New York” captures his Big Apple debut, which happened on Halloween Night 2013. Bernie Furshpan, the owner of the noted jazz cabaret room in Manhattan, invited Ken to perform there after New York radio host John Lombardi played one of Ken’s tracks for him. 
The resulting recording – with a portion of all sales benefiting the American Heart Association – is on playlists on traditional and internet radio stations across the United States and has received an enthusiastic review by noted jazz writer and historian Scott Yanow. His 2007 studio release, “I’ll Take Romance,” has been spotlighted on BBC London and on radio programs in New York, Italy, Poland, the Czech Republic, New Zealand and France. Most recently, tracks from the album have made their way to national audiences coast to coast via Music Choice, the digital music service on Time Warner Cable, Comcast and all other major U.S. cable networks. He is featured on the “Singers and Swing” channel.
After discovering him on You Tube, Baltimore Net Radio – which streams worldwide on the Internet – invited him to host four editions of “A Visit With Connie Francis.” Ken researched, scripted and narrated the four guest appearances, produced by Diane Linden Thomas, which spotlighted the vast discography and live performances of the legendary songstress.
In 2009, Ken was honored as one of San Antonio’s “Local Legends” in the arts and was invited to give a concert at the historic Carver Community Cultural Center’s famous Jo Long Theater. Most recently, Ken was presented with the 2012 “Lifetime Achievement Award” at the 10th Annual San Antonio Summer Art & Jazz Festival at Crockett Park. The award is inscribed with these words: “The Advancement of the Education, Preservation and Promotion of Music Life Time Achievement Award is Hereby Presented to Ken Slavin for giving and sharing his spirit, his time, and his love of music in order to enrich and enhance the lives of others around him. You Make This World A Much Better Place!”
In September 2013 he received a special award from the organizers of the 30th Annual “Jazz’SAlive” festival in recognition of his status as a “veteran performer” at the popular downtown San Antonio music event which draws top jazz artists and fans from across Texas and around the world.
His unique interpretations of jazz, pop and foreign language classics, and his charismatic stage presence, have made him one of San Antonio’s and South Texas’ favorite entertainers, from the “black-tie” set to the nightclub, lounge, college and festival crowds. He has even put his talents to work as an AIDS activist, producing concerts and a CD that raised more than $45,000 for the San Antonio AIDS Foundation.
He currently appears regularly at the upscale III Forks restaurant in the ultra-hip Second Street District of downtown Austin and at select venues in San Antonio and New York City.
Ken is more determined than ever to make his mark beyond Texas on the jazz and cabaret circuits in the United States and abroad. Please peruse his website, watch his videos and listen to cuts from his CDs to learn first-hand why his fans call him “KEN SLAVIN: JAZZ CROONER EXTRAORDINAIRE.”
