Keshavan Maslak

Keshavan Maslak, who also performs under the stage name Kenny Millions (b. February 26, 1947, Detroit) is an American jazz multi-instrumentalist, avant-garde performance artist, poet and restaurateur.

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Biography

Kenneth Keshavan Maslak was born in downtown Detroit, Michigan to a family of Ukrainian immigrants who worked at the Ford Motor Company. Kenny began studying music from his grandfather at the age of five on the mandolin, and then started on the clarinet and saxophone at the age of six. He began working professionally from the age of 12. While attending Cass Technical High School, Kenny became a student of Larry Teal and Donald Sinta. After high school Maslak studied music and psychology at the University of Michigan, Eastern Michigan University and North Texas State University where he studied music composition with Martin Mailman in the late 1960s. Following this he played with Motown touring bands and many other jazz and R&B bands. After two years living in San Francisco and playing with Charles Moffett, Ray Anderson and David Murray, Maslak moved to New York City in 1972 and participated in the New York loft scene during the 1970s, performing his compositions frequently at Studio Rivbea, Ladies' Fort, Maslak Gallerxy and The Kitchen. At The Kitchen he performed with experimental musicians such as Garrett List, Rhys Chatham, Philip Glass, Laurie Anderson and associated with John Cage. During that period he developed his conceptual style of musical performance which he refers to as Multiplexmulti. Kenny also invented the Hum Ha Horn which he recorded with on some of his early LP releases. From 1978 to 1981 Maslak lived in Europe, where he played in avant-garde jazz circles with groups such as Instant Composer's Pool and recorded several titles for Leo Records and Black Saint Records. He also formed a punk rock-free jazz group, Loved by Millions, in which he began to use the pseudonym Kenny Millions. He returned to New York, then moved to Florida in 1987. In 1989 he and his wife became restaurateurs and opened up Sushi Blues Cafe and then afterwards Cafe Jamm. During the 1990s Kenny collaborated with Paul Bley, Katsuyuki Itakura, Umezu Kazutoki and Sergey Kuryokhin. Other credits include work with Sam Rivers, Sunny Murray, Frank Wright, Marty Cook, Otomo Yoshihide, Roland Kirk, Misha Mengelberg, Han Bennink, Peter Brötzmann, Derek Bailey, Dr. John, Mick Taylor, Larry Coryell, Stan Getz, Chet Baker, Eddie Kirkland and Frank "Rat Bastard" Falestra at various times during his career.

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