Ken Kase Group’s Collected Works Compilation to be Remastered for Limited Edition CD, Streaming in late 2024

Ken Kase and engineer Jack Petracek will work on remastering the Ken Kase Group’s original recordings for a special limited edition CD of “Collected Works 1997-2008’ This marks the first time the compilation will be issued on CD. The remastered version will also be available on Bandcamp and on streaming services worldwide later in 2024.

“I’m excited about the remastering project,” said Kase. “The first two releases were recorded using ADAT machines, which were great for the time because they made full digital multitrack recording more accessible to musicians working in smaller studios. We made those albums just as the current practice of recording to hard drives was coming in. To my ears, the ADATS have a thin, brittle sound. I’m interested to see what 21st century mastering technology will do. We can hopefully improve the sound.”

Original ADAT masters for the Ken Kase Group’s “Extended Play-No Waiting”

The Ken Kase Group was formed in 1995, recording “Extended Play: No Waiting” in 1997, “Stereophonic Nervous Breakdown” in 2000, and the three-song single, “Shiner” in 2008. Ken will actually remix two of the songs from the last release, “Shiner” and “File Under This” for the new release. Other material from the eras will also be digitized and considered for release, including demos, radio performances and live recordings. “I don’t know if there’s enough good material for a double disc, but I’m looking into it. I’ll only put that stuff out if it’s interesting enough. I won’t just release a bunch of crap. We’ll see. It’s been a long time since I’ve heard most of that stuff.”

The tracks feature St. Louis musicians Greg Berg, Paul Hoga, Steve Dodge, Brian Hayes, Dave Strohmeyer, John Holt, Eric James, Paul Bordeaux, Steve Mortellaro and Dave Farver, all of whom were in the band at various times with the exception of Farver, who played saxophone on “Stereophonic Nervous Breakdown” and sometimes joined the group onstage, Special guest Tom Ray, who played blues harp on “Chcolatown”.

The remastered compilation will likely see release in late 2024.

First Interview with Ken Kase Published in Vents Magazine

The first interview with Ken Kase since the release of his self-titled EP has been published in Vents magazine. In it, he discusses his music, background, influences, the film project, the state of music in St. Louis and more. You can read it here.

"Philosophy Machine" Chosen for UK-based Film

Ken Kase's "Philosophy Machine", a song from his self-titled EP, has been chosen by UK-based filmmaker Malin Frank to be used in her upcoming short film called "The Colours Within", that will be screened at film festivals in 2024.

The film is an LGBTQ+ love story that features a character with achromatopsia, the same rare eye condition Kase has had since birth. He was asked to contribute the song because of his connection with the subject matter. "It's nice to be asked," says Kase. "This is to my knowledge the first screen portrayal of someone with achromatopsia ever and I'm glad to contribute music to the project."

Malin Frank directed, co-produced and stars in the film which was produced by Sara Wilkins for Richlas Productions. The film was written by Natalie Ekberg.

Ken Kase was diagnosed with achromatopsia, a hereditary eye condition characterized by a lack of color vision and extreme sensitivity to light, in 1993. In 2000, he recorded and released a song called "An Achromat's Tale" about his experience living with the condition.

Ken Kase Releases Self-Titled EP

St. Louis, MO- Singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Ken Kase released a five-song EP, the eponymously-titled Ken Kase. The first collection of solo material on which Kase sings and performs nearly all the instrumentation, Ken Kase returns him to the sounds of earlier pop-rock work that was lauded for its impeccable song craft, sense of musical adventure, and high production values.

“The songs on the EP were mostly recorded ten years ago,” says Kase. “I had plans to make a solo album on which I played most of the parts, but halfway through I lost the ambition and the song ideas didn't come so easily anymore. So I started the Corpus Alienum project instead and wrote and produced three albums of instrumental music, which I found to be much more fun to do. That, and working on other albums as a singer and instrumentalist, is what I've been doing for the last decade or so. I just wanted to get these songs off my workbench."

The EP contains Kase's original compositions "Entitled", "Cambrian Explosion", "Philosophy Machine", "Quality Control", and "The Big Whatever". Two of those songs trace their roots to earlier projects, but were finished or updated with a perspective that only decades as a musician, writer, and producer offer.

"The songs hold up pretty well after years away from them. I wrote "Philosophy Machine" thirty years ago and "Quality Control" is a tune that dates from 2008. I knew I was holding on to good material, and I think my judgement on songs that didn't make the cut were spot on back then.” says Kase. “I'm better at recording, mixing and editing now than I was when I started, so I'm glad it took so long because I have the skills now to make it sound better.”

Ken Kase is now available via Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube, and BandCamp.

New Corpus Alienum album, testing, testing... to be released worldwide on Monday, Dec. 11th

Ken Kase will release a new album of instrumentals on Monday, Dec. 11th.

The album features soloists Chris Kase (trumpet), Rinn Netherton (violin) and Dave Farver (tenor sax), Kase wrote, performed and produced the album from his tiny studio in St. Louis, MO.

Listening Party: Friday, Dec. 8th, 5-8 pm @ Gelateria Coffee Company, 3197 S. Grand, St. Louis. Limited edition CD will be available for sale.

Ken Kase to guest host special radio show for WPKN in Bridgeport, CT Wednesday, October 25th at 4 pm EDT

On Wednesday, October 25th at 4 pm EDT I'll be Harry Minot's guest host on WPKN, 89.5 FM in Bridgeport, CT. He is graciously giving me two hours of airtime to play and talk about my music that I’ve produced, written and recorded (sometimes all three!).. WPKN is one of the most esteemed and respected community radio stations in the country and the subject of a 2021 documentary film, "The Greatest Radio Station in the World". You can listen in worldwide on wpkn.org.

Way back when in 1981, I began as a volunteer at community radio station WPKN in Bridgeport, CT at the tender age of 11. John Lennon had just been assassinated, and after listening to several radio specials of final interviews and tributes, I wanted to make my own. Harry Minot, then general manager, gave me hands-on training in audio production. I stuck around for three years, learning the ropes, doing production on the evening newscast and listening to any kind of music I could find in their expansive record library. Then I went on to be a classical DJ for WMNR in nearby Monroe before I moved away to St. Louis. Now Harry has asked me to guest host a special show highlighting my work. I'm honored to be asked and feel fortunate for having had an experience that put me on the path to being a producer, composer and musician.

Volunteering at WPKN had a long-lasting effect on me. I heard so much music I wouldn't have encountered and learned skills that I would use as a musician, composer and producer. It taught me to keep my mind and ears open, and I've tried to do just that ever since. I’m looking forward to the show!

Corpus Alienum’s Mantovani Boogie Man is now streaming.

The acclaimed 2021 release of Mantovani Boogie Man is available to download on Bandcamp and on all streaming platforms. These are funky instrumental grooves inspired by the jazz, R&B and soul of growing up in the 70s.

"St. Louisian Ken Kase is best known as a guitar player with a decidedly pop/rock bent, but here, he takes some public domain drum loops and plays all the other instruments to create sinuous, funky instrumentals. This sounds great in the car, even better on headphones." Steve Pick, KDHX