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.