Kim Pensyl

Kim Pensyl is an American pop-jazz and new-age music keyboardist. He attended Ohio State University, and the University of California, Northridge for graduate school and had several CDs produced by Shanachie Records. He has worked in bands with Al Hirt, Don Ellis, Hubert Laws, Gerald Wilson, and Guy Lombardo.He is currently part of the Jazz Studies Department faculty at the College-Conservatory of Music (part of the University of Cincinnati).

Kim Pensyl is a prolific jazz recording artist, composer and arranger who has twice been named one of Billboard’s Top-20 Contemporary Jazz Artists of the Year. A pianist and trumpeter, he has had four Top-10 albums on Billboard’s Contemporary Jazz chart. He has recorded with jazz artists such as Toots Thielemans, and modern musicians like Joey Calderazzo, Bob Mintzer, Chiele Minucci, Andy Narell, Will Kennedy, Steve Rodby, and Alex Acuna. He has performed at jazz venues such as The Blue Note, Blues Alley, Caravan of Dreams, Scullers, Beacon Theatre, and Great American Music Hall. He has also appeared at the Clearwater Jazz Festival, Sunfest, Summerfest, Stone Mountain Jazz Festival, and Pacific Jazz Festival among others. Also, Kim has toured with the Woody Herman Orchestra and Acoustic Alchemy. He has more than 100 published works recorded and over 150 compositions and arrangements in his catalog. Kim is currently teaching jazz studies at the College-Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati. He is the featured artist in the WJZA Smooth Jazz Trio around Central Ohio and also performs at various clubs and concerts. In addition, he performs with the faculty and guest artists at CCM, such as Arturo Sandoval, Terri Lyne Carrington, and Mulgrew Miller among others, along with several big bands in the Cincinnati area.

• “Pensyl Sketches #1” (1988)
  • 1. 3 on Billboard, Contemporary Jazz Chart
    2. 2 on Radio & Records NAC Chart
    3. 6 on Gavin AA Chart
  • ASCAP Best New Jazz Writer
    1. 10 Billboard Contemporary Jazz Album of the Year
• “Pensyl Sketches #2” (1989)
  • 1. 5 on Billboard, Contemporary Jazz Chart
    2. 3 on Radio & Records NAC Chart
    3. 9 on Radio & Records Contemporary Jazz Chart
    4. 3 on Gavin AA Chart
    5. 16 Billboard Contemporary Jazz Album of the Year
• “Pensyl Sketches #3” (1990)
  • 1. 9 on Billboard, Contemporary Jazz Chart
  • Top 10 at Radio & Records and Gavin
  • N. A. R. M. Jazz Album of the Year
• “Three Day Weekend” (1992)
  • 1. 3 on Billboard, Contemporary Jazz Chart
  • Top 10 at Radio & Records and Gavin
• “Eyes of Wonder” (1993)
  • 1. 16 on Billboard, Contemporary Jazz Chart
• “Jazz Voices” (1996)
  • WOSU-TV’s award winning concert video

Albums

• 1988Pensyl Sketches #1
• 1989Pensyl Sketches #2
• 1989A Kim Pensyl Christmas
• 1990Pensyl Sketches #3
• 19923 Day Weekend
• 1993Eyes of Wonder
• 1994When You Were Mine
• 1996Under the Influence
• 1997Quiet Cafe
• 1999Places I've Been
• 2002At the Moment
• 2004Solo Sketches October
• 2008When Katie Smiles
• 2010On the Horizon
• 2012Foursight
• 2015Foreign Love Affair
• 2015Early Snowfall

Collections

• 1994Pensyl Sketches Collection