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The Penitent Man: Ex-MC5 Guitarist Wayne Kramer Putting Out First Jazz Record in 14 Years, 'LEXINGTON'

They may not have been my words (and they may not be anyone else's), but when a musician releases new material, he or she would hope said album, track, poster or paperback is an "event."

While most fall short in pulling the rep needed to accomplish such a feat of verbiage, in the case of Wayne Kramer, his record LEXINGTON will surely be an "event," indeed.

"LEXINGTON could actually be a musical narrative of the second half of my adult life," Kramer said during an interview earlier this month.

Sure, it helps that Kramer's been a known name for some time (cf. his teenage greaser quintet, MC5).

The MC5 are widely recognized as thee proto-punk band of the late '60s. Rising to prominence with the incendiary Kick Out the Jams on Elektra Records, label to the infamous Doors, much in the same way, the MC5 were booted from Elektra for, quote, "radical antics."

As if that weren't enough to propel Wayne Kramer into permanent rough-rider status, he did time at Lexington Federal Penitentiary--where he was taught to read music by none other than Red Rodney, trumpeter in Charlie Parker's outfit.

In fact, this is where the inspiration began for Kramer's latest "event," one long slog from Lexington Penitentiary to the release of LEXINGTON...the record.

Next to the scores for films like Gold and Paradise Now, this is Wayne Kramer's first album in 14 years, featuring other acclaimed jazz musicians such as Dr. Charlie Moore, Tigran Hamasyan, Buzzy Moore, Bob Hurst, Eric Gardner, Brock Avery and Doug Lun.

So, mark your calendars for a truly important "event," as the release of LEXINGTON is set for April 2014--at a record store of Wayne's choosing. Naturally. 

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