Kiki Ebsen
Gig Seeker Pro

Kiki Ebsen

| INDIE

| INDIE
Band Pop Jazz

Calendar

This band has not uploaded any videos
This band has not uploaded any videos

Music

Press


"FM802"

"FIRE" (from the CD "LOVE LOUD), sounds GREAT on-air Love the piano interlude followed by that crunchy rock guitar -- tasty, tasty, very hip arrangement! And of course, your vocals and those great harmonies are clever, catchy and infectous-- among the best this DJ of 35 years has ever heard. Perfectly targeted CHR, AC solid hit material!
- Kamasami Kong/Osaka, JAPAN


"Love Loud CD Review"

Having backed Tracy Chapman, Michael McDonald, Jeffrey Osborne and others, singer-keyboardist Kiki Ebsen has a strong resume. On her full-length solo CD she acquits herself admirably, very confident and at-home in the mellow pop-rock format. Her material is crafty and accessible, with well-observed lyrics which show a life lived. Arrangements, particularly Ebsenís lead and back-up vocals, are appealing and professional, augmenting the songsí emotional flow. With good vocal presence and solid musicianship, this CD is worth a listen.
- Music Connection, L. A., CA


"CD Review by Bryan Baker"

Kiki Ebsen paints heartfelt songs whose strong point, for me, is Ebsen's own piano canvass which feels guided by the songs, weaving tales of passion and love's sorrow. Ebsen's vocals spin melodies effortlessly and readily accept offers to soar..
- Gajoob.com


"Love Loud CD Review by Carl Lagerholm"

KIKI EBSEN - Love Loud. Brilliant soft pop with this wellknown artist. A great mix of Dee Carstensen and Schascle. Sophisticated and intelligent pop. Fantastic production by Mark Browne.
Highly recomended record.

- Music Box-SWEDEN


"FM 98 KiFM"

"...KIFM was priviledged to showcase this fine performer twice in 1993-on the outdoor stage at the KiFM Anniversary Party in May and at a Rising Star Concert at Prego's in August. Both shows drew raves from audiences who became instant and loyal fans...Kiki's debut album, "Red," climbed up the R & R New Adult Contemporary charts last summer and her single, "My Desire", was quickly embraced on Gavin's Adult Contemporary charts." - Rising Stars (Leslie O'Neal)


"Mac Report"

"It seems that every year I come back from the KiFM Anniversary Festival having been exposed to and knocked out by at least one new artist. This year was no exception, the artist being vocalist/keyboardist/songwriter Kiki Ebsen..."Red" most definitely posesses the freshness often inherent to an inaugural recording, it also has a suprising depth and maturity most often associated with more experienced songwriters. With each song on the album we are given evidence that the words and music have been delivered from the heart and soul, each coming directly from Ebsen's own emotional experience...With it's honesty, forthrightness and sensitivity, "Red" is the kind of debut most artists can only dream of creating." - Pac Attacks (Beth Lewis)


"New Artists"

"..Brand new songstress Kiki Ebsen beautifully straddles the A2 and A3 wave with "Red", a record that caught my ear almost immediately..."
- Gavin Report


"Kiki Ebsen CD review: Love Loud"

Kiki Ebsen's second release "Love Loud" is about as close to perfect as any recording can get. You'd spend days, weeks, trying to pinpoint anything that fell short of excellent -- and even that would be a stretch. Even the cover and interior liner notes art and photos are good. Most noticeable elements are Kiki's voice, her piano playing and the guitar of Nick Kirgo. Oh, the lyrics are well crafted, too, but sometimes Kiki's nice soprano takes you away from the words. Well, ok, maybe there IS something amiss here, but her sultry, soothing and earthy vocals are so good, you don't even care that she's quite the clever wordsmith. (But you'll eventually notice, that's for sure.) Right away, the opener "Nobody," sets the tone. With Kiki's smoky and sometimes breathy voice supported by her stylistic keyboards, Kirgo joins in with crisp, smooth play -- and all with impeccable timing. They play off each other so well it's as if they've been bandmates for years. Kiki, a daughter of the famous actor Buddy Ebsen, comes by her talent honestly and sounds like a trained
"gut" player on piano -- all the technique and fundamentals down pat, but, like the guitarist, knows just when to punch, when to stroke and when to pull back. Not a note is wasted. Neither are the words:

"You lay oh so close separated by oceans And the realization she's switched Her allegiance and devotion To somebody else And all that you built, And all that you worked for She just gave away for nothing But nobody loved her more...No one but you..."

Kiki caresses the words, making them sweet as honey but nevertheless poignant and sensitive. And at times, her finesse gives way to powerful emotion, bringing out the Carole King influence in her. Actually, all the tunes are artfully crafted and produced, but there are definite highlights. "Fire," for instance, displays gorgeous vocal harmonization and great lyrics:

"Trapped inside your anger Where no woman could hold you down I stoked the flames of passion From these coals upon the ground I used to hold you to my breast but it's too hot now

So I'll fight fire with fire..."

Things continue to heat up a bit on the next tune "Angry Young Soul," a soft rolling, rocker featuring that electric guitar again, great rhythm and percussion (Mark Browne and Brian Zsupnick) and underneath it all, Kiki's piano.

She lives up to her first name on the bouncy, kicky "End of the Road," with added effects of violin and cello from Alwyn Wright and Cameron Stone.

The entire CD, from start to finish, is so compelling and well-done that it's like a great suspense novel -- you can't put it away. Or, to paraphrase that potato chip commercial -- nobody can give this just one listen. You'll be hooked from the first song. - Indie-Music.com


"CD REVIEW: Kiki Ebsen - Love Loud By Eliot Popkin"

I have had the absolute pleasure of seeing Miss Ebsen perform live one time, and receiving her CD to review was a real treat. Kiki oozes sincerity and warmth with each lyric and the CD doesn't disappoint at all. The album starts off with probably the catchiest tune - "Nobody." In this first song, Kiki sings "all that you built, and all that you worked for, she just gave away for nothing." The second song "Know You Better" is a similar pop/acoustic gem. You get the feeling that Kiki really knows her own voice. Both as a writer and a singer, she sounds real comfortable and it's nice to hear someone so comfortable. Throughout the disc, Kiki follows similar terrain in that she writes some deep stuff and yet her voice soothes you as she sings over each lyric. It's a fine line to have such lyrical depth and still present it in a pleasing, pop sensability. She crosses that line over and over again with ease and grace.

Kiki plays piano and sings each track, and is backed by some very talented and unobtrusive players. The arrangements breathe and never overindulge. For singer/songwriters starting out or thinking of recording their first album, I would strongly urge them to listen to this record. It's a fine example of strong songwriting, gorgeous vocals and pleasing arrangements. Lastly, it's my pleasure to say that the top 10 albums of 2002 include Kiki Ebsen - Love Loud. May we all follow Kiki's suggestion; and love loud. - Muse's Muse


Discography

RED (SINDROME 8898)
LOVE LOUD (PPM 11458)
KIKI. (PPM 41805)

Photos

Bio

Eclectic jazz-pop chanteuse, Kiki Ebsen has a warm, relaxed, personal style of delivery that lets an audience know they're about to experience and be a part of a wonderful musical celebration. She has enthusiastic fans worldwide singing her praises including Steve Quirk, British DJ, who says "Kiki Ebsen is a sleeping giant in contemporary music... who deserves to be heard".

Her current studio release, simply entitled Kiki,, was produced by Grammy winning producer, Paul Brown. It is a collection of her shimmering, jazz-infused originals as well as a few well-rendered cover tunes. "Kiki" made the cut as part of Fusion Flavours "Best of 2005", checking in at #12. One of the gems on this CD is a song that her father, the late actor Buddy Ebsen, wrote called "Missing You”. Kiki was interviewed recently by A&E for her father’s Biography segment and sang a bit of "Missing You" in his honor. Kiki looks forward to another year of great musical performances including the 3rd Annual Temecula Jazz Festival and the 11th annual Waikaloa Music Festival in Hawaii. As a keyboardist and singer, she's had the good fortune to work with some of the best-known musical headliners in the world, including Chicago, Christopher Cross, Al Jarreau, Tracy Chapman, Boz Scaggs and Michael McDonald. Her songs have also been featured in movies and TV including The Young and the Restless and Another World. She has opened for Peter Cetera, Christopher Cross and Al Stewart. Kiki's songs deal with the complexities of love and family relationships, and she believes that music and the arts can bless and enrich our lives everyday.

Born into an entertainment family, Kiki attended the California Institute of the Arts, receiving her BFA in vocal performance. Her last CD, "Love Loud", is "about as close to perfect as any recording can get" according to Les Reynolds at Indie Music.com. It also made The Muse's Muse Top 10 list of favorite records of 2002. Her first CD, "Red", features classic performances by Boney James and is (according to Beth Lewis of Mac Report), "the kind of debut most artists can only dream of creating". Both CD's showcase her talent as a singer and her tremendous gift for writing songs. Kiki also spent a season singing and playing keyboards in the band for the Wayne Brady Show (KCAL) .

She recently played keys and sang with Melissa Etheridge and Patty Griffin on the Women Rock concert series for the LIFETIME Channel. Her vocals are featured on the new Peter White CD "Déjà Vu" due out this year.

Kiki is passionate about animals and is a champion equestrian. She regularly donates her talent playing concerts to promote and raise money for animal rescue and encourages people to spay and neuter their pets.