


Background and Philosophy
Kreuzer's earliest musical memories include being struck by the harmonic movement in Fiddler on the Roof. Another life-changing experience came when, after only three months of playing the trombone, he joined the Rochester Youth Philharmonic Orchestra, where he says, "Really sitting there and listening to such incredible music (Brahms’ 2nd Symphony) changed my life."
Kreuzer describes inspiration, initial ideas as most exciting, “energy in its purist form and they must be captured at the moment they arrive in my mind.” Inspiration often arrives unexpectedly; I always carry staff paper with me to record ideas. My approach to composing/songwriting is to begin and continue the original inspiration as long/much as possible. Then begins the relentless development and editing; working to find the optimal form and scope for the idea. The perfect blend musical knowledge (melody, harmony and rhythm) with emotional resonance. Often described as the 'it' factor, my ideas tend to have this when they come to me, rather than me sit down at the piano and manufacturing them. Crafting, editing and formulating everything together is still inspiring, just in a different manner than the original spark.
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After many years of writing songs in different keys, I hear and associate colors with the keys: “Not necessarily specific colors, but different amounts of warmth or brightness. When my ear is super tuned from playing lots of scales, I can feel the color of the music very clearly. Beyond the notes and rhythms, there is depth, weight, and emphasis in everything. And while most of this is intuitive, I think it’s important to cognitively understand what it is.” I find inspiration in “this primal understanding and kinship with sound.”​
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To Circle the Sun includes songs in different forms, in different keys, with many sections and contrasting tonal centers to create contrast and make the musical journey more interesting. This album exemplifies the collaboration I greatly value. Working with Sam Polizzi and Johnny Cummings at Sound Notion Studio, Kreuzer found a creative partnership of “equal voices and input,” saying, “In collaboration, the most powerful path I can take is when I let everyone do and create exactly as they hear their parts and not just produce my vision but add their influence as well. The vision starts with me as a songwriter, but the freedom given to the performers allows them the freedom to truly be creative.”
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Kreuzer Collective:
Drums are performed by Mike Lasaponara
Guitars, bass, piano, keyboards and background vocals performed by Johnny Cummings
Piano and keyboards by Ken Kreuzer
Vocals are sung by Carsen James Argenna, Jaime Arin, Kaylin Cervini, Kate Glock, Scott Foster Harris, Abbie Parker, Lydia Salnikova and Marcello Vieira
Shout chorus on ‘Some of My Days’ are sung by Jeremy Bosso and Ken Tomaszewski
All songs co-produced by Sam Polizzi, Johnny Cummings and Ken Kreuzer
All songs recorded and mixed by Sam Polizzi
All songs mastered by Brad Blackwood
All songs and lyrics written by Ken Kreuzer
Lyrics for ‘Spin Me a Web’ by Leora Deisenroth and Ken Kreuzer
After silence, that which comes nearest to expressing the inexpressible is music - Aldous Huxley




contact
(585) 507-7227

