Norman Connors & Jean Carn at Keystone Korner Baltimore

A timeless musical valentine, the dynamic duo of Norman Connors & Jean Carn comes back together to Keystone Korner Baltimore for three special nights, September 9-11th! This occasion brings together two legendary R&B artists, with many iconic hits together such as, “Valentine Love” and “Dindi.”

Drummer and producer Norman Connors was born and raised in Philadelphia, having an interest in jazz from an early age when he began playing drums. At elementary school he was exposed to jazz extensively, becoming heavily influenced by drummer Lex Humphries – the younger brother of bassist and Jazz-Messenger player, Spanky DeBrest. Once sitting-in for Elvin Jones at a John Coltrane performance he attended while in middle school, Connors went on to study music at Temple University and Juilliard. Connors began to focus more on R'n'B material in the mid-1970s after signing with Buddah Records, later becoming the label's A&R manager. He went on to lead jazz recordings with Carlos Garnett, Gary Bartz, Dee Dee Bridgewater, and Herbie Hancock. In the mid-1970s, when turning to sophisticated R'n'B and soul material, he recorded work featuring guest singers such as Michael Henderson, Phyllis Hyman, Al Johnson, Jones Girls, and of course Jean Carn, among others, with his work becoming a main staple of jazz-fusion and jazz dance followers, with tracks including "Mother Of The Future" from album "Slew Foot" (1974), "Captain Connors" from album "This Is Your Life" (1977), “You Are My Starship” (1976) album, et al. Currently, there is a documentary in the works about Connors and his career, soon to be released!...

read more

A timeless musical valentine, the dynamic duo of Norman Connors & Jean Carn comes back together to Keystone Korner Baltimore for three special nights, September 9-11th! This occasion brings together two legendary R&B artists, with many iconic hits together such as, “Valentine Love” and “Dindi.”

Drummer and producer Norman Connors was born and raised in Philadelphia, having an interest in jazz from an early age when he began playing drums. At elementary school he was exposed to jazz extensively, becoming heavily influenced by drummer Lex Humphries – the younger brother of bassist and Jazz-Messenger player, Spanky DeBrest. Once sitting-in for Elvin Jones at a John Coltrane performance he attended while in middle school, Connors went on to study music at Temple University and Juilliard. Connors began to focus more on R'n'B material in the mid-1970s after signing with Buddah Records, later becoming the label's A&R manager. He went on to lead jazz recordings with Carlos Garnett, Gary Bartz, Dee Dee Bridgewater, and Herbie Hancock. In the mid-1970s, when turning to sophisticated R'n'B and soul material, he recorded work featuring guest singers such as Michael Henderson, Phyllis Hyman, Al Johnson, Jones Girls, and of course Jean Carn, among others, with his work becoming a main staple of jazz-fusion and jazz dance followers, with tracks including "Mother Of The Future" from album "Slew Foot" (1974), "Captain Connors" from album "This Is Your Life" (1977), “You Are My Starship” (1976) album, et al. Currently, there is a documentary in the works about Connors and his career, soon to be released!

Jean Carn began her recording career with her then-husband, pianist Doug Carn, founder of Black Jazz Records and had an astounding five octave voice range. They recorded three early 70's albums together. Then, she started doing back vocals for the likes of Earth, Wind & Fire and Norman Connors. In 1977, she debuted solo, playing a crucial role in the golden era of Philly soul, with Gamble & Huff and McFadden & Whitehead producing and writing for her, as well as Dexter Wansel. Between 1977 and 2005, she has released nine studio albums. Among her highlights are “Infant Eyes”, "Was That All It Was", "My Love Don't Come Easy", "Don't Let It Go To Your Head", "Closer Than Close", her covers of hits of Harold Melvin And The Blue Notes ("If You Don't Know Me By Now"), Aretha Franklin ("Ain't No Way"), Spinners ("Love Don't Love Nobody"), Al Green ("Let's Stay Together"), Debby Boone ("You Light Up My Life").

show less