Paul Kahn

From the Vaults to the Studio: Singer/Songwriter Paul Kahn Releases Willingness Produced By Catherine Russell

OUT JUNE 19, 2026 VIA CARLCAT RECORDS

Some projects take time, and some require the settling of a debt of gratitude, before they can come to fruition. Such is the case with Paul Kahn's six-song EP, Willingness, produced by Catherine Russell and recorded in the summer of 2025. By that point, Paul and Catherine had known each other for 25 years, during which Paul had produced or co-produced nine of Catherine Russell's albums, earning three Grammy® nominations. Willingness will be released on CarlCat Records on June 19, 2026, reviving the label originally created for Vocal Sides, a 2013 release that Catherine produced and dedicated to her late mother, the legendary musician Carline Ray.

When Paul rediscovered his original songs, written and demoed before he and Catherine had met, Catherine insisted they deserved to be recorded. She recalled, “The honesty in his lyrics, combined with beautifully unpredictable chord changes, drew me into the songs.” In addition to producing, Catherine contributed backing vocals, mandolin, keyboard, and arrangements. The songs explore universal and timeless themes, none more so than the title track: “Willingness”, a poignant meditation on the search for peace and justice.

Catherine called upon musicians they had both come to know and admire, the elite of New York City's finest players. Shawn Pelton, renowned drummer and percussionist, is best known for his long tenure in the Saturday Night Live house band and his work with Rosanne Cash. Russell Hall is a highly sought-after musician, songwriter, and first-call bassist on the jazz scene. Matt Munisteri, on guitars, serves as Catherine's longtime musical director, bringing a remarkable knack for playing across all styles with his own distinctive signature.

Paul is a musician and songwriter, who previously released one album of his originals, These Ears And Eyes, originally issued in 1999 and given new life with a re-release in 2024 via Mighty Quinn Records. Press raves from the initial release appeared around the globe; US, Canada, the UK, and Israel. “...Echoes of Dave Frishberg and Mose Allison,” wrote The Boston Herald. 

Over the years, Paul's songs and co-writes have been covered by Catherine Russell, The Holmes Brothers, C.J. Chenier, Luther 'Guitar Junior' Johnson, Tasty Licks, and Eddy Clearwater. Most recently, in 2025, Catherine and Paul co-wrote lyrics for a tune by legendary jazz pianist and composer Kenny Barron, “Minor Blues Redux,” featuring vocals by Catherine Russell. The track appeared on Kenny Barron’s latest album Songbook, which charted at number one for five consecutive weeks on the JazzWeek Jazz Chart for National Radio Airplay.

In the late 1970s, Paul played bass and sang with the bluegrass band Tasty Licks, which included teenage banjo sensation Béla Fleck. Paul played on Béla’s first recordings, on the band’s eponymous album for Rounder Records. A second Tasty Licks album on Rounder featured Paul’s original song, “Anchored to the Shore,” as the title track.

In 1979, Paul founded Concerted Efforts, a boutique music booking agency through which he represented a distinguished roster of legendary artists, including Rosanne Cash, Booker T. & the MGs, Clarence 'Gatemouth' Brown, The Holmes Brothers, Ali Farka Touré, Buckwheat Zydeco, The Gladiators, Kate and Anna McGarrigle, Youssou N'Dour, and many others.

Catherine Russell is an iconic vocalist who, in addition to her ten solo albums as a bandleader, has appeared on more than 200 recordings as a backing vocalist and multi-instrumentalist. Her remarkable career has taken her into the studios and onto the stages of a wide array of celebrated songwriters and performers, including David Bowie, Rosanne Cash, Steely Dan, Cyndi Lauper, Paul Simon, Jackson Browne, Donald Fagen, Boz Scaggs, Suzanne Vega, and Toshi Reagon.

A myriad of roots music influences drawn from Paul's career as both musician and booking agent, spanning reggae, bluegrass, zydeco, cowboy songs, rock 'n' roll, country, and Americana, are seamlessly woven into the performances on Willingness. The result is something rare: a musical memoir in which timeless songs are elevated by a bold collaborative spirit, decades of mutual admiration, and the quiet power of a debt of gratitude finally repaid.

Willingness is out June 19, 2026 via CarlCat Records.

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Track Listing:

1. Stain On My Sleeve
2. Memory Lane
3. Willingness
4. Pull Another Leaf From The Clover
5. Carrie Ann
6. No One To Cry To

All songs written by Paul Kahn, Foggy Day Music (BMI) except "No One To Cry To" by Foy Willing and Sid Robin

Musicians: 
Paul Kahn - vocals
Matt Munisteri - guitars
Russell Hall - bass
Shawn Pelton - drums, percussion
Catherine Russell - backing vocals, mandolin (1,2), keyboard (1)
Layla - backing vocals
Ben Rosenblum - accordion (5,6)
Sara Caswell - Hardanger fiddle (3)
Glenn Patscha - Hammond C3 (2,4)
Veronica Dye - flute (1,4)

Production:  
Produced by Catherine Russell
Recorded and Mixed by Hector Castillo (June - October, 2025)
at GB's Juke Joint, Long Island City, NY
Assistant Engineer, Video Editing: Daniel Jácome
Direction: Glen Forrest
Arrangements by Catherine Russell and Paul Kahn
Guitars arranged by Matt Munisteri
Video: Simon Toro
Mastered by Dave McNair
Photography: Nancy Carbonaro (color) Hector Castillo (black & white)
Design: Karin Elsener

Dedicated to Stuart J. Rosenberg (1955-2024)

Album Publicity: Jim Eigo, Jazz Promo Services
email: jim@jazzpromoservices.com
phone:  917-755-8960

Radio Promotion: Ben Scholz, Ben Scholz Productions
email: info@benjaminscholz.com
phone: 940-206-8045

Americana Promotion: Dennis McNally
email: dennismcnally@mac.com