UMSL music lecturer Ken Kehner has a new jazz CD out called "From This Moment On." (Photo by August Jennewein)

For years, pianist Ken Kehner has appeared on a number of his colleagues’ recordings, and now, he is finally fronting his own CD, “From This Moment On.”

So, what took him so long?

Kehner, a lecturer in music at the University of Missouri–St. Louis, told the Columbia (Mo.) Daily Tribune for an April 1 article that he essentially got bogged down trying to nail down the musicians and tunes.

“I think that just held me up,” Kehner said. “It’s a lot easier being a sideman.”

Reflecting on the fact he took the scenic route to producing his first CD, Kehner couldn’t be happier with the finished product.

“It turned out better than I thought it would. I’m extremely pleased,” he said. “Actually, now I’m wondering why I waited so long.”

On April 19, Kehner will perform at Jazz at the Bistro in St. Louis with Sean Jones and Stefon Harris as part of the St. Louis Jazz Festival.