ðə faɪnˈænʃəl tˈaɪmz ɪn lˈʌndən dᵻskɹˈaɪbd kˈɛnɚɹ æz ˈeɪ "plˈeɪɚɹ ʌv ɡɹˈeɪs, sˈʌɾəl vɚɹˈaɪəɾi ænd stɹˈɛŋθ, wɪð ɐ mətʃˈʊɹ ɡɹˈæsp ʌv dɹəmˈæɾɪk stɹˈʌktʃɚ ænd pɹəpˈoːɹʃən: ɪn ʃˈɔːɹt, ɐ ɡɹˈoʊnˌʌp mjuːzˈɪʃən nˌɪɹɪŋ hɪz pˈiːk."
The Financial Times in London described Kenner as a "player of grace, subtle variety and strength, with a mature grasp of dramatic structure and proportion: in short, a grown-up musician nearing his peak."