Jazz Articles about Kenny Barron

Kenny Barron Trio: The Perfect Set: Live at Bradley

by Michael McCaw
September 21, 2005

This music is immaculate. From the onset of “You Don't Know What Love Is and the suspended feel pianist Kenny Barron generates in his unaccompanied opening statement, entrancing listeners with his eventual development of the chorus, you know you are hearing a modern master of the piano. Bassist Ray Drummond and drummer Ben Riley are not too shabby either. Performing and recording off and on since 1984, this trio creates music that is pure, honest, and forthright. Not to mention ...

Kenny Barron: Images

by Russ Musto
February 27, 2005

Images introduces pianist Kenny Barron's “other" quintet--vibraphonist Stefon Harris, flautist Anne Drummond, bassist Kiyoshi Kitagawa, and drummer Kim Thompson. The flute and vibes grouping gives this unit an appealingly distinctive sound that is airy but never light, sweet but not saccharine. Although somewhat limited tonally compared to the trumpet/saxophone frontline of Barron's classic five-man band, the group avoids the not improbable danger of monotony by performing a program that is rhythmically and dynamically diverse. Barron's first three compositions, “So It ...

Kenny Barron: Live at Bradley's

by Samuel Chell
September 1, 2004

One of a handful of truly great living jazz pianists, Kenny Barron has never sounded better to me on record. After listening to him in this setting, I'm beginning to understand why so many musicians lamented the passing of Bradley's, the Manhattan night spot that featured a grand piano handpicked and donated by Paul Desmond. If there's one performance on this recording that testifies to Barron's gifts, it's his exquisite and daring reading of Rodgers and Hart's “Blue Moon." He ...

Kenny Barron Quintet: Images

by John Kelman
June 20, 2004

Pianist Kenny Barron is usually thought of more as an accompanist than a leader, and that’s odd; with around forty albums to his name over the past thirty years, he’s had no shortage of opportunity for direct exposure. But with over three hundred recordings as a guest, including work with Dizzy Gillespie, Stan Getz, Freddie Hubbard and Ron Carter, he may be second only to Mulgrew Miller as the hardest working pianist around; and it’s easy, with that kind of ...

Kenny Barron

by AAJ Staff
November 14, 2003

By Amanda Monaco From his first gigs with Dizzy Gillespie to his current ensembles featuring some of today's emerging young artists, Kenny Barron is a continuously creative spirit and one of the warmest people you'll ever meet. AAJ-New York spoke with him on the occasion of his upcoming debut at Carnegie Hall's new concert space, Zankel Hall, to discuss his past, present, future and the wisdom he's picked up along the way. All About ...

A Fireside Chat with Kenny Barron

by AAJ Staff
November 14, 2003

When I speak to musicians, regularly they mention Kenny Barron as someone they would like to work with, someone they respect, or someone they love to hear. And since musicians as a rule are quite critical of their peers, it says a mouthful of the man, who rarely gets credit for being one of the greatest accompanists in jazz history. So there, I will say it first and perhaps it will start a groundswell for easily the most lyrical pianist ...

Kenny Barron: Pianist Who Opens Eyes and Ears

by R.J. DeLuke
October 8, 2003

Kenny Barron's piano playing has delighted fans--and other pianists--for many years now. Every time he sits at the keyboard, his lyricism and crisp, clean style, whether lightning fast or soulfully soft, is one of the great pleasures of jazz. When Kenny Barron plays, it's like the old E.F. Hutton commercials. People are going to listen.

The Philadelphia native has played with remarkable consistency throughout his career and he doesn't just stick to one thing. This summer, he's doing some concerts ...