Jazz Articles about Kenny Garrett

Kenny Garrett: Sketches of MD - Live at The Iridium

by AAJ Italy Staff
January 15, 2009

Il saxofonista Keny Garrett decide di non smarcarsi dalle due influenze più importanti che caratterizzano la sua ottima carriera. L'ombra di Miles e quella di Coltrane continuano infatti ad essere evocate senza sotterfugi, con la consapevolezza che queste influenze rappresentano un background meravigliosamente fecondo, come i fanghi rigogliosi lasciati dalle piene del Nilo. In questo bell'album registrato dal vivo in uno dei locali newyorchesi che vanno per la maggiore, l'Iridium, Garrett si fa affiancare dal sax tenore pieno di echi ...

Kenny Garrett: Back To The Future

by Jason Crane
October 6, 2008

Detroit's Kenny Garrett is a restless man. Before he'd even released his 2006 Nonesuch album Beyond The Wall, he'd already moved on to a different band with a completely different repertoire. And it's always been like that for Garrett, who is constantly searching for new territory to mine and new corners of the world--both geographical and musical--to explore. For his album Sketches of MD (Mack Avenue, 2008), Garrett is invoking the spirit of his former boss, trumpeter Miles ...

Kenny Garrett: Sketches of MD: Live at The Iridium

by John Kelman
October 6, 2008

Kenny Garrett continues his relationship with tenor legend Pharoah Sanders from Beyond the Wall (Nonesuch, 2006), but ditches some of the gravitas for Sketches of MD: Live at the Iridium. An album of unabashed blowing and multiplicity of stylistic references, it's the closest Garrett has come to his seminal Standard of Language (Warner Bros., 2003). Were it not for one misstep, it would be the closest thing to perfect that Garrett has released. “The Ring" kicks the album ...

Kenny Garrett: Sketches of MD: Live at The Iridium

by Greg Thomas
October 5, 2008

Kenny Garrett continues his mélange of modal exploration with Sketches of MD: Live at The Iridium. The recording is a sequel to Beyond the Wall, Garrett’s early collaboration with Pharoah Sanders, and is a snapshot of his progression.The opening number, “The Ring,” starts with a dramatic theme stated by the alto-tenor front line. Garrett and Sanders traverse late-Trane territory in their improvisations yet they rarely scale the heights of propulsion or evoke their earlier spiritual majesty.

Kenny Garrett: Sketches of MD: Live At The Iridium

by Mark F. Turner
September 17, 2008

Alto saxophonist Kenny Garrett gives listeners a kaleidoscopic view of his music in this fun live recording. A post-bop saxophonist who performed with Miles Davis during the trumpeter's later fusion/funk years, Garrett has since gone on to make his own name as one of the fiercest players around. In spite of what labels/critics may have desired, he's paving his own multi-colored-brick road. This has included African Exchange Student (Atlantic, 1990), the contemporary jazz friendly Happy People (Warner Brothers, 2002), and ...

Kenny Garrett at Dazzle

by Geoff Anderson
August 8, 2008

Kenny Garrett Dazzle Denver July 25, 2008

Kenny Garrett is restless. Over his 20 or so year career, he's explored a good piece of the jazz territory. Consequently, a Kenny Garrett concert is a little like a random parachute jump; you could land just about anywhere. Friday night at Dazzle, Garrett traveled through the terrain of fusion, funk and a little space jazz. Those hoping for some bebop didn't necessarily go home happy. On ...

Kenny Garrett: Beyond the Wall

by John Barron
February 28, 2007

Native Detroiter Kenny Garrett has been on the cutting edge of jazz for some time now. The former Miles Davis sideman has built a reputation as an uncompromising trailblazer while managing to write melodic and highly accessible music. Of his many sessions, Beyond the Wall could very well be his best.

Inspired by his long-time fascination with the culture, music and spirituality of China, Garrett has captured a unique musical vision that stimulates thoughts of the Far East while simultaneously ...