Jazz Articles about Kenny Garrett

Kenny Garrett: Standard of Language

by AAJ Staff
April 15, 2003

If vigorous jazz leaves you faint, Kenny Garrett's eighth Warner album, Standard of Language, will knock you out cold. It is intense and unrelenting in its goal of cutting a new edge on the traditions that have shaped Garrett's mastery of the saxophone.

It is clear from the opening technical interplay between drums and sax on Cole Porter's “What Is This Thing Called Love?" (the only cover tune on the album) that this record pushes Garrett and company ...

Kenny Garrett: Standard of Language

by James Taylor
April 15, 2003

On Standard of Language, alto saxophonist Kenny Garrett explores every popular trend in jazz, covering the last fifty years of the genre’s history. From free jazz to soft and all the bop in between, Garrett’s fourth Warner Bros. release shows why he is loved by jazz-heads everywhere, from the Philharmonic to Philly’s south-side.

A Fireside Chat with Kenny Garrett

by AAJ Staff
April 11, 2003

Once upon a time, Miles Davis recorded Live Around the World, including a catchy version of 'Human Nature.' An unknown Kenny Garrett, all of twenty-eight at the time, was featured on alto. Garrett didn't remain unknown long, recording Introducing Kenny Garrett with Woody Shaw and becoming 'the' alto player with a trio of critically acclaimed releases, Triology, Pursuance, and Songbook. But Garrett soon ran out of favor with the old guard who received his next two releases with less than ...

Kenny Garrett: Happy People

by C. Andrew Hovan
April 21, 2002

Just going over the press material for this album, I got the distinct impression that there was a pretentious sense of crossover appeal in the mix with verbiage that in effect claimed Garrett was trying to bridge the gap between jazz, hip hop, and world music. As for the music itself, let's just say that too much of what constitutes this mixed bag is simply unbecoming to an artist of Garrett's stature.

Co-producer Marcus Miller shares much of ...