Jazz Articles about Kenny Werner

Kenny Werner: Lawn Chair Society

by Jim Santella
February 27, 2007

With this upbeat program of original material, pianist Kenny Werner takes his quintet through a swinging confrontation that combines modern innovation with classical training. His music is timeless. Working with an all-star lineup on Lawn Chair Society that features trumpeter Dave Douglas, saxophonist Chris Potter, bassist Scott Colley and drummer Brian Blade, he's at the top of his game.

Werner's story is familiar. He studied hard to learn to play piano as well as he does--but with all ...

Kenny Werner: Democracy: Live at The Blue Note

by Ernest Barteldes
December 12, 2006

This album, recorded at Blue Note at the beginning of this year, begins in the same manner that Kenny Werner's concert did during last month's residence at the same club: with a solo piano piece that emphasizes the subtleties of the pianist's fingering by exploring the whole keyboard in a classically inspired manner. The band joins in after a few bars, but the focus is mostly on Werner's piano work, showcasing (on stage) the chops of young trumpetist Matt Shulman, ...

Kenny Werner: Democracy: Live at the Blue Note

by John Kelman
August 27, 2006

It's hard to believe that a jazz musician would be fired for trying to create something new every night, but it's happened to pianist Kenny Werner. “I'm a lousy sideman, he says in the liner notes to Democracy: Live at the Blue Note. Fortunately, this is his gig, and its loose exploratory nature proves it's not necessary to abandon symmetrical time or change-based structure to keep things sounding fresh, night after night.

This may be Werner's gig, but the title ...

Kenny Werner: Naked in the Cosmos & Peace

by Ty Cumbie
December 10, 2004

Kenny Werner & The Brussels Jazz Orchestra Naked in the Cosmos Jazz n' Pulz 2003

If a single contemporary recording were recommended as cliff notes for an impatient student eager to get a feel for smooth jazz, atmospheric new age elevator music, the angular contortions of Sam Rivers' big band compositions, polyphony in current jazz, Weather Report, Ellington's late suites, Wayne Shorter's '60s music arranged (very nicely) for big band, ancient Coleman Hawkins ballads, ...

Kenny Werner: Freeing the Inner Urge

by AAJ Staff
April 20, 2004

It’s a very good bet that pianist Kenny Werner would NOT be high on the invitation list for speakers on the topic of the importance of jazz tradition. For Werner, jazz tradition is something that – at least for him – gets in the way of the creative process. “Very early in my musical career, I realized that to be an interpreter of an established art form was meaningless for me,” states Werner during a recent telephone interview ...

Kenny Werner: Beauty Secrets

by David Adler
May 1, 2000

Throughout much of Beauty Secrets, Kenny Werner is at his best. Accompanied by Drew Gress on bass and Billy Hart on drums, the pianist glides and romps through the first four selections, including the tightly constructed “Scufflin’" and the rhythmic brainteaser “Jackson Five." Then, preceding and following the staggeringly complex “Bumper Jumper" (a feature for tenorist Tony Malaby and four other up-and-coming jazzers) are two brief, graceful duets with tenor sax star Joe Lovano. Violinist Mark Feldman next appears for ...

Kenny Werner: Unprotected Music

by Glenn Astarita
December 1, 1998

Pianist Kenny Werner owns an impressive resume that includes stints with Charles Mingus, Joe Lovano, Lee Konitz, Randy Brecker and underscores his stature as one of the premier session musicians in the business. However, when Mr. Werner isn’t lending his considerable talents to others he often embarks on interesting solo endeavors such as “Unprotected Music”. On “Unprotected Music” Werner is supported by an all star rhythm section consisting of: Marc Johnson (bass) and Joey Baron (drums) who collectively add substantial ...