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Kenny Washington
Washington worked with Konitz while still in his teens, recording with the saxophonist's nonet in 1977. He worked with Carter from 1978-9 and Griffin from 1980. A prolific freelancer, Washington has compiled an enormous discography, performing on dozens of sessions by many of jazz's most prominent figures. Washington has a strong interest in jazz history; he's written liner notes for and/or helped prepare classic jazz re-releases by Art Blakey and Count Basie, among others.
He's also taught jazz drumming at the New School in New York City, and worked as an announcer at the New Jersey jazz radio station WBGO. Source: Chris Kelsey
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Lucy Yeghiazaryan: Hey Love!
by Pierre Giroux
It is always a treat to hear a singer who trusts the song. On Hey Love!, recorded at Van Gelder Studios in October 2025, Lucy Yeghiazaryan takes the direct route, usually the most forgiving. There are no conceptual detours here, no attempts to modernize the Great American Songbook by dismantling it. Instead, Yeghiazaryan takes control of the tradition, accompanied by musicians who understand its swing. And it is a great group of players. Tenor saxophonist Grant Stewart, who also co-arranged ...
Continue Reading...Lucy Yeghiazaryan: Hey Love!
by Katchie Cartwright
The excellent New York-based singer Lucy Yeghiazaryan and her stellar band may have you thinking back to Carmen McRae in the 1950s as you listen to Hey Love!--groups with Wendell Marshall, Kenny Clarke, and other hard bop-era musicians. On her 2026 release, Yeghiazaryan has the ubiquitous Peter Washington on bass and Kenny Washington on drums, with Tardo Hammer at the piano, Grant Stewart on tenor saxophone, and Bruce Harris on trumpet. Johnny O'Neal sings with her at the piano on ...
Continue Reading...Melvin Rhyne: Tomorrow Yesterday Today
by C. Andrew Hovan
A disciple of some of the earliest jazz organ practitioners, such as Jackie Davis, Milt Buckner, and Wild Bill Davis, jazz veteran Melvin Rhyne's major claim to fame has been the five years he spent with the renowned Wes Montgomery in the early '60s. Yet this is really only a fraction of the story for the 67-year-old organist. Much like the proverbial hibernating bear, Rhyne kept a low profile throughout the '70s and '80s and he even told writer Pete ...
Continue Reading...The Heavy Hitters: That's What's Up!
by Pierre Giroux
Mike LeDonne and Eric Alexander head up a band called Heavy Hitters, which features a stellar cast of New York's jazz elite, including trumpeter Jeremy Pelt, alto saxophonist Vincent Herring, bassist Alexander Claffy and drummer Kenny Washington. They have released That's What's Up!, a live recording from Frankie's Jazz Club in Vancouver, British Columbia in December 2023 that captures the authenticity, spontaneity, and emotive power of a band firing on all cylinders. The set list is an artful blend of ...
Continue Reading...Heavy Hitters: That's What's Up!
by Jack Bowers
Heavy Hitters is a superb New York-based sextet co-led by pianist Mike LeDonne and tenor saxophonist Eric Alexander. Individually and as a team, the Hitters keep their eyes squarely on the ball, swing for the fences and, more often than not, slam the spheroid solidly out of the park. And on this typically upbeat session they do it in front of an appreciative audience at Frankie's Club in Victoria, British Columbia. A freewheeling groove permeates the concert, ...
Continue Reading...Melvin Rhyne: Classmasters
by C. Andrew Hovan
While it's an easy task to designate any number of Hammond B-3 organ players who have quickly fallen under the spell of innovator Jimmy Smith, it's not as simple to inventory the few individuals who've avoided Smith's overpowering influence to develop a sound and manner of their own. Melvin Rhyne is one who managed to carve a niche for himself during the '60s with a much lighter and less bombastic approach, around during the heydays as a member of Wes ...
Continue Reading...John Lee: Second Wind
by Pierre Giroux
Second Wind, which, as the title indicates, is John Lee's sophomore recording, is a vivid example of the art of the trio featuring the estimable rhythm section Peter Washington on bass and Kenny Washington on drums. It had long been Lee's dream to play with these two legends and the result is a collection of favourites and some new material that swings with both vigour and subtle intimacy. The opening track is “It's A Blue World," ...
Continue Reading...Kenny Washington delights - again
Source:
Ken Franckling's Jazz Notes
Oakland CA-based singer Kenny Washington is a marvel, plain and simple. And his return performance to Artis Naples' All That Jazz series on Wednesday, December 13 showcased the diminutive singer's skills,tone and wide range, and his artful scatting on two of the evening's 10 tunes. Washington was special guest with the Naples Philharmonic Jazz Orchestra, which on this evening was stretched from its usual sextet to a septet. The mega-talented band this night included tenor saxophonist and artistic director Lew ...
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VOCALIST KENNY WASHINGTON AT JAZZSCHOOL/LA NOTE IN BERKELEY, CA SUNDAY, JUNE 4
Source:
All About Jazz
Noel Milanio, piano, Mike Bacile, bass, Mark Lee, drums Sunday, June 4, 4:30 pm Jazzschool/La Note, 2377 Shattuck Avenue, Berkeley General Admission $12, Students/Seniors $10 Jazzschool Students/Children under 13 $6 Limited seating/reservations recommended: (510) 845-5373
Vocalist KENNY WASHINGTON can be heard at the Jazzschool/La Note, 2377 Shattuck Avenue in Berkeley on Sunday, June 4, at 4:30 pm. Seating is limited and advance reservations are suggested: (510) 845-5373.
Described as a ...
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