Kenny Werner
Kenny Werner is a world-class pianist and composer. His prolific output of compositions, recordings and publications continue to impact audiences around the world.
Kenny was recently awarded the 2010 Guggenheim Fellowship Award for his seminal work, No Beginning No End. No Beginning No End is a musical journey exploring tragedy and loss, death and transition, and the path from one lifetime to the next. Utilizing over 70 musicians, Kenny’s third album for Half Note Records is an expansive composition featuring Joe Lovano, Judy Silvano, Wind Ensemble, Choir and String Quartet.
Born in Brooklyn, NY on November 19, 1951 and then growing up in Oceanside, Long Island, Kenny began playing and performing at a young age, first recording on television at the age of 11. Although he studied classical piano as a child, he enjoyed playing anything he heard on the radio. In high school and his first years of college he attended the Manhattan School of Music as a classical piano major.
His natural instinct for improvisation led Kenny to the Berklee School of Music in 1970. There he sought tutelage of the renowned piano teacher Madame Chaloff. A Her gracious wisdom and inspiration became a driving force in Kenny’s conception: A music conscious of its spiritual intent and essence.
From Boston, Kenny traveled to Brazil with the saxophonist Victor Assis Brasil. There he met Victor’s twin brother, Brazilian pianist Joao Assis Brasil. He studied with Joao, who provided another piece of the puzzle for Kenny’s conception that would lead to Effortless Mastery, his landmark opus on how to allow the master musician from within to manifest. The Book was published in 1996. It recently became available as an ebook on kindle and in Ibooks.
Kenny started his own trio in 1981 with drummer Tom Rainey and bassist Ratzo Harris. The Kenny Werner Trio matured for fourteen years, wowing audiences in America and Europe and recording four albums along the way.
Kenny has written many original compositions featuring trios and other small group configurations, but in the mid 1980’s, he became the pianist for the Mel Lewis Orchestra (currently known as the Village Vanguard Orchestra). Challenged by Mel and Bob Brookmeyer to write for the band, he produced his first compositions and arrangements for jazz orchestra, consequently leading him to write for the major bands in Europe including the Cologne, Danish, and Stockholm Jazz Orchestras, The Umo Jazz Orchestra of Finland and several times as the guest composer and soloist with the Metropole Orchestra of Holland. He’s release two CDs with the Brussels Jazz Orchestra. One released in 2011 is called “Institute Of Higher Learning.” Werner has had many commissions to write for large ensembles such as jazz orchestras, full orchestras and most recently, wind ensemble, choir and string quartet as featured on his latest CD, No Beginning, No End. He continues to release Cds . A new solo cd and new Quintet Cd is set for release in 2012.
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Album Review
- The Melody by Dan Bilawsky
- Poesia by Dan Bilawsky
Live Review
Album Review
Radio & Podcasts
- Art Ensemble of Chicago, Federica Michisanti and other great new releases
- Kenny Werner, Miles Davis & more
- Kenny Werner on his Life and Career
Album Review
- The Space by Maurizio Zerbo
Multiple Reviews
Read more articlesJanuary 05, 2021
Janis Mann & Kenny Werner - Dreams Of Flying
June 30, 2015
Music Education Monday: Master classes with pianists Chick Corea and...
March 02, 2015
Kenny Werner “Effortless Mastery: The 4 Steps” Instructional Video...
February 27, 2015
Kenny Werner “Effortless Mastery Of Melody, Harmony & Rhythm”...
March 10, 2014
Esperanza Spalding, Kenny Werner To Play A "Concert To Feed The Hungry"
January 09, 2012
Kenny Werner - Lawn Chair Society (2007)
August 25, 2011
Half Note Announces The Release Of Three New Recordings By Kenny Werner
July 12, 2011
Composition for the Dearly Departed
May 10, 2011
Kenny Werner - Balloons (Half Note, 2011)
March 21, 2011
Half Note Announces A New Release From Kenny Werner "Balloons" ...
Rick McLaughlin
bassMark Usvolk
bassMatthew Giobbi
tromboneElinor Speirs
violinSila Shaman
pianoPhotos
Album Discography
Against Silence
From: The Poets Are GatheringBy Kenny Werner
Fifth Movement
From: The SpaceBy Kenny Werner
The God of Time
From: No Beginning No EndBy Kenny Werner