Kenny Barron

Born in Philadelphia, PA, on 9 June 1943, pianist, Kenny Barron, was younger brother to saxophonist, Bill Barron. He gigged with Philly Joe Jones while in high school student (much later to record with him on Marion Brown's 'Soul Eyes' in 1978). After graduation Barron headed for NYC where he quickly acquired spots with Roy Haynes (on whose 'Togyu' he appeared in 1973) and Lee Morgan.

Lord's disco finds Barron contributing as an arranger to Yusef Lateef's 'The Centaur and the Phoenix' in October of 1960. Lateef would become a major figure in Barron's career in the early seventies upon participating in five more of Lateef's LPs to 'The Doctor Is In ... And Out' in 1976.

'The Centaur and the Phoenix'   Yusef Lateef

Recorded Oct 1960 in NYC

Issued on 'The Centaur and the Phoenix'   Riverside RS 9337   1966

Arrangement: Kenny Barron (does not perform on album)

February 21 of 1961 found Barron contributing piano to his brother's 'The Tenor Stylings of Bill Barron', his first tracks as a performer. Bill would be a major associate for decades, Kenny supporting Bill on eleven more albums to 'Higher Ground' in 1989. Later along the way Bill would support Kenny's 'Lucifer' on April 28, 1975.

'The Tenor Stylings of Bill Barron'   Kenny Barron w Bill Barron (brother)

Album recorded 23 February 1961 in Newark, NJ   Savoy Records MG 12160

Another of the major characters in Barron's career was tenor saxophonist, James Moody, contributing to the latter's 'Another Bag' on January 30, 1962. Barron and Moody would interweave often into the new millennium, Barron to surface on ten more of Moody's albums to 'Moody 4A' and 'Moody 4B' in 2008.

'Minuet in G'   Kenny Barron w James Moody

Album recorded 20 Jan 1962 in Chicago   Matrix 11438

James Moody album: 'Another Bag'   Argo LP-695   1962

All compositions & arrangements by Tom McIntosh

'Cup Bearers'   Kenny Barron w James Moody

Album recorded 20 Jan 1962 in Chicago   Matrix 11440

James Moody album: 'Another Bag'   Argo LP-695   1962

All compositions & arrangements by Tom McIntosh

Moody early recommended Barron to bebop trumpeter, Dizzy Gillespie, his initial session with whom is thought to have been on an unknown date in 1962 for titles that would get issued in 1981 on an album by various called 'Europa Jazz'. Barron next joined Gillespie for 'Something Old Something New' on April 25 of 1963. Contributing saxophones and flute to that was Moody with rhythm supplied by Chris White at bass and Rudy Collins on drums. Barron stuck with Gillespie through five more LPs to 'The Melody Lingers On' in October of 1966.

'Medley: 'I Can't Get Started' - ''Round Midnight''   Kenny Barron w Dizzy Gillespie

Album recorded 25 April 1963 in NYC

Dizzy Gillespie album: 'Something Old Something New'   Philips 6336 241 (UK)

'I Can't Get Started' composed by Vernon Duke & Ira Gershwine

''Round Midnight' composed by Thelonious Monk 1940    Lyrics: Bernie Hanighen 1944

Embellishment by Cootie Williams

Among the more important bassists with whom Barron worked through the years was Ron Carter, they members of Bill Barron's Brasilieros in 1962 or '63 for 'Bossa Nova: The New Sound in Jazz from South America'. They visited again on February 17, 1967 for Stanley Turrentine on such as 'She's a Carioca', 'What Now My Love', et al. Carter and Barron would record together regularly to as late as Jamey Aebersold's 'Wayne Shorter' 1985. They supported each other's projects along the way as well. From 'Yellow and Green' in May of 1976 to 'Super Strings' in 1981 Barron contributed to nine Carter LPs. Carter backed Barron on the latter's '1+1+1' [1, 2] in April of 1984, those duos on which album bassist, Michael Moore, performs duos with Barron as well. Lord's disco shows a gap of five years with no mutual sessions between Barron and Carter until Mark Morganelli's 'Speak Low' recorded at the Birdland in NYC on June 13, 1990. Thence began another long stretch of mutual sessions at fairly regular intervals into the new millennium to as late as Steve Turre's 'Colors for the Masters' issued in 2016. Along the way Barron supported Carter's 'Friends' ('93) and 'Jazz: My Romance' ('94).

'She's a Carioca' ('She's From Rio de Janeiro')   Kenny Barron w Ron Carter for Stanley Turrentine

Recorded 17 Jan 1967 in Englewood Cliffs, NJ

Issued on 'Stanley Turrentine'   Blue Note BN-LA394-H2   1975

Composition: Antonio Carlos Jobim / Ray Gilbert / Vinicius de Moraes

Another big figure in Barron's career was trumpeter and flugelhorn player, Jimmy Owens, whom Tom Lord traces with Barron to as early as latter 1966 in support of Moody's album, 'Moody and The Brass Figures' (Milestone MSP 9005 in 1968). Barron and Owens formed a quintet together toward the issue of the album, 'You Had Better Listen' which first track went down ion 16 January of 1968 titled 'Carolina John'. Barron supported several albums by Owens, also working with Yusef Lateef together in the seventies and Bill Barron (brother) in the eighties. Lord traces them to a last recording together in August of 1983 per 'Swingin' in Bushnell Park' on Bill Barron's album, 'Variations In Blue' (Muse MR 5306).

'You Had Better Listen'   Kenny Barron w Jimmy Owens

Recorded 19 April 1967 in NYC

Issued on 'You Had Better Listen'   Atlantic 1491   1967

Composition: Jimmy Owens

It was April 23, 1967, when Barron joined trumpeter, Freddie Hubbard, in Baltimore, Maryland, to spread along 'Fastball - Live at The Left Bank'. Wikipedia has Barron at piano on seven of Hubbard's LPs from 'High Blues Pressure' ('68) to 'The Rose Tattoo' ('83).

'Fastball Live at the Left Bank'   Kenny Barron w Freddie Hubbard

Recorded 23 April 1967 in Baltimore

Issues: Label M 495726 in 2001   Hyena TMF 9332 in 2005

Barron had begun teaching at Rutgers University in New Jersey ('73/'74) where he built tenure until 2000. He there recorded a duo with guitarist, Ted Dunbar, on 15 February 1975 issued as 'In Tandem'. His next session was for the album, 'Lucifer', held on 28 April 1975 in New York City:

'Spirits'   Kenny Barron

Recorded 28 April 1967 in NYC   Issued on 'Lucifer'   Muse MR5070   1975

Composition: Kenny Barron

'Ethereally Yours'   Kenny Barron

Recorded 28 April 1967 in NYC   Issued on 'Lucifer'   Muse MR5070   1975

Composition: Kenny Barron

'Hellbound'   Kenny Barron

Recorded 28 April 1967 in NYC   Issued on 'Lucifer'   Muse MR5070   1975

Composition: Kenny Barron

Barron received his BA from Empire State College in NYC in 1978, the same year he recorded the album, 'Innocence', on an unidentified date with the backing of Jimmy Owens:

'Sunshower'   Kenny Barron

Recorded sometime 1978   Issued on 'Innocence'   Wolf 1203   1978

Composition: Kenny Barron

Barron's first album of solo piano pieces was issued in 1981: 'Kenny Barron at the Piano'. Two more albums of solos followed in 1982 ('Spiral') and 1991 ('Live at Maybeck Recital Hall Volume Ten'). In 1982 Barron formed the quartet, Sphere, with Charlie Rouse (tenor sax), Buster Williams (bass) and Ben Riley (drums) to record 'Four In One' on February 17. That configuration remained the same through five more albums to 1988. Gary Bartz replaced Rouse for 'Sphere' on October 4, 1997.

'Four In One'   Kenny Barron's Sphere

Album recorded 17 February 1982 in Englewood Cliffs, NJ   Issued on Elektra Musician P-11382   1982

Tenor sax: Charlie Rouse    Bass: Buster Williams   Drums: Ben Riley

Come March 9, 1986, for Barron's initial session with saxophonist, Stan Getz, that coming to 'Voyage'. Barron kept with Getz through several more albums to 1991, their last session thought to have been in March that year in Denmark for live titles toward 'People Time' ('92). His duo with Getz on 'People Time' gained Barron his first Grammy nomination. Eight more nominations would occur in the 21st century, though none obtained.

'Voyage'   Kenny Barron w the Stan Getz Quartet

Recorded 9 March 1986 in Menio Park, CA   Issued on 'Voyage'   Blackhawk BKH 51101   1986

Tenor sax: Stan Getz   Bass: Goerge Mraz   Drums: Victor Lewis

Composition: Kenny Barron

Kenny Barron w the Stan Getz Quartet   Telecast: 'Jazz Gipfel 1989'

Performed July 1989 at the Liederhalle in Stuttgart, Germany

Tenor sax: Stan Getz   Bass: Yasuhito Mori   Drums: Ben Riley

Barron continued touring internationally throughout the nineties. He wrapped up the 20th century with the album, 'One On One' gone down in December of 1999 with Clark Terry at trumpet and flugelhorn.

Kenny Barron Trio at Jazz de Vitoria-Gaztiez 1994

Bass: Ray Drummond   Drums: Ben Riley

Kenny Barron w Gary Bartz on sax at Jazzwoche Burghausen 1997

 Bass: Ray Drummond   Drums: Ben Riley

Kenny Barron filmed live in Japan   Tour: '100 Golden Fingers' 1998

Solo: 'You Don't Know What Love Is'   Trio: 'Autumn Leaves'

Bass: Ray Drummond   Drums: Ben Riley

'You Don't Know What Love Is'   Music: Gene de Paul 1941   Lyrics Don Raye

'Autumn Leaves'   Music: Joseph Kosma 1945   Lyrics: Jacques Prévert (F)   Johnny Mercer (E)

Barron began the new millennium in January of 2000 in NYC backing vocalist, Jane Monheit, toward her album, 'Never Never Land'. The early 21st century also brought the Classical Jazz Quartet with Stefon Harris (vibes/marimba), Ron Carter (bass) and Lewis Nash (drums). From 2001 to 2006 that combo issued albums addressing Tchaikovsky, Bach and Rachmaninoff. Those were recorded in New York City, as were most of his tracks, as he continued to tour internationally.

Kenny Barron Trio filmed live in Donostia, Spain   2000

Bass: Ray Drummond   Drums: Ben Riley

'The Swingin' Nut' ('Overture Miniature')   Kenny Barron w the Classical Jazz Quartet

Recorded 21/22 Aug 2001   Issued on 'Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker'   Vertical Jazz 5507   2001

'Mirlitonova' ('Dance of the Reeds')   Kenny Barron w the Classical Jazz Quartet

Recorded 21/22 Aug 2001   Issued on 'Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker'   Vertical Jazz 5507   2001

Vibraphone & marimba: Stefon Harris   Bass: Ron Carter   Drums: Lewis Nash

 Kenny Barron at Jazz in Marciac 2009

Guitar: Joe Pass   Bass: Dave Holland

 Kenny Barron piano solo at Jazz in Marciac 2010

Barron was made an NEA Jazz Master in 2010, considered the most prestigious award in the field. Recent releases since then include 'Kenny Barron & the Brazilian Knights' gone down in June of 2012 for issue a year later. Barron joined Bill Mobley on 'Hittin' Home' in spring of 2016. Wikipedia has Barron leading or co-leading 51 albums to as late as 'Book of Intuition' issued in 2016, that a trio with Kiyoshi Kitagawa (bass) and Johnathan Blake (drums). Above twelve of those were joint endeavors with a variety of musicians from pianist, Tommy Flanagan ('Together' '78), to double bassist, Dave Holland ('The Art of Conversation' '14). Another recent issue was 'Concentric Circles' recorded in Brooklyn in March of 2017. As of this writing, Tom Lord traces Barron to as recently as 17 December 2019 backing Joe Farnsworth's 'Time to Swing' in NYC with Wynton Marsalis at trumpet, Peter Washington at bass and Farnsworth at drums. Other titles and concerts of the last decade up to 2020 follow below. Titles with Dave Holland in 2014 are listed alphabetically for want of a set list:

'Black Orpheus' ('Manha de Carnaval')   Kenny Barron   Solo Piano

Recorded 1 Feb 2012 in NYC   Issued on 'My Funny Valentine'   Eighty-Eight's EE-8805   2013

'Day Dream'   Kenny Barron   Solo Piano

Jazz à Vienne at the Théâtre Antique on 8 July 2012

Music: Billy Strayhorn 1939   Lyrics: John Latouche

'Billie's Bounce'   Kenny Barron w Dave Holland (string bass)

Jazz à la Villette at the Grande Halle in Paris on 9 Sep 2012

Composition: Charlie Parker

Kenny Barron Quintet filmed live at Village Vanguard on 5 June 2013

Alto sax: Vincent Herring   Trumpet: Brandon Lee

Bass: Kiyoshi Kitagawa   Drums: Lee Pearson

'Segment'   Kenny Barron w Dave Holland (bass) at Village Vanguard in Paris 18 Nov 2014

Composition: Charlie Parker

'Spiral'   Kenny Barron w Dave Holland (bass) at Village Vanguard in Paris 18 Nov 2014

Composition: Kenny Barron

'In Walked Bud'   Kenny Barron w Dave Holland (bass) at Village Vanguard in Paris 18 Nov 2014

Composition: Thelonious Monk 1947

'Waltz For Wheeler'   Kenny Barron w Dave Holland (bass) at Village Vanguard in Paris 18 Nov 2014

Composition: Dave Holland

'DPW'   Kenny Barron Quintet

From 'Concentric Circles' recorded 19/20 March 2017 in Brooklyn    Blue Note B002832502

Trumpet & flugelhorn: Mike Rodriguez   Saxophones: Dayna Stephens

Bass: Kiyoshi Kitagawa   Drums: Johnathan Blake

'Good Shepard'   Kenny Barron backing Joe Farnswrth (drums)

Recorded 27 Dec 2019 in NYC

Joe Farnsworth album 'Time to Swing'   Smoke Sessions SSR-2006

Trumpet: Wynton Marsalis   Bass: Peter Washington

Composition: Joe Farsworth

Amidst the numerous others on whose recordings Barron appeared over the years were Buddy Rich, Sonny Fortune, Chet Baker, Chico Freeman, Joshua Breakstone, Sheila Jordan, Red Mitchell, Nick Brignola, Helen Merrill and Dianne Reeves. Having also taught at Juilliard, Barron is yet active as of this writing as he approaches eighty years of age.