Kenny Drew Jr. (June 14, 1958 – August 3, 2014) was an American jazz pianist. His music is known for its hard-swinging bluesy sound and large, two-handed rooty chords contrasting with fast runs. The son of jazz pianist Kenny Drew, he did not credit his father as an influence.[1][2][3]
Kenny Drew Jr. | |
|---|---|
| Born | June 14, 1958 New York City, New York, US |
| Died | August 3, 2014 (aged 56) St. Petersburg, Florida, US |
| Genres | Jazz |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instrument(s) | Piano |
| Years active | 1970s–2010s |
Biography edit
His initial study was in classical music with his aunt and grandmother.[1] In his teens he became interested in jazz and pop, but initially worked in funk bands. Later he went into jazz piano and in 1990 won The Great American Jazz Piano Competition in Jacksonville, Florida. Drew continued to perform jazz, but he also performed some chamber music. His style has some similarities to his father's, but is different enough to generally avoid comparison; he was considered the more eclectic of the two men.
Drew attended Iona College in New Rochelle, New York, for a period during 1977 to 1978. There, he became pianist for the Iona College Singers, an entertainment troop promoting the college's name and goodwill among local high schools, retirement homes and the like in the Northeast region of the US.
Drew cited Thelonious Monk as an influence and like Monk often recorded (and performed) solo.
Drew died at home in St. Petersburg, Florida, on August 3, 2014.[3]
Discography edit
As leader edit
| Year recorded | Title | Label | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | The Flame Within | Pony Canyon | Quartet, with Bob Berg (tenor sax), Charnett Moffett (bass), Al Foster (drums) |
| 1988 | The Rainbow Connection | Evidence | With Terence Blanchard (trumpet), Charnett Moffett (bass), Cody Moffett (drums) |
| 1989 | Third Phase | Pony Canyon | Trio, with Buster Williams (bass), Marvin "Smitty" Smith (drums) |
| 1991 | Kenny Drew, Jr. | Antilles | Some tracks trio, with Christian McBride (bass), Winard Harper, (drums); some tracks quintet, with Wallace Roney (trumpet), Ralph Moore (tenor sax), George Mraz (bass), Al Foster (drums) |
| 1992 | A Look Inside | Antilles | Some tracks quartet with David Sánchez (tenor sax), George Mraz (bass), Lewis Nash (drums); dome tracks quartet with Joshua Redman (tenor sax), Charnett Moffett (bass); Cody Moffett (drums) |
| 1993 | Another Point of View | JazzCity Spirit | One track solo piano; most tracks trio, with Eddie Gomez (bass), Bill Stewart (drums) added |
| 1994 | Kenny Drew Jr. at Maybeck | Concord Jazz | Solo piano; in concert |
| 1994 | Portraits of Mingus & Monk | Claves Jazz | Trio, with Lynn Seaton (bass), Marvin "Smitty" Smith (drums) |
| 1995 | Secrets | TCB | Trio, with Lynn Seaton (bass), Marvin "Smitty" Smith (drums) |
| 1995 | This One's for Bill | TCB | Solo piano |
| 1995 | Crystal River | TCB | Sextet, with Michael Philip Mossman (trumpet, flugelhorn), Ravi Coltrane (soprano sax, tenor sax), Steve Nelson (vibraphone), Lynn Seaton (bass), Tony Reedus (drums) |
| 1995 | Passionata | Meldac Jazz | Most tracks trio, with Peter Washington (bass), Lewis Nash (drums); some tracks with strings added |
| 1996 | Reverie | Meldac Jazz | Trio, with Lynn Seaton (bass), Lewis Nash (drums) |
| 1997 | Reverie | Meldac Jazz | With Lynn Seaton (bass), Lewis Nash (drums); some tracks with David Sanchez (tenor sax) added |
| 1997 | Follow the Spirit | Sirocco Jazz | Quartet, with Steve Wilson (soprano sax, alto sax), Lynn Seaton (bass), Tony Jefferson (drums) |
| 1998 | Winter Flower | Milestone | Trio, with Lynn Seaton (bass), Tony Jefferson (drums) |
| 1999 | Remembrance | TCB | With Wallace Roney (trumpet), Stefon Harris (vibes), Santi Debriano (bass), Tony Jefferson (drums) |
| 1999 | Live at Montreux | TCB | Solo piano; in concert |
| 2001 | Autumn | Pony Canyon | Trio, with George Mraz (bass), Tony Jefferson (drums) |
| 2002? | Da Skale | TCB | Daniel Schnyder / Kenny Drew Jr. Quartet |
| 2011? | Duality | Random Act | with Larry Coryell |
| 2012? | Coral Sea | Random Act | Trio, with Jon Burr (bass), Marty Morell (drums); released 2012 |
Main source:[4]
As sideman edit
- 1987: Charnett Moffett - The Net Man (Blue Note Records)
- 1987: Charnett Moffett - Beauty Within (Blue Note Records)
- 1987: Charnett Moffett - Beauty Within (Blue Note Records)
- 1993: Hal Melia - Waduyathink (Positive Music)
- 1993: Mingus Big Band - Mingus Big Band 93: Nostalgia in Times Square (Dreyfus Records)
- 1993: Carl Allen & Manhattan Projects - Echoes of our Heroes (Evidence Music)
- 1994: Steve Slagle - Reincarnation (Steeplechase)
- 1995: Stanley Turrentine - T Time (MusicMasters Records)
- 1995: Michael Philip Mossman - Spring Dance (Claves Jazz (Switzerland))
- 1995: John Tank - So In Love (TCB Records)
- 1995: Daniel Schnyder - Nucleus (Enja)
- 1995: Jack Walrath - Journey, Man! (Evidence Music)
- 1995: Ron McClure - Inner Account (Steeplechase)
- 1995: Mingus Big Band - Gunslinging Bird (Dreyfus Records)
- 1996: Nat Adderley, Jeff Berlin, and Kenny Drew Jr.: Monk in the Sun
- 1996: Mingus Big Band - Live in Time (Dreyfus Records)
- 1996: Jack Wilkins-Kenny Drew Jr. Quartet - Keep in Touch (Claves Jazz)
- 1996: Ronnie Cuber - In a New York Minute (Steeplechase)
- 1997: George A. Johnson - Turqoise Connection (A Records / Challenge Records)
- 1998: David "Bubba" Brooks - Smooth Sailing (TCB Records)
- 1998: Warren Vaché - Plays Harry Warren: An Affair to Remember (Zéphyr Records (Brussels))
- 1998: Michael Philip Mossman - Spring Dance (TCB Records)
- 2000: Daniel Schnyder - Words Within Music (Enja)
- 2000: Paul F. Kendall/Bob Leto - Excursions (Brownstone Recordings)
- 2000: Johnny Griffin - Nucleus (Storyville)
- 2000: Daniel Schnyder - An Evening at Sea (Chiaroscuro Records)
- 2001: Paul F. Kendall/Bob Leto - Red Top (Brownstone Recordings)
- 2001: Paquito D'Rivera - Excursions (Enja)
- 2002: Cody Moffett - My Favorite Things (TCB Records)
- 2002: Daniel Schnyder - Songbook (CCn'C)
- 2002: Butch Miles - Straight On Till Morning (Nagel Heyer Records)
- 2003: Daniel Schnyder/Kenny Drew Jr. Quartet - Da Skale (TCB Records)
- 2004: Richard Drexler - Señor Juan Brahms (Nicolosi Productions)
- 2003: Martirio - Primavera en Nueva York (Sony BMG)
- 2009: Jeff Rupert – From Memphis to Mobile (Random Act)
- 2010: Daniel Schnyder - Worlds Beyond Faust (Col Legno)
- 2010: Thomas Dobler/Kenny Drew Jr "The Oasis and thé Mirage" . Piano/Vibes .
- 2017: Kevin Çelebi - Purge Corruption (Nikki & Heidi Records) (posthumous release)[5][6]
References edit
- ^ a b Scott Yanow, Allmusic biography.
- ^ George Colligan (4 August 2014). "R.I.P. Kenny Drew Jr". Jazz Truth. Retrieved August 7, 2014.
- ^ a b Tamarkin, Jeff (August 6, 2014), "Pianist Kenny Drew Jr. Dies at 56". JazzTimes.
- ^ "Kenny Drew Jr. Discography". jazzdisco.org. Retrieved June 29, 2018.
- ^ "Kevin Çelebi - Purge Corruption". iTunes. 23 May 2017. Retrieved June 15, 2017.
- ^ "Kevin Çelebi - Purge Corruption". Google Play. Retrieved June 15, 2017.
- "Kenny Drew Jr. | Credits". Allmusic. Retrieved May 26, 2017.