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Kenny Garrett is an American post bop jazz saxophonist and flautist.
BiographyHe was born in Detroit, Michigan on October 9, 1960. His father was a carpenter who played tenor saxophone as a hobby. Garrett's career took off when he joined the Duke Ellington Orchestra in 1978, then led by Duke's son, Mercer Ellington. Three years later he played in the Mel Lewis Orchestra, (playing the music of Thad Jones) and also the Dannie Richmond Quartet (focusing on Charles Mingus's music). In 1984, he recorded his first album as a bandleader, Introducing Kenny Garrett, on the CrissCross Label. He then recorded two albums with Atlantic, Prisoner of Love and African Exchange Student. Garrett has recorded for Warner Bros. Records since 1992. Among his notable recordings on Warner Bros. are Pursuance: The Music of John Coltrane, recorded in 1996, and Songbook, his first album made up entirely of his own compositions, recorded in 1997 and nominated for a Grammy Award. During his career, Garrett has performed and recorded with many jazz greats such as Miles Davis, Art Blakey, Freddie Hubbard, Woody Shaw, McCoy Tyner, Pharoah Sanders, Brian Blade, Marcus Miller, Chick Corea, John McLaughlin, Herbie Hancock, Bobby Hutcherson, Ron Carter, Elvin Jones, and Mulgrew Miller. Garrett's music sometimes exhibits Asian influence, an aspect which is especially prevalent in his 2006 recording, Beyond the Wall.
While Garrett is most well known in many circles for the five years he spent playing with Miles Davis during Miles' electric period, he states that he has become accustomed to the association:
"I was in Miles' band for about five years
. I think that tag will always be there. That is five years of my life. That's the only musical situation that I was there longer than a year. It was a good five years. I have gotten used to that. Some people became aware of me through Miles and then they would come to my concerts. I think that is part of my history and I am proud of that. I am still trying to carve out my own name and my own music. I just look at it as a part of history and it is going to be there. Every time they mention Kenny Garrett, there will probably be some association with Miles Davis, but at the same time, when they mention Herbie Hancock, they always mention Miles Davis, or Wayne Shorter. You get used to it after a while." (allaboutjazz.com)
and Kenny Garrett Photo: Pierre Corbucci
Garrett's latest album is Sketches of MD: Live at the Iridium, featuring Pharoah Sanders. It was released on September 23rd, 2008. On his website, KennyGarrett.com, he states that his current band consists of electric bass and organ.
Garrett is currently on tour with Chick Corea, John McLaughlin, Christian McBride and Brian Blade as the "Five Peace Band".
DiscographyAs leader- Introducing Kenny Garrett, 1984
- 5 Paddle Wheel, 1988
- Prisoner of Love, 1989
- African Exchange Student, 1990
- Black Hope, 1992
- Introducing Kenny Garrett, 1994
- Threshold, 1994
- Triology, 1995
- Stars & Stripes Live, 1995
- Pursuance: The Music Of John Coltrane, 1996
- Songbook, 1997
- Simply Said, 1999
- Old Folks, 2001
- Birds Of A Feather: A Tribute To Charlie Parker, 2001
- Happy People, 2002
- Standard of Language, 2003
- Beyond The Wall, 2006
- Sketches of MD - live at the Iridium, 2008
As sidemanWith Miles Davis
- Amandla (1989)
- Miles & Quincy Live at Montreux (1991)
With Marcus Miller
- ''The Sun Don't Lie (1993)
- Tales (1995)
- Live & More (1998)
- Mē (2001)
- Panther/live (2004)
With Other Artists (these are just a few of the 230+ sideman recordings)
- Donald Byrd
- Mike Stern
- Terence Blanchard
- Cedar Walton
- Javon Jackson
- Duke Ellington Orchestra
- Wayman Tisdale
- Steve Turre
- Roy Haynes
- Lenny White
- Clifton Anderson
- Jeff "Tain" Watts
- John Scofield
- Charnett Moffett
- Rodney Kendrick
- Jazzmatazz
- Geri Allen
- Dennis Chambers
- Donald Byrd
- Philippe Saisse
Copyright Citations
This article is licensed under the GNU License
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