Kenny Garrett
Kenny Garrett | |
---|---|
Background information | |
Born | Detroit, Michigan, United States | October 9, 1960
Genres | Jazz, post-bop, jazz fusion |
Occupations | Musician |
Instruments | Alto saxophone, soprano saxophone, flute |
Years active | 1978–present |
Labels | Atlantic, Warner Bros, Mack Avenue, Criss Cross Jazz |
Website | www |
Kenny Garrett (born October 9, 1960) is an American post-bop jazz saxophonist and flautist who gained recognition in his youth as a member of the Duke Ellington Orchestra and of Miles Davis's band. Since then, he has pursued a solo career.
Biography
Kenny Garrett was born in Detroit, Michigan, on October 9, 1960.[1] His father was a carpenter who played tenor saxophone as a hobby.[1] Garrett's own career as a saxophonist took off when he joined the Duke Ellington Orchestra, under the leadership of Mercer Ellington, in 1978.[1] Garrett also played and recorded with Art Blakey, Miles Davis, Freddie Hubbard, and Woody Shaw before developing his career as a leader.[1]
In 1984, Garrett recorded his first album as a bandleader, Introducing Kenny Garrett, on the CrissCross label.[2] In the year, he became the founding member of Out of the Blue which was produced by Blue Note Records.[3] In 1986, Garrett became a member of Art Blakey's The Jazz Messengers.
He signed to the Warner Bros. Records label, and beginning with Black Hope, in 1992,[1] he recorded eight albums for them.[2] Garrett's music sometimes exhibits Asian influences, an aspect which is especially prevalent in his 2006 Grammy-nominated recording Beyond the Wall.[2]
Garrett joined the "Five Peace Band" of Chick Corea, John McLaughlin, Christian McBride and Brian Blade/Vinnie Colaiuta around 2008.[1] The CD Five Peace Band – Live won a Grammy Award in 2010.[4]
In 2011, Garrett was presented with an Honorary Doctorate in Music from Berklee College of Music, Boston, Massachusetts.[5] Garrett also was the Commencement Speaker for graduates.[5]
In 2012, Garrett received a Soul Train Award nomination for his 2012 studio album Seeds from the Underground in the Best Traditional Jazz Artist/Group category.[6] Also in 2012, Grammy nominations for Seeds from the Underground followed in the Best Jazz Instrumental Album and Best Improvised Jazz Solo categories,[4] and Seeds From The Underground received a NAACP Image Award nomination in the Outstanding Jazz Album category.[7] In 2013, Garrett won an Echo Award in the Saxophonist of the Year category.[8]
Garrett's Pushing the World Away album received a Grammy nomination in the Best Jazz Instrumental Album category in 2013.[9]
Garrett has been a resident of Glen Ridge, New Jersey.[10]
Influence
Garrett was described as "The most important alto saxophonist of his generation" by the Washington City Paper[11] and "One of the most admired alto saxophonists in jazz after Charlie Parker" by The New York Times.[12]
Discography
As leader
- Introducing Kenny Garrett (Criss Cross, 1985) - recorded in 1984
- Garrett 5 (Paddle Wheel, 1989) - recorded in 1988
- Prisoner of Love (Atlantic, 1989)
- African Exchange Student (Atlantic, 1990)
- Black Hope (Warner Bros., 1992)
- Stars & Stripes Live (Jazz Door, 1994) - live. recorded in 1993.
- Triology (Warner Bros., 1995)
- Pursuance: The Music of John Coltrane (Warner Bros., 1996)
- Songbook (Warner Bros., 1997)
- Simply Said (Warner Bros., 1999)
- Old Folks (West Wind, 1999) with John Scofield, Michael Brecker and David Friesen
- Happy People (Warner Bros., 2002)
- Standard of Language (Warner Bros., 2003)
- Beyond the Wall (Nonesuch, 2006)
- Sketches of MD – Live at the Iridium (Mack Avenue, 2008)
- Seeds from the Underground (Mack Avenue, 2012)
- Pushing the World Away (Mack Avenue, 2013)
- Do Your Dance! (Mack Avenue, 2016)
- Out of the Blue (Blue Note, 1985)
- Inside Track (Blue Note, 1986)
- Live at Mt. Fuji (Blue Note, 1987)
As sideman
With Donald Byrd
- Harlem Blues (Landmark, 1988)
- Getting Down to Business (Landmark, 1990)
With Chick Corea
- Remembering Bud Powell (Stretch, 1997) – Grammy nominated
- Five Peace Band Live (Concord, 2009) – Grammy won
With Miles Davis
- Amandla (Warner Bros., 1989)
- Miles & Quincy Live at Montreux (Warner Bros., 1991)
- Live Around the World (Warner Bros., 1996)
With Marcus Miller
- The Sun Don't Lie (Dreyfus, 1993)
- Tales (Dreyfus, 1995)
- Live & More (GRP, 1998)
- M² (Telarc, 2001)
- Panther/Live (2004)
With Mulgrew Miller
- Wingspan (Landmark, 1987)
- Hand in Hand (Novus, 1992)
With Mike Stern
- These Times (ESC, 2004)
- All Over the Place (Heads Up International, 2012)
With others
- Geri Allen – The Nurturer (Blue Note, 1991)
- Clifton Anderson – Decade (Doxy, 2008)
- Cindy Blackman – Arcane (Muse, 1987)
- Art Blakey and The Jazz Messengers – Feeling Good (Delos Productions, 1986)
- Terence Blanchard – Romantic Defiance (Columbia, 1995)
- Dennis Chambers – Planet Earth (BHM Productions, 2005)
- The Duke Ellington Orchestra – Music Is My Mistress (Musicmasters, 1989)
- Guru – Guru's Jazzmatazz, Vol. 2: The New Reality (Chrysalis, 1995)
- Roy Haynes – Birds of a Feather - A Tribute to Charlie Parker (Dreyfus Jazz, 2001) – Grammy nominated
- Javon Jackson – When The Time Is Right (Blue Note, 1994)
- Rodney Kendrick – The Secrets of Rodney Kendrick (Verve, 1993)
- Christian McBride – Number Two Express (verve, 1996)
- John McLaughlin – Five Peace Band Live (Concord, 2009) – Grammy won
- Charnett Moffett – Evidence (Telarc, 1993)
- Meshell Ndegeocello – The Spirit Music Jamia: Dance of the Infidel (Universal Music, 2005)
- Q-Tip – Kamaal the Abstract (Battery, 2009)
- Wallace Roney – Intuition (Muse, 1988)
- Philippe Saisse – Masques (Verve Forecast, 1995)
- John Scofield – Works for Me (Verve, 2000)
- Woody Shaw – Solid (Muse, 1986)
- Wayman Tisdale – Power Forward (Motown, 1995)
- Steve Turre – Rainbow People (HighNote, 2008)
- Jack Walrath – Master of Suspense (Blue Note, 1987)
- Cedar Walton – Cedar Walton Plays (Delos, 1986)
- Jeff "Tain" Watts – Citizen Tain (Columbia, 1999)
- Lenny White – Present Tense (Hip Bop, 1995)
- Larry Willis – My Funny Valentine (Jazz City, 1988)
Awards and nominations
Year | Result | Award | Category | Work |
---|---|---|---|---|
1996 | Won | DownBeat Readers Poll | Alto Saxophone[13] | |
1997 | Won | DownBeat Readers Poll | Alto Saxophone[14] | |
1997 | Won | DownBeat Readers Poll | Jazz Album of the Year[14] | Pursuance: The Music of John Coltrane |
1998 | Nominated | Grammy Award | Best Jazz Instrumental Performance[15] | Chick Corea – Remembering Bud Powell |
1998 | Nominated | Grammy Award | Best Jazz Instrumental Performance[15] | Songbook |
1998 | Won | DownBeat Readers Poll | Alto Saxophone[16] | |
1999 | Won | DownBeat Readers Poll | Alto Saxophone[17] | |
2002 | Nominated | Grammy Award | Best Jazz Instrumental Album[15] | Roy Haynes – Birds of a Feather - A Tribute to Charlie Parker |
2007 | Nominated | Grammy Award | Best Jazz Instrumental Album[15][18] | Beyond the Wall |
2009 | Won | DownBeat Readers Poll | Alto Saxophone[19] | |
2010 | Won | DownBeat Readers Poll | Alto Saxophone[20] | |
2010 | Won | Grammy Award | Best Jazz Instrumental Album[15] | Chick Corea & John McLaughlin Five Peace Band – Five Peace Band Live |
2012 | Nominated | NAACP Image Award | Outstanding Jazz Album | Seeds from the Underground |
2012 | Nominated | Soul Train Award | Best Traditional Jazz Artist/Group | Seeds from the Underground |
2012 | Nominated | Jazz Awards | Alto Saxophonist of the Year | |
2012 | Won | Echo Award | Saxophonist of the Year[21] | |
2012 | Won | DownBeat Readers Poll | Alto Saxophone[22] | |
2013 | Won | DownBeat Readers Poll | Alto Saxophone[23] | |
2013 | Nominated | Grammy Award | Best Jazz Instrumental Album[15] | Seeds from the Underground |
2013 | Nominated | Grammy Award | Best Improvised Jazz Solo[15] | "J. Mac" |
2014 | Nominated | Grammy Award | Best Jazz Instrumental Album[15] | Pushing the World Away |
Chart positions
Chart | Peak position |
Work |
---|---|---|
Billboard Top Jazz Albums (1989)[24] | 20 | Prisoner of Love |
Billboard Top Jazz Albums (1990)[25] | 5 | African Exchange Student |
Billboard Top Jazz Albums (1992)[26] | 6 | Black Hope |
Billboard Top Jazz Albums (1995)[27] | 22 | Triology |
Billboard Top Jazz Albums (1996)[28] | 10 | Pursuance: The Music of John Coltrane |
Billboard Top Jazz Albums (1997)[29] | 7 | Songbook |
Billboard Top Jazz Albums (1999)[30] | 20 | Simply Said |
Billboard Top Jazz Albums (2002)[31] | 19 | Happy People |
Billboard Top Jazz Albums (2003)[32] | 11 | Standard of Language |
Billboard Top Jazz Albums (2006)[33] | 13 | Beyond the Wall |
Billboard Top Jazz Albums (2008)[34] | 11 | Sketches of MD |
Billboard Top Jazz Albums (2012)[35] | 10 | Seeds from the Underground |
Billboard Top Jazz Albums (2013)[36] | 6 | Pushing the World Away |
Billboard Top Jazz Albums (2016)[37] | 24 | Do Your Dance! |
References
- ^ a b c d e f Skelly, Richard. "Kenny Garrett: Biography". Allmusic. Retrieved 2010-03-21.
- ^ a b c "Nonesuch Records Beyond the Wall". Nonesuch.com.
- ^ "Out of The Blue". Blue Note Records. Retrieved December 27, 2020.
- ^ a b "Awards Nominations & Winners". Grammy.com. April 30, 2017.
- ^ a b "Kenny Garrett Addresses Berklee's Largest Graduating Class | Berklee College of Music". Berklee.edu.
- ^ "Soul Train Licensing Info". BET.com.
- ^ "Kenny Garrett NAACP Image Award Nomination" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-03-19.
- ^ Music, Mack Avenue (April 5, 2013). "Kenny Garrett won the Echo Award for saxophonist of the year! Make sure to pick up "Seeds From the Underground."". Twitter.com.
- ^ "Kenny Garrett". Grammy.com. November 19, 2019.
- ^ "The State of Jazz: Meet 40 More Jersey Greats", The Star-Ledger, September 28, 2003, backed up by the Internet Archive as of September 27, 2008. Accessed September 15, 2017. "Kenny Garrett -- Glen Ridge resident Garrett is a high-energy alto and soprano saxophonist who has played and/or recorded with Miles Davis, the Mercer Ellington Orchestra, Pharoah Sanders and Out of the Blue."
- ^ "Jazz Setlist, May 31-June 8: The Unfestive Alley". Washington City Paper.
- ^ Ratliff, Ben (August 25, 2013). "A Young Jazz Singer Reminds Her Elders How It Was Done". Nytimes.com.
- ^ "Kenny Garrett 1996 DownBeat Readers Poll Win". Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2013-11-08.
- ^ a b "Kenny Garrett 1997 DownBeat Readers Poll Win". Archived from the original on 2015-06-04. Retrieved 2013-11-08.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Kenny Garrett". Recording Academy.
- ^ "Kenny Garrett 1998 DownBeat Readers Poll Win". Archived from the original on 2015-06-04. Retrieved 2013-11-08.
- ^ "Kenny Garrett 1999 DownBeat Readers Poll Win". Archived from the original on 2015-06-04. Retrieved 2013-11-08.
- ^ "Nonesuch Records Artists". Nonesuch Records Official Website.
- ^ "Kenny Garrett 2009 DownBeat Readers Poll Win". Archived from the original on 2013-05-12. Retrieved 2013-11-08.
- ^ "Kenny Garrett 2010 DownBeat Readers Poll Win". Archived from the original on 2013-05-12. Retrieved 2013-11-08.
- ^ "2013 Nominees/Winners".
- ^ "Kenny Garrett 2012 DownBeat Readers Poll Win". Archived from the original on 2016-07-30.
- ^ "Kenny Garrett 2013 DownBeat Readers Poll Win". Archived from the original on 2013-11-09. Retrieved 2013-11-08.
- ^ "Billboard Jazz Albums, 1989". Billboard Magazine. 1989. Retrieved November 7, 2013.
- ^ "Billboard Jazz Albums, 1990". Billboard Magazine. 1990. Retrieved November 7, 2013.
- ^ "Billboard Jazz Albums, 1992". Billboard Magazine. 1992. Retrieved November 7, 2013.
- ^ "Billboard Jazz Albums, 1995". Billboard Magazine. 1995. Retrieved November 7, 2013.
- ^ "Billboard Jazz Albums, 1996". Billboard Magazine. 1996. Retrieved November 7, 2013.
- ^ "Billboard Jazz Albums, 1997". Billboard Magazine. 1997. Retrieved November 7, 2013.
- ^ "Billboard Jazz Albums, 1999". Billboard Magazine. 1999. Retrieved November 7, 2013.
- ^ "Billboard Jazz Albums, 2002". Billboard Magazine. 2002. Retrieved November 7, 2013.
- ^ "Billboard Jazz Albums, 2003". Billboard Magazine. 2003. Retrieved November 7, 2013.
- ^ "Billboard Jazz Albums, 2006". Billboard Magazine. 2006. Retrieved November 7, 2013.
- ^ "Billboard Jazz Albums, 2008". Billboard Magazine. 2008. Retrieved November 7, 2013.
- ^ "Billboard Jazz Albums, June 25, 2012". Billboard.com. Retrieved June 25, 2012.
- ^ "Billboard Jazz Albums, October 5, 2013". Billboard Magazine. Retrieved October 5, 2013.
- ^ "Billboard Jazz Albums, July 30, 2016". Billboard Magazine. Retrieved July 30, 2016.
External links
- 1960 births
- Living people
- Post-bop jazz musicians
- American jazz composers
- American male jazz composers
- American jazz flautists
- American jazz saxophonists
- American male saxophonists
- Jazz alto saxophonists
- Miles Davis
- Musicians from Detroit
- Musicians from New Jersey
- African-American jazz musicians
- People from Glen Ridge, New Jersey
- 21st-century saxophonists
- Jazz musicians from Michigan
- Out of the Blue (American band) members
- Mack Avenue Records artists
- Warner Records artists