Wynton Kelly: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
Mikemaehr (talk | contribs)
50 edits
Mikemaehr (talk | contribs)
50 edits
Line 26: Line 26:
Kelly became better known after joining [[Dinah Washington]]'s band in 1951, going on to record 14 titles for [[Blue Note Records|Blue Note]] in his trio in the same year.<ref name="proper" /> After this he played with bands led by [[Lester Young]] and [[Dizzy Gillespie]], recording with the latter in 1952.<ref name="proper" /> Kelly was drafted into the army in September 1952, and stayed for two years, ending that period with a music performance for an audience of 10,000 in the [[Chastain Park|Chastain Memorial Park]] Amphitheater in [[Atlanta, Georgia]].<ref>''New York Amsterdam News'' (September 11, 1954) "Jazz Pianist Wynton Kelly Discharged By The Army". p. 20</ref> After leaving the military, Kelly worked with Washington again (1955–1957), [[Charles Mingus]] (1956–1957), and the Dizzy Gillespie Big Band (1957), before leaving Gillespie and forming his own trio, which then recorded the second album under Kelly's name, more than six years after the first.<ref name="proper" />
Kelly became better known after joining [[Dinah Washington]]'s band in 1951, going on to record 14 titles for [[Blue Note Records|Blue Note]] in his trio in the same year.<ref name="proper" /> After this he played with bands led by [[Lester Young]] and [[Dizzy Gillespie]], recording with the latter in 1952.<ref name="proper" /> Kelly was drafted into the army in September 1952, and stayed for two years, ending that period with a music performance for an audience of 10,000 in the [[Chastain Park|Chastain Memorial Park]] Amphitheater in [[Atlanta, Georgia]].<ref>''New York Amsterdam News'' (September 11, 1954) "Jazz Pianist Wynton Kelly Discharged By The Army". p. 20</ref> After leaving the military, Kelly worked with Washington again (1955–1957), [[Charles Mingus]] (1956–1957), and the Dizzy Gillespie Big Band (1957), before leaving Gillespie and forming his own trio, which then recorded the second album under Kelly's name, more than six years after the first.<ref name="proper" />


He would, however, be most famous for his stint with [[Miles Davis]] from 1959 to 1963, recording such albums with him as ''[[Kind of Blue]]'', ''[[In Person Friday and Saturday Nights at the Blackhawk, Complete|At the Blackhawk]]'', and ''[[Someday My Prince Will Come (Miles Davis album)|Someday My Prince Will Come]]''. On 1959's ''[[Kind of Blue]]'', Kelly replaced [[Bill Evans]] on the track "[[Freddie Freeloader]]". Kelly likewise appeared on a single track from [[John Coltrane]]'s ''[[Giant Steps]]'', replacing [[Tommy Flanagan]] on "[[Naima]]".<ref name="ALLMUSIC" /> When he left Davis, Kelly took the rest of the rhythm section (bassist [[Paul Chambers]] and drummer [[Jimmy Cobb]]) with him to form his trio. This trio also joined [[Wes Montgomery]], appearing on three of the guitarist's albums, including [[Smokin' at the Half Note]]. Kelly recorded as a leader for Blue Note, [[Riverside Records]], [[Vee-Jay]], [[Verve Records|Verve]], and [[Milestone Records|Milestone]].<ref>See [http://www.jazzdisco.org/wynton-kelly/catalog/album-index/ Kelly's discography].</ref>
He would, however, be most famous for his stint with [[Miles Davis]] from 1959 to 1963, recording such albums with him as ''[[Kind of Blue]]'', ''[[In Person Friday and Saturday Nights at the Blackhawk, Complete|At the Blackhawk]]'', and ''[[Someday My Prince Will Come (Miles Davis album)|Someday My Prince Will Come]]''. On 1959's ''[[Kind of Blue]]'', Kelly replaced [[Bill Evans]] on the track "[[Freddie Freeloader]]". Kelly likewise appeared on a single track from [[John Coltrane]]'s ''[[Giant Steps]]'', replacing [[Tommy Flanagan]] on "[[Naima]]".<ref name="ALLMUSIC" /> When he left Davis, Kelly took the rest of the rhythm section (bassist [[Paul Chambers]] and drummer [[Jimmy Cobb]]) with him to form his trio. This trio also joined [[Wes Montgomery]], appearing on three of the guitarist's albums, including [[Full House (Wes Montgomery album)|Full House]] and [[Smokin' at the Half Note]]. Kelly recorded as a leader for Blue Note, [[Riverside Records]], [[Vee-Jay]], [[Verve Records|Verve]], and [[Milestone Records|Milestone]].<ref>See [http://www.jazzdisco.org/wynton-kelly/catalog/album-index/ Kelly's discography].</ref>


Kelly had a daughter, Tracy, in 1963, with partner Anne. The track "Little Tracy", on the LP ''[[Comin' in the Back Door]]'', is named after Kelly's daughter. Tracy Matisak is a now a [[Philadelphia]] television personality. Kelly's second cousin, bassist [[Marcus Miller]], also performed with Miles Davis in the 1980s and 1990s.<ref name="ALLMUSIC" /> Other cousins are pianist [[Randy Weston]] and rapper [[Foxy Brown (rapper)|Foxy Brown]].
Kelly had a daughter, Tracy, in 1963, with partner Anne. The track "Little Tracy", on the LP ''[[Comin' in the Back Door]]'', is named after Kelly's daughter. Tracy Matisak is a now a [[Philadelphia]] television personality. Kelly's second cousin, bassist [[Marcus Miller]], also performed with Miles Davis in the 1980s and 1990s.<ref name="ALLMUSIC" /> Other cousins are pianist [[Randy Weston]] and rapper [[Foxy Brown (rapper)|Foxy Brown]].

Revision as of 01:22, 15 June 2013

Wynton Kelly
Birth nameWynton Charles Kelly
Born(1931-12-02)December 2, 1931
Brooklyn, New York
DiedApril 12, 1971(1971-04-12) (aged 39)
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
GenresJazz
Occupation(s)Musician
Instrument(s)Piano
Years active1950s-1971

Wynton Charles Kelly (December 2, 1931 – April 12, 1971) was a Jamaican American jazz pianist.[1][2] He is perhaps best known for working with trumpeter Miles Davis from 1959 to 1962.[3]

Biography

The son of Jamaican immigrants, Kelly was born in Brooklyn, New York.[1][2][3] He started his professional career in 1943, before his teens, initially as a member of R&B groups.[2] Around this time he also played organ in local churches.[4] R&B bands that he played with up to 1951 included those led by Ray Abrams, Hot Lips Page, Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson, and Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis.[5]

Kelly became better known after joining Dinah Washington's band in 1951, going on to record 14 titles for Blue Note in his trio in the same year.[5] After this he played with bands led by Lester Young and Dizzy Gillespie, recording with the latter in 1952.[5] Kelly was drafted into the army in September 1952, and stayed for two years, ending that period with a music performance for an audience of 10,000 in the Chastain Memorial Park Amphitheater in Atlanta, Georgia.[6] After leaving the military, Kelly worked with Washington again (1955–1957), Charles Mingus (1956–1957), and the Dizzy Gillespie Big Band (1957), before leaving Gillespie and forming his own trio, which then recorded the second album under Kelly's name, more than six years after the first.[5]

He would, however, be most famous for his stint with Miles Davis from 1959 to 1963, recording such albums with him as Kind of Blue, At the Blackhawk, and Someday My Prince Will Come. On 1959's Kind of Blue, Kelly replaced Bill Evans on the track "Freddie Freeloader". Kelly likewise appeared on a single track from John Coltrane's Giant Steps, replacing Tommy Flanagan on "Naima".[3] When he left Davis, Kelly took the rest of the rhythm section (bassist Paul Chambers and drummer Jimmy Cobb) with him to form his trio. This trio also joined Wes Montgomery, appearing on three of the guitarist's albums, including Full House and Smokin' at the Half Note. Kelly recorded as a leader for Blue Note, Riverside Records, Vee-Jay, Verve, and Milestone.[7]

Kelly had a daughter, Tracy, in 1963, with partner Anne. The track "Little Tracy", on the LP Comin' in the Back Door, is named after Kelly's daughter. Tracy Matisak is a now a Philadelphia television personality. Kelly's second cousin, bassist Marcus Miller, also performed with Miles Davis in the 1980s and 1990s.[3] Other cousins are pianist Randy Weston and rapper Foxy Brown.

Death

Kelly died in Toronto, Canada, from an epileptic seizure, on April 12, 1971. He had travelled there from New York to play in a club with drummer George Reed and vocalist Herb Marshall.[8] Kelly had a longstanding epilepsy problem, and had to monitor his condition to avoid the danger of swallowing his tongue or dentures as the result of a seizure. An account of his death was given by his friend, Jimmy Cobb: "Wynton called his girlfriend in New York and said, 'You know, I don't feel good.' She said, 'Why don't you go downstairs to the bar and if something happens somebody could tend to you.' We don't know if he did that, because when they found him he was in the room."[9] Kelly was found in his room in the Westminster Hotel on Jarvis Street by Herb Marshall.[8] He was reported to have had almost no money at the time of his death.[10]

A memorial concert was held on June 28 in New York and featured numerous well-known musicians of the period.[11]

Playing style

Kelly played "with a crisp, leaping rhythmic blues approach that generated intense excitement".[2] The happiness conveyed in his playing was described by Jimmy Cobb: "It's happy sounding all the time. It's got a West Indian kind of hop to it. Always sparkling".[9]

Influence on others

Kelly's style of playing has been an influence on numerous pianists. Among those to cite him directly as an influence are Brad Mehldau[12] and Monty Alexander.[13] Pianists Dan Nimmer and Willie Pickens have recorded tribute albums to Kelly.[14]

Trumpeter Wynton Marsalis is said to have been named after Kelly.[15]

Discography

As leader

Year Title Label
1951 Piano Interpretations Blue Note
1958 Piano Riverside
1959 Kelly Blue Riverside
1959 Kelly Great Vee-Jay
1960 Kelly at Midnight Vee-Jay
1961 Wynton Kelly! Vee-Jay
1961 Someday My Prince Will Come Vee-Jay
1963 Comin' in the Back Door Verve
1964 It's All Right! Verve
1965 Undiluted Verve
1965 Smokin' at the Half Note Verve
1965 Blues on Purpose Xanadu
1967 Full View Milestone
1968 Last Trio Session Delmark

As sideman

With Julian "Cannonball" Adderley

With Nat Adderley

With Lorez Alexandria

With Gene Ammons

With Walter Benton

With Bob Brookmeyer

  • Jazz is a Kick (1960)

With Joy Bryan

  • Make the Man Love Me (1961)

With Donald Byrd

With Betty Carter

With Paul Chambers

With James Clay

With Jimmy Cleveland

  • Cleveland Style (1957)

With John Coltrane

With King Curtis

  • The New Scene of King Curtis (1960)
  • Soul Meeting (1960)

With Miles Davis

With Curtis Fuller

With Dizzy Gillespie

With Benny Golson

With Paul Gonsalves

With Dexter Gordon

With Grant Green

  • First Session (Blue Note, 1960)

With Johnny Griffin

With Eddie Harris

With Jimmy Heath

With Bill Henderson

  • Bill Henderson Sings (1959)

With Joe Henderson

With Ernie Henry

With Billie Holiday

With Helen Humes

  • Swingin' with Humes (1961)

With Illinois Jacquet

With Eddie Jefferson

  • Letter From Home (1962)

With J. J. Johnson

With Philly Joe Jones

With Sam Jones

With Roland Kirk

With Steve Lacy

With Abbey Lincoln

With Booker Little

With Johnny Lytle

With Chuck Mangione

  • Recuerdo (1962)

With Blue Mitchell

With Hank Mobley

With Milt Jackson and Wes Montgomery

With Wes Montgomery

With Lee Morgan

With Mark Murphy

  • Rah (1961)

With David Newman

  • Staight Ahead (1960)

With Art Pepper

  • Gettin' Together (1960)

With Sonny Red

With Dizzy Reece

  • Star Bright (1959)

With Wayne Shorter

With Sonny Rollins

With Don Sleet

  • All Members (1961)

With Frank Strozier

  • Fantastic Frank Strozier (1959)

With Art Taylor

  • A.T.'s Delight (Blue Note, 1960)

With Clark Terry

With Teri Thornton

With Phil Upchurch

  • Feeling Blue (1967)

With Dinah Washington

References

  1. ^ a b Jazz.com [1].
  2. ^ a b c d West, Hollie I. (April 14, 1971) "Wynton Kelly, 39, Modern Jazz Pianist" The Washington Post.
  3. ^ a b c d Allmusic Biography
  4. ^ New York Amsterdam News (July 28, 1945) "St. Agnes Guild Will Present United Nations Pageant Here"
  5. ^ a b c d Visser, Joop Wynton Kelly: First Sessions [CD booklet]. "Proper Records".
  6. ^ New York Amsterdam News (September 11, 1954) "Jazz Pianist Wynton Kelly Discharged By The Army". p. 20
  7. ^ See Kelly's discography.
  8. ^ a b Richmond, Norman (Otis) (December 2, 2011) "Wynton Kelly: 'The light for the cigarette... Without him, there's no smoking'" Uhurunews.com
  9. ^ a b Kahn, Ashley (November 2003) "Jimmy Cobb: The Reluctant Don" JazzTimes.
  10. ^ Hentoff, Nat (December 12, 2011) "Nat Hentoff on the Jazz Foundation of America" JazzTimes.
  11. ^ New York Amsterdam News (June 26, 1971) "Memorial For Wynton"
  12. ^ Milkowski, Bill (December, 1998) "Brad Mehldau: Keyed In" JazzTimes
  13. ^ Chicago Defender (Daily Edition) (February 27, 1975) "Pianist Monty Alexander plays in the Back Room", p. 15.
  14. ^ Conrad, Thomas (May, 2007) "Dan Nimmer Trio Kelly Blue" JazzTimes
  15. ^ "Marsalis, Wynton (Learson)" Jazz.com

External links

Template:Persondata

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Wynton_Kelly&oldid=559955521"