Busy December For Kenny Barron In NYC – In Action Beginning this Friday (December 9, 2016) through Christmas Day

It’s no secret that Kenny Barron is a wonderful piano player.  He was honored by The National Endowment for the Arts in 2010 as a jazz master and he has earned ten (including yesterday’s) Grammy nominations.  However, among his fellow jazz artists, he is absolutely revered.  He is a model for countless players.  An article appeared about five years ago in Keyboard Magazine titled ‘5 Ways To Play Like Kenny Barron!’

It was an honor to spend some time with the man back in July at the Montreal Jazz Festival.  At that point he was already penciled in to play the shows this weekend with Rosa Passos at the Appel Room so I had the opportunity to ask about her.  I also asked what he thought were his most essential recordings.  He pointed to his duet with Regina Carter, 2001’s Freefall right away and added People Time – also recorded as a duo, with Stan Getz and released in 1992.  Wanton Spirit from 1994, recorded with Roy Haynes and Charlie Haden and Scratch from 1985 featuring Dave Holland and the Swiss drummer Daniel Humair also made his short list.  Finally, he mentioned Live at Bradley’s from 2001 with Ray Drummond and Ben Riley as another highlight.  

The latest album by Kenny Barron Book of Intuition, with Jonathan Blake on drums and Kiyoshi Kitagawa on double bass, was nominated yesterday for best jazz instrumental album of the year Grammy Award.  This is the trio you can catch from the 13th to the 18th at the Village Vanguard as part of his residency this month.  He’ll also be working out with a quintet from the 20th through the 25th with Blake and Kitagawa joined by Steve Nelson on vibes and Dayna Stevens on saxophone.  

Even though Kenny Barron makes his home in New York City, he doesn’t play in town all that often.  He said generally just a few weeks out of the year.  Once more, even though he’s lived here for over half a century, it doesn’t mean he’ll live here forever.  He mentioned he’s thinking about leaving winter snow behind.  Add these reasons to the most persuasive musical ones to catch him while you can!