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Kenny Garrett
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Kenny Garrett (not to be confused with Kenny G) is an American post bop jazz saxophonist and flutist. He 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).
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Encyclopedia
Kenny Garrett (not to be confused with Kenny G) is an American post bop jazz saxophonist and flutist. He 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 Brothers since 1992. Among his notable recordings on Warner Brothers 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)
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.
Discography
- Sketches of MD: Live at the Iridium, 2008
- Beyond the Wall, 2006 (nominated for a 2007 Grammy Award)
- Standard of Language, 2003
- Happy People, 2002
- Old Folks, 2001
- Simply Said, 1999
- Songbook, 1997 (nominated for a 1997 Grammy Award)
- Pursuance: The Music of John Coltrane, 1996
- Triology, 1995
- Stars & Stripes Live, 1995
- Threshold, 1994
- Black Hope, 1992
- African Exchange Student, 1990
- Prisoner of Love, 1989
- Garrett, 5 Paddle Wheel, 1988
- Introducing Kenny Garrett, 1984
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