"He is the most prolific sax player to come along since Cannonball Adderley."
All About Jazz
"One of the finest jazz saxophonists around."
LA Times"His music is different, edgier, more thought provoking than the usual jazz fare...he gives more." Jazz Scene"Someone should post a storm warning prior to a Kenny Garrett concert!"
Washington PostThroughout his career, multiple Grammy-nominee Kenny Garrett has explored a vast spectrum of music. His muscular yet melodic playing can be heard on recordings by artists as definitive and diverse as jazz legends Art Blakey, Dizzy Gillespie and Miles Davis, rock loyalty Sting, Peter Gabriel and Bruce Springsteen, and progressive rap pioneer GURU.The road to Kenny’s artistry has been a blessed one. Born in Detroit, he was introduced to the saxophone early by his father, who played tenor. Jazz was all around the house, but Detroit also offered ample opportunity to explore soul, gospel, even classical firsthand. College was placed on the back burner when, in 1978, Garrett was offered a slot in the Duke Ellington Orchestra (then under the direction of Duke’s son, Mercer Ellington). Three years later Kenny moved to New York and played with the Mel Lewis Orchestra (absorbing the charts of Thad Jones) and the Dannie Richmond Quintet (playing the music of Charles Mingus).He released his first album as a band leader, Introducing Kenny Garrett, in 1984 on the Criss Cross label during the years he was also recording with the Freddie Hubbard and Woody Shaw. Then Miles Davis called in 1986 and the ensuing five year/four album association left an indelible imprint on both Kenny’s life and career. Of the many pearls he gleaned, Kenny says, “Miles’ genius was getting the best out of the musicians but not controlling them.â€Following two albums for Atlanta records Prisoner of Love and African Exchange Student Kenny signed to Warner Bros. where he began an impressive string of acclaims and audience –challenging recordings: Black Hope (1992), Triology (1995), Pursuance: The Music of John Coltrane (1996), Songbook (1997), Simply Said (1999), Happy People (2002), Standard of Language (2003), and Beyond the Wall (2006). This Shining period brought 4-star album reviews as well as two Grammy nominations.Biographical information taken from www.kennygarrett.comIF YOU LIKE WHAT YOU HEAR PLEASE SUPPORT THE ARTIST BY PURCHASING THEIR MUSIC.
