Kenny Barron: The Book (piano)

Transcriptions and analysis by Armand Reynaud and Jeremy Brun I am honored to write a few wordsabout one of the greatest jazz pianists around, Kenny Barron. He has been an important fixture on the New York scene for 40 years and is one of the elite jazz pianists in the world. I first met Barron at the great piano/bass duo spot, Bradley´s, in Greenwich Village in 1977. I had heard him in Cincinnati (my hometown) in 1974 with the Yusef Lateef Quartet and was very impressed. At Bradley´s, hewas friendly and very encouraging to me, a 21-years old pianist recently arrived in the Big Apple. As time went on, he let me sit in with his bassist, the great Buster Williams - it was a real treat. When I began making benefit CDs for Classical Action: Performing Arts Against AIDS, in the early 90´s, I asked him to participate in the second recording "Fred Hersch and Friends : The Duo Album" byplaying a duet with me. This organization raises much-needed funds for AIDS services and education.Kenny eagerly donated his time and played beautifully. He also appears on the follow-up benefit CD,"The Richard Rodgers Centennial Solo Jazz Piano Album". We have also played two pianos in New Yorkat Town Hall and twice at the Jazz Standard, to my great delight. He is a wonderful and sympatheticpartner and willing to try just about anything. Though it is difficult to pinpoint, and I don´t want to put him in any kind of box, I hear his style as mostly influenced by early McCoy Tyner (the long, clear lines) and Tommy Flanagan (phrasing and use of space). He has achieved the rare status ofjazz master by virtue of his longevity, his depth and his musicality. Both he and I share a fondness for the music of Monk, Strayhorn and the American Popular Songbook and we are both strong believers in giving back what we have absorbed by teaching and mentoring younger pianists. In addition, he has a warm and engaging personality - supportive, a great sense of humor and a relaxed attitude. I am so pleased...