Made possible with generous support from
McDONALD'S OF FRANKLIN COUNTY
and the GILMORE HOERNER ENDOWMENT
KENNY BARRON TRIO
Friday, May 2, 8:00 PM
Tickets are available by calling the CVSM office, and will also be sold at the door
Thomson Alumnae Chapel, 1015 Philadelphia Ave., Chambersburg, PA
717-261-1220
"One of the top jazz pianists in the world”
- Los Angeles Times
"The most lyrical piano player of our time."
- Jazz Weekly
The Cumberland Valley School of Music will present the world renowned Kenny Barron Trio in concert on Friday, May 2, at 8:00 pm in Thomson Alumnae Chapel, Wilson College, 1015 Philadelphia Ave., Chambersburg, PA. Barron is a nine-time Grammy Award nominee, six-time recipient of Best Pianist by the Jazz Journalists Association, multiple winner of jazz critics and readers polls including Downbeat and Jazz Times, and was inducted into the American Jazz Hall of Fame in 2005. The group will be appearing in Chambersburg one day before an appearance at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC.
Kenny Barron’s unmatched ability to mesmerize audiences with his elegant playing, sensitive melodies and infectious rhythms is what inspired The Los Angles Times to name him "one of the top jazz pianists in the world” and Jazz Weekly to call him “The most lyrical piano player of our time.”
Performing with Barron at this concert will be bassist Kiyoshi Kitagawa and drummer Francisco Mela.
The concert is made possible with generous support from McDonalds of Franklin County and the Gilmore Hoerner Endowment. Admission is $15, or $8 for students K-12. Current CVSM students are admitted free. For more information, call the Cumberland Valley School of Music at 717-261-1220.
KENNY BARRON
Born in Philadelphia in 1943, Kenny Barron worked with legendary drummer Philly
Joe Jones while still in high school. At age 19, he moved to New York City and
freelanced with Roy Haynes, Lee Morgan and James Moody after the tenor
saxophonist heard him play at the Five Spot. Upon Moody’s recommendation Dizzy
Gillespie hired Barron in 1962 without even hearing him play a note. It was in
Dizzy’s band where Kenny developed an appreciation for Latin and Caribbean
rhythms. After five years with Dizzy, Barron played with Freddie Hubbard,
Stanley Turrentine, Milt Jackson, and Buddy Rich. The early seventies found
Kenny working with Yusef Lateef who Kenny credits as a key influence in his art
for improvisation. Encouraged by Lateef, to pursue a college education, Barron
balanced touring with studies and earned his B.A. in Music, and in 1973 Kenny
joined the faculty at Rutgers University as professor of music. He held this
tenure until 2000, mentoring many of today’s young talents. In 1974 Kenny
recorded his first album as a leader for the Muse label, entitled “Sunset To
Dawn.” This was to be the first in over 40 recordings (and still counting) as a
leader.
Following stints with Ron Carter in the late seventies Kenny formed a trio with Buster Williams and Ben Riley which also worked alongside of Eddie Lockjaw” Davis, Eddie Harris, Sonny Stitt and Harry “Sweets” Edison. Throughout the 80’s Barron collaborated with the great tenor saxophonist Stan Getz, touring with his quartet and recording several legendary albums including “Anniversary”, “Serenity” and the Grammy-nominated “People Time.” Also during the 80’s, he co-founded the quartet “Sphere,” along with Buster Williams, Ben Riley and Charlie Rouse. This band focused on the music of Thelonious Monk and original compositions inspired by him. Sphere recorded several outstanding projects for the Polygram label, among them “Four For All” and “Bird Songs.” After the death of Charlie Rouse, the band took a 15-year hiatus and reunited, replacing Rouse with alto saxophonist Gary Bartz. This reunion made its debut recording for Verve Records in 1998.
Kenny Barron’s own recordings for Verve have earned him nine Grammy nominations beginning in 1992 with “People Time” an outstanding duet with Stan Getz followed by the Brazilian influenced “Sambao and most recently for “Freefall” in 2002. Other Grammy nominations went to “Spirit Song”, “Night and the City” (a duet recording with Charlie Haden) and “Wanton Spirit” a trio recording with Roy Haynes and Haden. It is important to note that these three recordings each received double-Grammy nominations (for album and solo performance.) His CD, “Canta Brasil” (Universal France) linked Barron with Trio de Paz in a fest of original Brazilian jazz, and was named Critics Choice Top Ten CDs of 2003by JazzIz Magazine. His 2004 release, Images (Universal France) was inspired by a suite originally commissioned by The Wharton Center at Michigan State University and features multi-Grammy nominated vibraphonist Stefon Harris. The long awaited trio sequel featuring Ray Drummond and Ben Riley, The Perfect Set, Live At Bradley’s, Part Two (Universal France/Sunnyside) was released October 2005.
In Spring 2008 Mr. Barron will release his first studio recording in four years with The Traveler (Universal France), an intoxicating mix of favorite Barron tunes set to lyrics and newly penned compositions. In a first for the noted pianist, he is joined by vocalists Grady Tate (who sheds his drumsticks for this special appearance), Tony award-winner Ann Hampton Calloway and the young phenom Gretchen Parlato, guitarist Lionel Loueké, drummer Francisco Mela (who also adds a Cuban flavor to the vocals) and the driving bass of Kiyoshi Kitagawa.
Whether he is playing solo, trio or quintet, Kenny Barron is recognized the
world over as a master of performance and composition.
To review Kenny Barron's Biography & Discography
visit: