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Kenny Kirkland

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

Kenny Kirkland was an American jazz pianist and keyboardist, born in 1955 in Brooklyn and died in 1998. He first sat at a piano at the age of six. After years of Catholic schooling he studied classical piano, music theory and composition at the Manhattan School of Music. His first professional work was a European tour in 1977 with the Polish fusion violinist Michał Urbaniak. He then played with the bassist Miroslav Vitouš, on the ECM albums First Meeting and Miroslav Vitous Group.

Music and breakthrough

In 1980, during a tour of Japan with Terumasa Hino, he met the trumpeter Wynton Marsalis. That was the beginning of a long collaboration with Wynton and his older brother Branford. On Wynton's debut album he shared the piano part with Herbie Hancock, one of his great models. On Think of One, Hot House Flowers and Black Codes (From the Underground) he was the only pianist. In 1985, together with Branford, he joined the Blue Turtles, the jazz-pop band that Sting put together for his solo work. They can be heard on The Dream of the Blue Turtles and Bring On the Night.

Influence

After Wynton's band, Branford was his most important partner. In 1986 he became a founder of Branford's quartet and played on the album Buckshot Lefonque. When Branford became bandleader of The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Kirkland became the pianist of that band. His own album Kenny Kirkland appeared in 1991. He shows how a classically trained pianist could connect jazz, pop and television.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to a track from Sting's The Dream of the Blue Turtles. Notice Kirkland's piano part and how jazz-like chords and solos fit into a pop song.

Discography

Studio albums

In School of Rock

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Categories: Artists