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Wynton Kelly

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

Wynton Kelly was born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1931, the son of Jamaican immigrants. He began on piano at four, had little formal tuition and from 1943 played professionally in R&B groups. There he learned to play in an accessible, danceable and entertaining way, which continued to colour his style. At sixteen he played on Cornbread by the saxophonist Hal Singer, a number one on the R&B chart. His first album as a leader appeared in 1951. After a period with the singer Dinah Washington and the trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie he was drafted into the army for two years.

Music and breakthrough

Kelly became a sought-after accompanist: he played with Billie Holiday, Cannonball Adderley, John Coltrane, Wes Montgomery and Sonny Rollins. In 1959 he joined Miles Davis's group, replacing Red Garland. On Kind of Blue he plays only on Freddie Freeloader, because Davis had chosen Bill Evans for the rest. He stayed with Davis until 1963, including on Someday My Prince Will Come. With Montgomery he made Full House and Smokin' at the Half Note. His playing was known as lively, bluesy and swinging.

Influence

After Davis, Kelly formed his own trio with the bassist Paul Chambers and the drummer Jimmy Cobb, which lasted until 1969. In 1964 Little Tracy from the album Comin' in the Back Door made the R&B chart. Later he had difficulty finding enough work. He suffered from epilepsy and died in a hotel room in Toronto in 1971 after a seizure, aged thirty-nine. Wynton Kelly is regarded as one of the best accompanists in jazz, the pianist who drove a group without getting in its way.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to Freddie Freeloader by Miles Davis and notice Wynton Kelly's piano solo after the trumpet. Can you hear how bluesy and relaxed he plays?

Discography

Studio albums

In School of Rock

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See also

Categories: Artists