Music

Piano Man

Kenny Barron quintet plays Jazz Standard

by Helen Cooper   |   Dec 7, 2009

Piano Man

Kenny Barron, piano great, plays The Jazz Standard

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Kenny Barron has produced a new record nearly every year for the past thirty years, no small feat for a man who has also managed to guest on side-projects, collaborate with other jazz greats such as Stan Getz and Ella Fitzgerald, and enjoy professorships at both Rutgers University and the Manhattan School of Music. Almost seventy, Barron is still working, and still busy. In fact, his schedule includes several performance dates at Jazz Standard, January 7–9.

Kenny Barron’s career reads like a veritable who’s who of jazz history. The key man has worked with everyone from Dizzy Gillespie (1962–1966) to Freddie Hubbard (1966–1970) to Yusef Lateef (1970–1975) to Ron Carter (1976–1980). His own personal style is marked for its lyrical nature and unmatchable musicality. When you listen to Kenny Barron at the piano, you can’t help but be taken in by the infectiousness of his rhythm, his perfect melodic ear and the preciseness with which he chooses his notes. Jazz may be an art of improvisation but Barron never seems to misstep, his songs are always cohesive and crowd pleasing.

For Barron’s stay at Jazz Standard he will be joined by a Quintet of talented musicians whose own careers and aptitude are nothing to scoff at. Former Monk drummer Ben Riley will be keeping the beat and famed vibraphonist and Blue Note recording artist Stefon Harris will also be playing with Barron.

For more information on the performances or to purchase tickets, please visit www.jazzstandard.com.