Wynton Kelly

Wynton Kelly ( Jamaica , December 2 , 1931 – Toronto , Canada , 12 April 1971 ) was an American jazz pianist and composer.

Biography

After a childhood in Brooklyn , Wynton Kelly began professionally in 1943. He worked with the rhythm and blues orchestras of Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis and Hal Singer. He then accompanied singer Dinah Washington from 1951 to 1954 .

From 1951 , he recorded a few titles for Blue Note . He also accompanies Lester Young and the following year Dizzy Gillespie . After his military service from 1952 to 1954 , he became one of the most sought-after accompanists on the jazz scene.

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He accompanies the greatest hard bop soloists such as Sonny Rollins , Cannonball Adderley and Johnny Griffin . In 1959 he was recruited by Miles Davis .

Wynton Kelly remained there until 1963, continuing after his departure his collaboration with bassist Paul Chambers and drummer Jimmy Cobb .

Together, they formed one of the best rhythm sections in the history of jazz . From 1958 to 1963 , he recorded many discs under his name and participated in no fewer sessions as a sideman.

Wynton Kelly died of an epileptic seizure on 12 April 1971 at the age of 39.

Style

A pianist of great subtlety, his playing is deeply rooted in the roots of the blues .

Cannonball Adderley said of him, ” He’s a wonderful soloist, capable of playing the subtle stuff as well as swinging. Wynton is also the best accompanist in the world. ” He was an influential pianist in the style of hard bop rhythms.

An extraordinary accompanist and distinctive soloist (decades later he would be a strong influence on Benny Green, among many others), Wynton Kelly was also one of the most prolific musicians of his time.

His participation in the recording of Kind of Blue, considered by many to be the best album in the history of jazz, made him go down in history, and his impeccable and elegant style created a school among many pianists. His early death deprived jazz of one of its most inventive figures, and critics have highlighted the scant attention his enormous figure has received.

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John Coltrane & Wynton Kelly – On Green Dolphin Street

Wynton Kelly – Dark Eyes

Discography

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As a leader

1951: Piano Interpretations (Blue Note)
1958: Piano (Riverside)
1959: Kelly Blue (Riverside)
1959: Kelly Great (Vee-Jay)
1960: Kelly at Midnight (Vee-Jay)
1961: Wynton Kelly! (Vee-Jay)
1961: Someday My Prince Will Come (Vee-Jay)
1963: Comin' in the Back Door (Verve)
1964: It's All Right! (Verve)
1965: Undiluted (Verve)
1965: Smokin' at the Half Note (Verve)
1965: Blues on Purpose (Xanadu Records)
1967: Full View (Milestone Records)
1968: Last Trio Session (Delmark) 

As a sideman

With Julian Cannonball Adderley

Things Are Getting Better (1958)
Cannonball Adderley Quintet in Chicago (1959)
Cannonball Takes Charge (1959)
African Waltz (1961)
The Cannonball Adderley Quintet Plus (1961) 

With Nat Adderley

Much Brass (1959)
That's Right! (1960)
Naturally! (1961) 

With Lorez Alexandria

Alexandria the Great (1964)
More of the Great (1964) 

With Gene Ammons

Night Lights (1970) 

With Walter Benton

Out of This World (1960) 

With Bob Brookmeyer

Jazz is a Kick (1960) 

With Joy Bryan

Make the Man Love Me (1961) 

With Donald Byrd

Off to the Races (1958) 

With Betty Carter

Out There (1958) 

With Paul Chambers

Go... (1959)
1st Bassman (1960) 

With James Clay

The Sound of the Wide Open Spaces!!! (1960) 

With Jimmy Cleveland

Cleveland Style (1957) 

With John Coltrane

Coltrane Jazz (1961) 

With King Curtis

The New Scene of King Curtis (1960)
Soul Meeting (1960) 

With Miles Davis

Kind of Blue (1959)
Someday My Prince Will Come (1961) 

With Dizzy Gillespie

Dizzy and Strings (1954)
Dizzy Atmosphere (1957)
Birks' Works (1957)
Dizzy in Greece (1957)
Dizzy Gillespie at Newport (1957) 

With Benny Golson

Benny Golson's New York Scene (1957)
The Modern Touch (1957)
Turning Point (1962) 

With Paul Gonsalves

Gettin' Together! (1960) 

With Dexter Gordon

The Jumpin' Blues (1970) 

With Grant Green

First Session (1960) 

With Johnny Griffin

Introducing Johnny Griffin (1956)
A Blowin' Session (1957) 

With Eddie Harris

Cool Sax, Warm Heart (1964) 

Avec Jimmy Heath

On the Trail (1964) 

With Bill Henderson

Bill Henderson Sings (1959) 

With Joe Henderson

Four (1968)
Straight, No Chaser (1968) 

With Ernie Henry

Seven Standards and a Blues (1957)
Last Chorus (1957) 

With Billie Holiday

Lady Sings the Blues (1956) 

With Helen Humes

Swingin' with Humes (1961) 

With Illinois Jacquet

The Blues That's Me (1969) 

With Eddie Jefferson

Letter From Home (1962) 

With JJ Johnson

The Eminent Jay Jay Johnson Volume 2 (1954) 

Avec Elvin Jones & Philly Joe Jones

Together! (1961) 

With Sam Jones

The Chant (1961) 

With Roland Kirk

Domino (1962) 

With Steve Lacy

Soprano Saxophone (1957) 

With Abbey Lincoln

That's Him (1957)
It's Magic (1958) 

With Booker Little

Booker Little (1960) 

Avec Chuck Mangione

I Remember (1962) 

With Blue Mitchell

Big 6 (1958)
Blue Soul (1959)
Blue's Moods (1960)
A Sure Thing (1962) 

With Hank Mobley

Peckin' Time (1958)
Soul Station (1960)
Roll Call (1961)
Workout (1961)
Another Workout (1961) 

With Wes Montgomery

Bags Meets Wes! (1961)
Full House (1962)
Smokin' at the Half Note (1965) 

With Lee Morgan

Here's Lee Morgan (1960) 

With Mark Murphy

Rah (1961) 

With David Newman

Staight Ahead (1960) 

With Art Pepper

Gettin' Together (1960) 

With Sonny Red

Out of the Blue (1959) 

With Dizzy Reece

Star Bright (1959) 

With Wayne Shorter

Introducing Wayne Shorter (1959) 

With Sonny Rollins

Sonny Rollins, Vol. 1 (1956)
Newk's Time (1957) 

With Don Sleet

All Members (1961) 

With Frank Strozier

Fantastic Frank Strozier (1959) 

With Art Taylor

A.T.'s Delight (1960) 

With Teri Thornton

Devil May Care (1960) 

With Phil Upchurch

Feeling Blue (1967) 

With Dinah Washington

Back to the Blues (1962)