Remembering Kenny Kirkland (1955-1998)

Beginning his career as a classical music teacher, Kenny Kirkland became a jazz musician. He later emerged from his jazz chrysalis as a practitioner of exotic pop/rock music, and eventually shed his wings to pursue the mundane but financially more stable profession of studio musician….

The enthusiasm and urgency that Kirkland brought to his piano lessons when he was six years old confirmed that his life was meant to be dedicated to music, ‘although it wasn’t until I was 13 that it really grabbed me,’ he recalled. He began studying classical music, but, distracted by the radio, he soon became interested in blues. He absorbed the sounds of James Brown, Sly Stone and the Temptations. ‘I tried to learn something from everyone.’

He studied classical piano performance, theory and composition at the Manhattan School of Music for 18 months before graduating as a teacher. A month before his graduation he suffered a serious accident in which he broke both legs, jaw, wrist and a hip.

KENNY KIRKLAND GIANT STEPS, PIANO SOLO, Montreux, 1997

Kenny Kirkland – piano Nat Reeves – bass Jeff “Tain” Watts – drums

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In his recovery, Kirkland moved to one of New York’s famous lofts, where he regularly attended jam sessions to play all night. There he launched himself into the world of jazz, playing electric keyboards and acoustic piano. Initially Herbie Hancock was the source of his inspiration, but he was eclectic and developed his own style, becoming particularly effective in the difficult role of accompanist. He joined the band of another friend, violinist Michael Urbaniak, playing electric keyboards when he traveled to Europe with the group in 1977. He worked with other bands and in 1979 recorded a fusion album, What It Is, with saxophonist Dave Liebman.
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The same year, Kirkland joined Miroslav Vitous, the bassist who had become famous with Weather Report. In 1981 the pianist was working in a band led by drummer Elvin Jones and moved from there to join trumpeter Terumasa Hino, one of Japan’s most prominent musicians. It was while on tour with Hino in Japan that Wynton Marsalis, also on tour at the time, first heard Kirkland. Marsalis persuaded him to leave Hino and the longest partnership of Kirkland’s life began.

In 1985 Kirkland and Branford Marsalis (Wynton’s brother) changed their ‘language’ by joining Sting’s band, recording the album The Dream of Blue Turtles and the Bring on the Night tour.

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Sting Live in Tokyo – “….world is runnin down”. Kenny Kirkland’s piano solo

Kirkland became a session musician in the early 1990s and joined the show band of the American television show Tonight, where he worked until his death. Branford Marsalis led the band. Kirkland recorded the only album under his own name in 1991 for the GRP label, and also worked on the all stars sessions recorded for the company in the same period.

In June 1998, he had to undergo surgery for a serious heart condition and, although he temporarily recovered, he died on November 12.

Kenny Kirkland – Whatever Possessed Me

Kenny Kirkland,- piano Pat La Barbera – tenor saxophone Reggie Workman – bass Elvin Jones – drums

Kenny Garrett Quartet, feat. Kenny Kirkland Jazz Baltica

0:00 – 2 Down & 1 Across 8:55 – Giant Steps 22:37 – Brother “B” Harper 36:06 – Before It’s Time to Say Goodbye 41:37 – Sing a Song of Song 52:45 – Wayne’s Thang

Kenny Garrett Quartet:

Kenny Garrett (as), Kenny Kirkland (p), Nat Reeves (b), Jeff “Tain” Watts (dr) Live at Jazzbaltica 1997

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