Table of Contents
Remembering Wynton Kelly, born on this day in 1931 (1931-1971).
The extraordinary pianist, Wynton Kelly (December 2, 1931, Brooklyn, New York, United States – April 12, 1971, Toronto, Canada), began in the world of jazz in the groups of saxophonists, Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis and Hal Singer, before accompanying the extraordinary singer, Dinah Washington, on piano between 1915 and 1954, and with whom he recorded, among others, a great album for the label “Emarcy”, titled: “Jazz Sides”.
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Simultaneously, he began recording under his own name and playing with the saxophonist, Lester Young, and the trumpeter, Dizzy Gillespie, with whom he would remain for several years throughout the 1950s. In those years he would record about fifteen albums for different musicians for the Blue Note label and almost always in trio format. After leaving Gillespie, he worked with the double bass master Charles Mingus for a couple of years and finally took the definitive leap in his career when he joined the Miles Davis quintet, with whom he spent four important years, between 1959 and 1963.
With the Miles Davis quintet, Wynton Kelly, had the fortune to go down in jazz history when he participated in the historic recording of, for many considered, the best jazz album in history, the famous: “Kind of Blue.” When he left Miles’ group, he formed his own trio with fellow “Milesian” musicians, double bassist Paul Chambers and drummer Jimmy Cobb. Together they created an extraordinarily solid rhythmic formation to which countless musicians attended. Wynton Kelly, always stood out for being a consummate master of the piano trio to the point that his style, impeccable, elegant and brimming with swing, created a school among many pianists.
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Wynton Kelly: Kelly Blue (Full Album, 1959)
Track list:
1 K̲e̲l̲l̲y̲ ̲B̲l̲u̲e̲ 0:00:02 2 ̲S̲o̲f̲t̲l̲y̲,̲ ̲A̲s̲ ̲I̲n̲ ̲A̲ ̲M̲o̲r̲n̲i̲n̲g̲ ̲S̲u̲n̲r̲i̲s̲e̲ 0:10:46 3 ̲D̲o̲ ̲N̲o̲t̲h̲i̲n̲’̲ ̲T̲i̲l̲l̲ ̲Y̲o̲u̲ ̲H̲e̲a̲r̲ ̲F̲r̲o̲m̲ ̲M̲e̲ 0:17:17 4 ̲G̲r̲e̲e̲n̲ ̲D̲o̲l̲p̲h̲i̲n̲ ̲S̲t̲r̲e̲e̲t̲ 0:21:41 5 ̲W̲i̲l̲l̲o̲w̲ ̲W̲e̲e̲p̲ ̲F̲o̲r̲ ̲M̲e̲ 0:26:22 6 ̲K̲e̲e̲p̲ ̲I̲t̲ ̲M̲o̲v̲i̲n̲g̲ ̲(̲T̲a̲k̲e̲ ̲4̲)̲ 0:32:27 7 ̲K̲e̲e̲p̲ ̲I̲t̲ ̲M̲o̲v̲i̲n̲g̲ ̲(̲T̲a̲k̲e̲ ̲3̲)̲ 0:39:58 8 ̲O̲l̲d̲ ̲C̲l̲o̲t̲h̲e̲s̲ 0:48:45
Credits: Bass – Paul Chambers Cornet – Nat Adderley (tracks: 1, 6, 7) Design [Cover] – Paul Bacon Drums – Jimmy Cobb Engineer – Jack Higgins Flute – Bobby Jaspar (tracks: 1, 6, 7) Mastered By – Joe Tarantino Photography By [Back Liner] – Lawrence N. Shustak Piano – W̲y̲n̲t̲o̲n̲ ̲K̲e̲l̲l̲y̲ Producer, Liner Notes – Orrin Keepnews Tenor Saxophone – Benny Golson (tracks: 1, 6, 7) Written-By – W̲y̲n̲t̲o̲n̲ ̲K̲e̲l̲l̲y̲ (tracks: 1, 2, 8) Notes: Recorded February 19 and March 10, 1959.
Recorded for Riverside, this album presents a luxury septet formed by the usual trio of the influential pianist Wynton Kelly, and to which is added part of the rhythm section of Miles Davis, with bassist Paul Chambers and drummer Jimmy Cobb. In addition, as if that were not enough, cornetist Nat Adderley, flautist Bobby Jaspar and tenor sax player Benny Golson join. From this section only a very representative piece of album could come out of the best hardbop of the time with which the group performs three original songs by the pianist, and three other universal jazz standards: “On Green Dolphin Street”, “Softly, As in a Morning Sunrise” and “Willow Weep for Me.”
Wynton Kelly is one of those pianists who are almost unknown to the general public, that is, they do not have the relevance of Evans, Monk, Peterson or Powell, but they have enormous quality.