Kenny Garrett's albums
Garrett joined Miles Davis
Alto Saxophone / Saxophone / Flute
Kenny Garrett
(1960–)
Kenny Garrett (b. 1960) — Alto Saxophone, Saxophone. Led Pursuance: The Music of John Coltrane, Songbook, Simply Said. Worked with Mulgrew Miller, Marcus Miller, Jeff "Tain" Watts.
Garrett played alto in Miles Davis's final band. His sound is powerful and energetic, incorporating elements of Asian music alongside jazz. His live explosiveness is particularly ferocious — he can overwhelm audiences with sheer force. A player who always gives everything.
Kenny Garrett's albums
Mulgrew Miller
— Blue Note Records: The Biography, Richard Cook, 2001
Kenny Garrett's videos
May 2, 2023, NPR Tiny Desk. Kenny Garrett
— NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert, 2023
On 1997's Songbook, Kenny Garrett
Kenny Garrett's leader album
Kenny Garrett didn't audition his way into Woody Shaw's band — his roommates let him in. His flatmates, drummer Tony Reedus and pianist Mulgrew Miller, were already in Shaw's group, and on Sunday nights Shaw would open up a set and let the still-unknown Garrett blow. The three would later share a record on Double Take (1985).
— Statement stmt-kenny-garrett-on-woody-shaw-2
Kenny Garrett's albums
Kenny Garrett says Art Blakey's press roll wasn't just a dynamic cue — dropping it in the second chorus forced the soloist to resolve whatever they were saying, right then. Garrett calls it Blakey's way of teaching young Jazz Messengers how to become bandleaders themselves.
— Statement stmt-kenny-garrett-on-art-blakey
Kenny Garrett's albums
Kenny Garrett spent five and a half years in Miles Davis's band, and says he never once received a spoken instruction. Whatever phrase Miles played, Garrett played back — a call-and-response built entirely from what happened on stage, never from words.
— Statement stmt-kenny-garrett-on-miles-davis
Kenny Garrett said
When I played with Miles, he would play a line and I would play the line back. He never told me to do that.
On how the call-and-response with Miles Davis emerged during his five-and-a-half years in the band.
Kenny Garrett said
I learned a lot from Woody harmonically. Woody and I were closer in age, and I would pick him up and we would drive around and talk about books, life and music.
Asked what he took from Woody Shaw, citing both harmonic learning and their personal closeness.
Kenny Garrett said
Plus, my roommates at that time, Tony Reedus and Mulgrew Miller were playing with Woody, and he would sometimes open up his set or bandstand on a Sunday night and let me sit in and play.
On how he got into Woody Shaw's band, sitting in via his roommates Tony Reedus and Mulgrew Miller.
Kenny Garrett said
That's like two times around the song, and the second course he would do a press roll and you have to finish your statement, but mainly Art was teaching us how to be leaders.
On what Art Blakey drilled into him about building a solo during his time with the Jazz Messengers.
Kenny Garrett said
I always told people that I understood Miles when I was in his band, but I understand him even more now.
Reflecting on how his understanding of Miles Davis deepened after leaving the band.
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The Journey: A Conversation with Kenny Garrett on 'Who Killed AI?'
2024-05-12