Kenny Kirkland's albums
Black Codes (From the Underground)
Piano / Keyboards / Synthesizer
Kenny Kirkland
(1955–1998)
Kenny Kirkland (1955–1998) — Piano, Keyboards. Led Kenny Kirkland. Worked with Jeff "Tain" Watts, Branford Marsalis, Charnett Moffett.
A brilliantly versatile pianist who anchored Wynton Marsalis's early quartet and crossed over to Sting's world tours, his untimely death at 43 cut short a remarkable career.
Charnett Moffett
Wynton MarsalisKenny Kirkland's videos
Full North Sea Jazz Festival concert of the golden-era Branford Marsalis
— Branford Marsalis Quartet - North Sea Jazz Festival 1987, NN North Sea Jazz Festival archive, 1987
Kenny Kirkland's videos
Branford Marsalis
— Branford Marsalis Quartet - 'Yes Or No' Live at the Bottom Line 1989, 1989
The quartet of Branford Marsalis
On his sole self-titled leader album from 1991, Kenny Kirkland
Kenny Kirkland's leader album
In 1982, when Wynton asked his brother Branford who he knew for a new band, the answer was: call Kenny Kirkland, and put Jeff "Tain" Watts on drums. Watts was an unknown Berklee student at the time; that single recommendation set the entire rhythm section of Wynton's 1980s quartet and put both men on the map.
— Statement stmt-branford-marsalis-on-kenny-kirkland
Kenny Kirkland's leader album
When Kenny Kirkland died suddenly in 1998, a reporter told Branford Marsalis he was 'reconsidering Wynton's band.' Branford cut him off: the pianist had been a name in the small print while alive — and only in death was he worth a second look?
— Statement stmt-branford-marsalis-on-kenny-kirkland-3
Kenny Kirkland's albums
In 1984, Wynton Marsalis — already a rising star — called his quintet's pianist Kenny Kirkland and drummer Jeff 'Tain' Watts the best young players on the scene, yet completely unrecognized. The spotlight stayed on the leader; the sidemen he rated above himself remained unknown.
— Statement stmt-wynton-marsalis-on-kenny-kirkland
Kenny Kirkland's albums
In the early 1980s, Wynton Marsalis said his quintet's arrangements weren't dictated by the bandleader: whatever chord Kenny Kirkland played became the chord of the tune, and whatever beat Jeff 'Tain' Watts played became its meter.
— Statement stmt-wynton-marsalis-on-kenny-kirkland-2
About Kenny Kirkland
Call Kenny Kirkland, man. Jeff Tain Watts should be the drummer.
Recalling what he told his brother Wynton in 1982, when Wynton was forming his first band and asked whom he knew.
↗ Smithsonian Jazz Oral History Program
Branford Marsalis NEA Jazz Master Interview
2012-05-25
About Kenny Kirkland
See Kenny and Tain, you couldn't get them to rehearse. If you called a rehearsal, they wouldn't even show up.
On making the Kenny Kirkland memorial album Requiem, describing how neither man would ever turn up to rehearse.
↗ Smithsonian Jazz Oral History Program
Branford Marsalis NEA Jazz Master Interview
2012-05-25
About Kenny Kirkland
So, now Kenny's dead y'all wanna rethink the band. You guys are idiots, man.
His reply to a jazz writer who, at the Requiem session just after Kirkland's death, said critics were starting to rethink the Wynton Marsalis band.
↗ Smithsonian Jazz Oral History Program
Branford Marsalis NEA Jazz Master Interview
2012-05-25
About Kenny Kirkland
I love my band. Kenny Kirkland and Jeff Watts are the greatest young musicians on the scene, and they get no credit.
In 1984, on his own quintet with Kenny Kirkland and Jeff Watts.
About Kenny Kirkland
Whatever chord Kenny plays, that's what chord it is. If Jeff plays a certain beat, the piece becomes in that time.
In 1984, explaining how his band improvises, using Kirkland and Watts as the example.