ABOUT KENNY BARRON
Honored by The National Endowment for the Arts as a 2010 Jazz Master, Kenny Barron has an unmatchedability to mesmerize audiences with his elegant playing, sensitive melodies and infectious rhythms. The Los Angles Times named him "one of the top jazz pianists in the world” and Jazz Weekly calls him “The most lyrical piano player of our time.”
The Philadelphia native started playing professionally as a teenager with Mel Melvin’s orchestra and Philly Joe Jones. He moved to New York City at 19 and freelanced with Roy Haynes, Lee Morgan and James Moody, after the tenor saxophonist heard him play at the Five Spot. Upon Moody’s recommendation Dizzy Gillespie hired Barron in 1962 without even hearing him play a note. It was in Dizzy’s band where Kenny developed an appreciation for Latin and Caribbean rhythms. After five years with Dizzy, Barron played with Freddie Hubbard, Stanley Turrentine, Milt Jackson,and Buddy Rich. The early seventies found Kenny working with Yusef Lateef who Kenny credits as a key influence in his art for improvisation. Encouraged by Lateef to pursue a college education, Barron balanced touring with studies and earned his B.A. in Music from Empire State College. By 1973 Kenny joined the faculty at Rutgers University as professor of music. He held this tenure until 2000, mentoring many of today’s young talents including David Sanchez, Terence Blanchard and Regina Bell.
In 1974, Barron recorded Sunset to Dawn, his first album as a leader which led to over 60 others. His duo album with Stan Getz in the late 1980s, People Time, earned the first of 14 Grammy nominations which also includes Barron’s 2024 album, Beyond This Place recorded in Paris. His most recent venture, Songbook (Artwork/PIAS) is a remarkable collection of original compositions performed with some of Barron’s favorite vocalists including Cécile McLorin Salvant, Kurt Elling, Catherine Russell, Ann Hampton Callaway, Jean Baylor and newcomers Tyreek McDole, Ekep Nkwele and Kavita Shah. It was awarded one of the “Top 25 Albums of 2025” by DownBeat. Barron has received honorary doctorates from SUNY Empire State College and the Berklee College of Music. In 2009, he received the Living Legacy Award from the Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation and was inducted into the American Jazz Hall of Fame and is a seven-time recipient of the Jazz Journalists Association’s Best Pianist distinction.
ABOUT JOHNATHAN BLAKE
Grammy-nominated drummer and composer, Johnathan Blake was introduced to the world of jazz music by his father, world-renown jazz violinist John Blake, Jr. Although trained on the violin since he was three, Johnathan revolted and started playing drums at 10, and began performing in the Philadelphia area during his teen years. While at William Paterson University Johnathan started working professionally with the Oliver Lake Big Band, Roy Hargrove, and David Sanchez. He turned down an offer to join McCoy Tyner's band in order to complete his Bachelors Degree and then went on to earn a Masters Degree from Rutgers University in 2007. He was awarded an ASCAP Young Jazz Composers Award in 2006.
Johnathan is currently a member of the Tom Harrell Quintet, Russell Malone Quartet, and Kenny Barron Trio. He also performs regularly with Donny McCaslin, Jaleel Shaw, Avishai Cohen, and Omer Avital among others. He released his debut CD in 2009 and has recorded with Tom Harrell, Jaleel Shaw, Joe Locke, Oliver Lake, Russell Malone, Mingus Big Band, and many others. He has been leading his own quartet in venues worldwide including Brazil, Europe and the U.S.
