Kenny Barron Transcriptions

Biography of Kenny Barron

Kenny Barron (born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) is a pianist who has led a remarkable career as both a distinguished educator—mentoring generations of students as a professor at Rutgers University for over 25 years and later at Juilliard—and as one of the most influential voices in jazz since the bebop era . A teenage prodigy, he moved to New York at 19 and was hired by Dizzy Gillespie in 1962, an experience that ignited his lifelong appreciation for Latin and Caribbean rhythms before going on to collaborate with legends like Stan Getz, Yusef Lateef, and Freddie Hubbard. His extensive discography as a leader includes over 40 albums, such as the Grammy-nominated duet with Getz, People Time, and his celebrated trio recording Book of Intuition, which earned him his eleventh Grammy nomination . Barron's profound impact on jazz has been recognized with his designation as an NEA Jazz Master, multiple Jazz Journalists Association "Pianist of the Year" awards, and induction into the American Jazz Hall of Fame.