Kenny Kirkland Transcriptions

Biography of Kenny Kirkland

Kenny Kirkland was an American jazz pianist who first achieved major recognition as the pianist in Wynton Marsalis's quintet from 1981–1985, helping to define the sound of 1980s acoustic jazz revival on albums like the Grammy-winning Black Codes (From the Underground). In a pivotal career shift, he left with saxophonist Branford Marsalis in 1985 to play in Sting's pop band before becoming a cornerstone of Branford's own celebrated quartet and serving as the pianist for the Tonight Show band when Branford was its leader. Despite being a sought-after sideman on over 40 albums, he released only one album as a leader (1991's Kenny Kirkland) before his premature death at age 43.