Master pianist Kenny Barron (1943) is undoubtedly a jazz legend. When he was still in school, he was already playing with the legendary drummer Philly Joe Jones. Later, he worked with Roy Haynes, Lee Morgan, and Dizzy Gillespie, among others. After collaborations with greats such as Freddie Hubbard, Milt Jackson, Buddy Rich, and Yusef Lateef, the sophisticated Barron combined a position as a music teacher with exciting artistic ventures, such as his collaboration with Stan Getz in the 1980s. Barron is not only a brilliant performer but also a sublime accompanist, for example to saxophonist Charlie Rouse in the group Sphere, which paid tribute to the music of Thelonious Monk. His latest album, Songbook (2025), is deeply personal, featuring solely his original compositions and lyrics. These are sung by Ekep Nkwelle, with additional accompaniment by bassist Kiyoshi Kitagawa and drummer Johnathan Blake.
