Jazz pianist Kenny Kirkland died in early November at his home in Springfield Gardens, Queens, New York. He was 43. In addition to releasing his eponymously titled debut in 1990, Kirkland recorded and performed with a number of artists, including Wynton Marsalis, Sting and Kenny Garrett. He was also a member of the Tonight Show Band and most recently appeared in the Branford Marsalis Quartet."
Branford Marsalis, who serves as music consultant at Columbia Jazz, issued the following statement: "Kenny Kirkland was a musical genius, but more importantly, he was my friend. He had a certain quality about him that made people want to love him. He was one of the kindest, most loving men I know. Laughter came easily to him, and he made everyone around him want to laugh, too."
"There is a lot being said and written about his darker side and very little about his important contributions to music. It is vital that those of us who truly understand the impact he had on the art form speak in his behalf. Kenny's legacy is that of a great musician and not merely someone who spent his life fighting his demons. After all, we all have our demons and each of us has his own special, often destructive, way of dealing with those demons. The tragedy is that in the past year he had made the decision that he wanted to live. Sadly, it was during this time that he slipped away from us.
" "I love him dearly and I will miss him tremendously. Music has lost a great thinker."
Columbia Jazz recently released Young at Heart, the last studio recording by drummer Tony Williams, who passed away suddenly in February 1997. He was one of the most innovative and groundbreaking drummers in jazz history. Exploding onto the scene while still a teen, Williams soon scored a gig playing in one of the most challenging and popular bands of modern jazz: the second great Miles Davis Quintet, which also featured Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock and Ron Carter. In Miles' autobiography, he wrote, "If I was the inspiration and wisdom and
the link for this band, Tony was the fire, the creative spark."Following the disbanding of the Davis quintet, Williams formed his own bands, exploring a variety of musical styles and expanding the boundaries of jazz. In his final years, he collaborated with Bill Laswell as well as paired an all-star band with a full orchestra. OnYoung at Heart, Williams enlisted two longtime partners, pianist Mulgrew Miller and bassist Ira Coleman, for a trio date of elegant music. In addition to new takes on such classic songs as "Body and Soul" and "The Fool on the Hill," the trio also performed original compositions, including the drummer's "Neptune: Fear Not."
Recorded with the new Sony technology, Direct Stream Digital, Young at Heart stands as the final creative statement of Tony Williams, the legendary time-keeper who inspired a new generation of jazz drummers.
 |
 |