Kenny Garrett | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Garrett performing in 2013 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | (1960-10-09)October 9, 1960 (age 65) Detroit, Michigan, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Occupations | Musician |
| Instruments |
|
| Years active | 1978–present |
| Labels | |
| Website | www |
Kenny Garrett (born October 9, 1960) is an Americanpost-bopjazz musician and composer who gained recognition in his youth as a member of theDuke Ellington Orchestra and for his time withMiles Davis's band. Garrett's primary instruments arealto andsoprano saxophone andflute. Since 1985, he has pursued a solo career.
Kenny Garrett was born inDetroit,Michigan, on October 9, 1960. He attendedMackenzie High School. His father was a carpenter who played tenor saxophone as a hobby. Garrett's own career as a saxophonist took off when he joined theDuke Ellington Orchestra, under the leadership ofMercer Ellington, in 1978. Garrett also played and recorded withArt Blakey,Miles Davis,Freddie Hubbard, andWoody Shaw before developing his career as a leader.[1][2]
In 1984, Garrett recorded his first album as a bandleader,Introducing Kenny Garrett, on theCrissCross label.[3] In that year, he became the founding member ofOut of the Blue, which was produced byBlue Note Records.[4]In 1986, Garrett became a member of Art Blakey'sJazz Messengers.
Garrett signed to theWarner Bros. Records label, and beginning withBlack Hope in 1992,[1] he recorded eight albums for them.[3] His music sometimes exhibits Asian influences, an aspect that is especially prevalent in his 2006 Grammy-nominated recordingBeyond the Wall.[3]
Garrett joined the "Five Peace Band" ofChick Corea,John McLaughlin,Christian McBride andBrian Blade/Vinnie Colaiuta around 2008.[1] The CDFive Peace Band – Live won a Grammy Award in 2010.[5]
In 2011, Garrett was presented with an Honorary Doctorate in Music fromBerklee College of Music, inBoston, Massachusetts.[6] Garrett also was the Commencement Speaker for graduates.[6]
In 2012, Garrett received aSoul Train Music Award nomination for his 2012 studio albumSeeds from the Underground in the Best Traditional Jazz Artist/Group category.[7] Also in 2012, Grammy nominations forSeeds from the Underground followed in the Best Jazz Instrumental Album and Best Improvised Jazz Solo categories,[5] andSeeds From The Underground received anNAACP Image Award nomination in the Outstanding Jazz Album category.[8] In 2013, Garrett won anEcho Award in the Saxophonist of the Year category.[9]
Garrett'sPushing the World Away album received a Grammy nomination in the Best Jazz Instrumental Album category in 2013.[10] He followed withDo Your Dance! (2016),Sounds from the Ancestors (2021) and released his first electronic album,Who Killed AI? (2024), in collaboration with electronic producer/instrumentalistSvoy.[11]
Garrett was described as "The most important alto saxophonist of his generation" by theWashington City Paper[13] and "One of the most admired alto saxophonists in jazz afterCharlie Parker" byThe New York Times.[14]
Compilations
Manhattan projects
(WithRoy Hargrove,Donald Brown,Ira Coleman andCarl Allen)
General Music Project (G. M. Project)
(Co-leader withCharnett Moffett)
WithDonald Byrd
WithChick Corea
WithMiles Davis
WithRoy Haynes
WithFreddie Hubbard
WithMarcus Miller
WithMulgrew Miller
WithCharnett Moffett
WithWoody Shaw
WithMike Stern
With others
| Year | Result | Award | Category | Work |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Won | DownBeat Readers Poll | Alto Saxophone[15] | |
| 1997 | Won | DownBeat Readers Poll | Alto Saxophone[16] | |
| 1997 | Won | DownBeat Readers Poll | Jazz Album of the Year[16] | Pursuance: The Music of John Coltrane |
| 1998 | Nominated | Grammy Award | Best Jazz Instrumental Performance[17] | Chick Corea –Remembering Bud Powell |
| 1998 | Nominated | Grammy Award | Best Jazz Instrumental Performance[17] | Songbook |
| 1998 | Won | DownBeat Readers Poll | Alto Saxophone[18] | |
| 1999 | Won | DownBeat Readers Poll | Alto Saxophone[19] | |
| 2002 | Nominated | Grammy Award | Best Jazz Instrumental Album[17] | Roy Haynes –Birds of a Feather: A Tribute to Charlie Parker |
| 2007 | Nominated | Grammy Award | Best Jazz Instrumental Album[17][20] | Beyond the Wall |
| 2009 | Won | DownBeat Readers Poll | Alto Saxophone[21] | |
| 2010 | Won | DownBeat Readers Poll | Alto Saxophone[22] | |
| 2010 | Won | Grammy Award | Best Jazz Instrumental Album[17] | Chick Corea &John McLaughlin Five Peace Band –Five Peace Band Live |
| 2012 | Nominated | NAACP Image Award | Outstanding Jazz Album | Seeds from the Underground |
| 2012 | Nominated | Soul Train Awards | Best Traditional Jazz Artist/Group | Seeds from the Underground |
| 2012 | Won | DownBeat Readers Poll | Alto Saxophone[23] | |
| 2013 | Nominated | Grammy Award | Best Jazz Instrumental Album[17] | Seeds from the Underground |
| 2013 | Nominated | Grammy Award | Best Improvised Jazz Solo[17] | "J. Mac" inSeeds from the Underground |
| 2013 | Won | Echo Award | Best International Jazz Saxophone Performance | Seeds from the Underground |
| 2013 | Nominated | JJA Jazz Awards | Alto Saxophonist of the Year[24] | |
| 2013 | Won | DownBeat Readers Poll | Alto Saxophone[25] | |
| 2014 | Nominated | Grammy Award | Best Jazz Instrumental Album[17] | Pushing the World Away |
| 2014 | Nominated | Soul Train Awards | Best Traditional Jazz Performance | Pushing the World Away |
| 2014 | Won | DownBeat Critics Poll | Alto Saxophone | |
| 2014 | Won | DownBeat Readers Poll | Alto Saxophone | |
| 2017 | Won | DownBeat Readers Poll | Alto Saxophone[26] | |
| 2019 | Won | DownBeat Readers Poll | Alto Saxophone[27] |
| Chart | Peak position | Work |
|---|---|---|
| BillboardTop Jazz Albums (1989)[28] | 20 | Prisoner of Love |
| BillboardTop Jazz Albums (1990)[29] | 5 | African Exchange Student |
| BillboardTop Jazz Albums (1992)[30] | 6 | Black Hope |
| BillboardTop Jazz Albums (1995)[31] | 22 | Triology |
| BillboardTop Jazz Albums (1996)[32] | 10 | Pursuance: The Music of John Coltrane |
| BillboardTop Jazz Albums (1997)[33] | 7 | Songbook |
| BillboardTop Jazz Albums (1999)[34] | 20 | Simply Said |
| BillboardTop Jazz Albums (2002)[35] | 19 | Happy People |
| BillboardTop Jazz Albums (2003)[36] | 11 | Standard of Language |
| BillboardTop Jazz Albums (2006)[37] | 13 | Beyond the Wall |
| BillboardTop Jazz Albums (2008)[38] | 11 | Sketches of MD: Live at the Iridium |
| BillboardTop Jazz Albums (2012)[39] | 10 | Seeds from the Underground |
| BillboardTop Jazz Albums (2013)[40] | 6 | Pushing the World Away |
| BillboardTop Jazz Albums (2016)[41] | 24 | Do Your Dance! |
