Kenny Barron has long been one of the most respected American pianists, lauded by critics, jazz audiences and his fellow musicians. Listening to him perform in trio allows enjoying phrasing, sound, sense of timing, melodic invention and immeasurable jazz culture. It is an opportunity not to be missed. The trio is also the formula of his most recent album, “The Source”.
For years, Barron has been a member – and founder- of Sphere, the quartet dedicated to the music of Thelonious Monk, the main influence – together with Tommy Flanagan and Wynton Kelly – of the pianist from Philadelphia. Barron’s style includes modern bebop, the preference for bossa nova over modal jazz, for the great harmonic freedom over the respect for tradition. This artist can perform any contemporary jazz with absolute mastery.
Throughout his long and intense career, Barron has collaborated with jazz icons such as Dizzy Gillespie, James Moody, Freddie Hubbard, Joe Henderson, and, more recently, with Dave Holland, Regina Carter and Lionel Loueke.
He was a member of Stan Getz’s last quartet and shared the final part of the latter’s career. He performed with Getz at Umbria Jazz 89 and 90 at two memorable concerts at Giardini del Frontone. One year later, one month after Getz’s death, Barron played for him in a moving series of solo performances at Teatro Morlacchi. More recently, he performed in Perugia in duo with Dado Moroni and as part of a special project dedicated to Monk featuring five pianists. His most recent concerts at the Festival were two piano solo performances in 2019 and the trio in 2023.
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Kenny Barron Trio
- Kenny Barron, piano
- Kiyoshi Kitagawa, double bass
- Johnathan Blake, drums
