Kenny Kirkland

Born in Brooklyn, New York in 1955, Kirkland was six when he first sat down at a piano keyboard. After years of Catholic schooling, Kirkland enrolled at the Manhattan School of Music, where he studied classical piano performance, classical theory and composition.

Kirkland's first professional work came with Polish fusion violinist Michal Urbaniak, touring throughout Europe with his group in 1977.[1] Coincidentally, his next high-profile gig was with another Eastern European jazz émigré, Miroslav Vitous. Kirkland is featured on Vitous' ECM recordings First Meeting[2] and Miroslav Vitous Group.[3]

In 1980, while Kirkland was on tour in Japan with Terumasa Hino, he met Wynton Marsalis, which began their long association.[4] On Marsalis's self-titled debut album, Kirkland shared the piano duties with one of his musical influences, Herbie Hancock,[5] but was the sole pianist on Marsalis's subsequent releases Think of One,[6] Hothouse Flowers[7] and Black Codes.[8] After his association with Wynton Marsalis, Kirkland joined Branford Marsalis's band.[9] He is also on Marsalis's funk band album Buckshot Lefonque.[10] When Branford Marsalis assumed the high-visibility role of bandleader for NBC TV's The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Kirkland became the band's pianist.[11]

In 1991, he released his debut as a leader, Kenny Kirkland, on GRP Records. Thunder And Rainbows (1991, Sunnyside Records), by "Jazz from Keystone", is a trio album with Kirkland, Charles Fambrough, and Jeff "Tain" Watts.[12]

Leading up to and on June 1–3, 1998, Kirkland worked with long-time associate Jeff "Tain" Watts on the drummer's debut recording Citizen Tain. According to producer Delfeayo Marsalis, "He was clearly not in good shape." When asked about going to the doctor, Kirkland responded, "After the session. If I go now, they'll make me check into a hospital." On June 4, doctors told Kirkland he had a congestive heart condition that required an operation. He attributed his poor health to twenty years of touring without adequate vacations and exercise, and deemed his chances of surviving any surgery 50/50 or less. Fearful of having a cardiac procedure, Kirkland accepted his fate and was soon on the road with Branford Marsalis again. On November 7, 1998, Kirkland attended Marsalis's wedding in New Rochelle, New York. Kirkland was found dead in his Queens apartment on Friday, November 13, 1998.[13]

The official doctor's report listed his death as due to congestive heart failure. He was survived by his mother, a brother and two sisters.

• Kenny Kirkland (1991)

With Stone Alliance

• Heads Up (PM, 1980)

With Franco Ambrosetti

• Wings (Enja, 1984)

With Carla Bley

• Heavy Heart (Watt, 1984)

With Michael Brecker

• Michael Brecker (1987)

With Chico Freeman

• Peaceful Heart, Gentle Spirit (Contemporary, 1980)
• Pied Piper (Jdc Records, 1999)

With Kenny Garrett

• Black Hope (1992)
• Songbook (1997)

With Dizzy Gillespie

• Closer to the Source (Atlantic, 1984)
• New Faces (GRP, 1985)

With Billy Hart

• Rah (Gramavision, 1988)

With Jay Hoggard

• Rain Forest (1980)

With Robert Hurst

• One for Namesake (1994)

With Elvin Jones

• Earth Jones (Palo Alto, 1982)
• Brother John (1982)

With David Liebman

• What It Is (CBS/Sony Inc 1980)

With Wynton Marsalis

• Wynton Marsalis (1981)
• Think of One (1983)
• Hot House Flowers (1984)
• Black Codes (1985)

With Branford Marsalis

• Scenes in the City (1983)
• Royal Garden Blues (1985)
• Renaissance (1986)
• Random Abstract (1987)
• Crazy People Music (1990)
• Mo' Better Blues Soundtrack (1990)
• I Heard You Twice the First Time (1992)
• Requiem (1999)

With Delfeayo Marsalis

• Pontius Pilate's Decision (1992)

With Lew Soloff

• But Beautiful (1987)

With Sting

• The Dream of the Blue Turtles (1985)
• Bring on the Night (1986)
• ...Nothing Like the Sun (1987)
• ...Nada como el sol (1988)
• The Soul Cages (1991)
• Mercury Falling (1996)

With Miroslav Vitous

• First Meeting (ECM, 1979)
• Miroslav Vitous Group (ECM, 1980)

With Jeff "Tain" Watts

• Megawatts (1991)
• Citizen Tain (1999)

With John Scofield

• Who's Who? (1979)

With Arturo Sandoval

• I Remember Clifford (1992)

With Terence Blanchard

• Jazz in Film (1999)

With Hiram Bullock

• From All Sides (1986)

With Rodney Jones

• Articulation' (Timeless Muse 1979)
• Dreams and Stories' (Savant 2005)