Kenny Drew - 4 Albums

×

Kenny Drew - 4 Albums

Close

Biography: Born: August 28, 1928 - Kenny Drew Sr. - piano (1928 - 1993)

×

Kenny Drew - 4 Albums

Close

Kenny Drew was born in New York City in August of 1928. At the age of 5, he began studying classical piano with a private teacher and at 8, gave a recital. This early background is similar to that of Bud Powell, the man who later became his main inspiration as a jazz pianist. After digging Fats Waller, at 12, and then Art Tatum and Teddy Wilson, Drew attended the High School of Music and Art. He was known as a hot boogie woogie player but passed through this phase before graduation. Kenny's first professional job was as accompanist at Pearl Primus' dance school. At the same time, he was alternating with Walter Bishop Jr. in a neighborhood band that included Sonny Rollins, Jackie McLean and Art Taylor. In this period, he used to hang-out on 52nd Street to listen to Charlie Parker and Powell and began sitting in at various jam sessions around town. In January of 1950, Drew made his first appearance on record, with Blue Note. Howard McGhee was the leader and the other featured soloists were Brew Moore and J.J. Johnson. One of the six sides released was “I'll Remember April.” The label, in addition to stating “Howard McGhee's All Stars”, further read, “Introducing Kenny Drew.” Later, in 1953, Kenny made his first album as a leader. Again it was Blue Note who recorded him, this time in a trio with Curly Russell and Art Blakey. But Kenny opted to settle in Los Angeles for the next few years. There in 1955, he formed a quartet with the late Joe Maini, Leroy Vinnegar and Lawrence Marable. The quartet first recorded together in 1955 for Pacific Jazz. In December, Jazz West, a subsidiary of Aladdin Records, brought the quartet as is into Capitol's recording studios for “Talkin' & Walkin'.” In February of '56, Kenny's band and arrangements were used for another Jazz West release, this one by vocalist Jane Fielding. A month later, Drew, Paul Chambers, John Coltrane and Philly Joe Jones made the great “Chambers' Music” for the same label, which is now reissued on Blue Note. In early 1957 Kenny made his way back to New York as accompanist for Dinah Washington. That September, he participated in John Coltrane's monumental masterpiece “Blue Train,” but his association with Blue Note did not heat up again until 1960 when he made his own “Undercurrent” as well as Jackie McLean's “Bluesnik,” and “Jackie's Bag,” Kenny Dorham's “Whistle Stop,” Dexter Godon's “Dexter Calling,” Grant Green's “Sunday Mornin'” and a couple of Tina Brooks dates all within the space of a year. Although Kenny was active on the recording and club scenes in New York and even subbed for Freddie Redd for a while in the successful Off-Broadway run of The Connection, he eventually chose to migrate to Europe. But he again popped up on a classic Blue Note date, Dexter Godon's “One Flight Up,” done in Paris in 1964. Kenny became a major star in Europe and Japan although his music was sadly neglected at home. He settled in Copenhagen where he ran a publishing company and was the house pianist at the Café Montmartre. He was also the pianist for the Steeplechase label, where he was on countless sessions backing visiting musicians. He left an impressive legacy of recordings both as sideman and leader.

Kenny Drew died on Aug. 4, 1993.

Kenny Drew - Trio/Quartet/Quintet - 1956/57 (1988)

×

Kenny Drew - 4 Albums

Close

Lossless (WavPack Image File + Cue + Log + Wavpack Files Check Utility Included + Audio Identifier Report): 245 Mb | EAC Secure Mode Rip | Mp3 (Fraunhofer IIS - 320 kbps): 131 Mb | HQ Scans | Rar Files (3% Recovery)
Audio CD (1988) - Recording Years: 1956-1957 - Number of Discs: 1 - Label: Original Jazz Classics - Catalog Number: OJCCD-6007-2

Review: Similar to other bop pianists like Tommy Flanagan, Wynton Kelly, and Red Garland, Kenny Drew came out of the Bud Powell mold to develop a distinct sound. Similar to another contemporary, Duke Jordan, Drew also cut his stateside career short by emigrating to Copenhagen, leaving many American jazz fans with only a taste of his talent. Fortunately, Drew did cut some fine records in the U.S., both for Blue Note early in his career and, even more impressively, for Riverside in the latter half of the '50s. Drew's entry into OJC's commendable Riverside Collection provides a substantial enough overview of the pianist's work for the label and, like the majority of titles in the series, qualifies as a first-disc option. The majority of the record spotlights Drew in a trio setting, featuring him with drummer Philly Joe Jones and bassists Paul Chambers or Wilbur Ware. Taken from his first Riverside release, The Kenny Drew Trio, and the Rodgers & Hart tribute Impressions From Pal Joey, tracks like "The Lady Is a Tramp" and Monk's "Ruby My Dear" demonstrate Drew's deft touch and considerable creativity on both ballads and swingers. Drew is joined in the latter half by trumpeter Donald Byrd and tenor saxophonist Hank Mobley for a handful of cuts from the This Is New album. The feeling is relaxed and the interplay is top-notch, presaging what heights might have been reached on future recordings with the cream of New York's jazz players. Adding to the disc's already high stock are two CD bonus cuts from the trio sessions. A very enjoyable and engaging release.

Kenny Drew & Hank Jones Great Jazz Trio - New York Stories - 1990

×

Kenny Drew - 4 Albums

Close

Lossless (WavPack Image File + Cue + Log + Wavpack Files Check Utility Included + Audio Identifier Report): 299 Mb | EAC Secure Mode Rip | Mp3 (Fraunhofer IIS - 320 kbps): 148 Mb | HQ Scans | Rar Files (3% Recovery)
Audio CD (1990) - Number of Discs: 1 - Label: Alfa Jazz Records - Catalog Number: ALCR-43

Kenny Drew Trio - Piano Night - 2000

×

Kenny Drew - 4 Albums

Close

Lossless (WavPack Image File + Cue + Log + Wavpack Files Check Utility Included + Audio Identifier Report): 331 Mb Mb | EAC Secure Mode Rip | Mp3 (Fraunhofer IIS - 320 kbps): 132 Mb | Front Cover | Rar Files (3% Recovery)
Audio CD (May 20,1992) - Number of Discs: 1 - Format: Live - Label: Megaphon Importservice Japan - Catalog Number: MYCJ-30045

Kenny Drew Trio: Complete Recordings 1953-1954 - 2006

×

Kenny Drew - 4 Albums

Close

Lossless (WavPack Image File + Cue + Log + Wavpack Files Check Utility Included + Audio Identifier Report): 304 Mb | EAC Secure Mode Rip | Mp3 (Fraunhofer IIS - 320 kbps): 214 Mb | HQ Scans | Rar Files (3% Recovery)
Audio CD (June 26, 2006) - Number of Discs: 1 - Label: Fresh Sound Records - Catalog Number: FSR-CD 416