How to listen to Kenny Barron?

Kenny Barron first shines as a sideman. As an expressive piano player, Barron never disappoints the leaders, but lends a great supporting voice and balance to the already brilliant arrangements. To showcase Barron as a sideman, the essential recordings are: Tiger Okoshi's "Color of Soil," Chet Baker's "You Can't Go Home Again," Ron Carter's "Patrao" & "So What," Ernie Watts' "The Long Road Home" and Jane Monheit's "Come Dream with Me."

More than as a sideman, Kenny Barron emerges as a co-leader in numerous recordings, most notably duos. Many of these recordings hit home Barron's distinctive voice as a thinker, musician and artist. His reserved, non-showy piano playing adds a lush sound to his musicality, making his brand of jazz elegant and classy. His lyrical style is well-matched by a few auteurs in jazz. Of foremost importance we count "Night & The City" with Charlie Haden (bass), "People Time" with a dying but flying Stan Getz (sax), "Together" with Tommy Flanagan (a wonderful two piano duo). Of honorable mentions we have "Two as One" with Buster Williams (bass) and the track "I Should Care" with Rufus Reid from album "Other Places."

Finally, as a band leader, Kenny Barron demonstrates equal skill and panache, though in my opinion, less impressive. "Spirit Song" is his most recent release, and has Barron's most mature leadership style to date. On the line, there are "Things Unseen," "Other Places," and "Sphere," a Thelonious Monk tribute band with an all-star cast: Barron, Gary Bartz (sax), Buster Williams (bass) and Ben Riley (drums). Then again, Barron's marvelous playing should be heard and appreciated in this method of listening.

By and large, Kenny Barron is the best and most important jazz piano figure (and icon) in the past 20 years, and will continue to be in the next decade. There is no doubt about it.

Click on images for detailed CD info and exclusive audio samples.

As Sideman:
Chet Baker- You Can't Go Home Again (1977)	Ron Carter- Patrao (1980)	Ernie Watts- The Long Road Home (1996)
Tiger Okoshi- Color of Soil (1997)	Ron Carter- So What (1998)	Jane Monheit- Come Dream with Me (2001)
As Co-Leader:
Together (w/Tommy Flangan) (1978)	Two as One (w/ Buster Williams) (1986)	People Time (w/Stan Getz) (1991)
	Night & The City (w/Charlie Haden) (1996)
As Leader:
Sphere- Sphere (1987)	Kenny Barron- Other Places (1993)	Kenny Barron- Things Unseen (1997)
	Kenny Barron- Spirit Song (2000)