Kenny Burrell facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kenny Burrell
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Burrell in Buffalo, New York, 1977
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Kenneth Earl Burrell |
| Born | July 31, 1931 Detroit, Michigan, U.S. |
| Genres | Jazz, blues, soul jazz |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, educator |
| Instruments | Guitar |
| Years active | 1951–present |
| Labels | Blue Note, Prestige, Verve, Fantasy, Fortune, Concord Jazz, Highnote |
| Associated acts | Jimmy Smith, Stanley Turrentine |
Kenneth Earl Burrell (born July 31, 1931) is an American jazz guitarist. He is famous for his work on many top jazz record labels. These include Prestige, Blue Note, and Verve. Kenny Burrell also played with other great musicians like Jimmy Smith. Their 1965 album Organ Grinder Swing was a big hit. Burrell has said that jazz guitarists Charlie Christian, Oscar Moore, and Django Reinhardt influenced his music. Blues guitarists T-Bone Walker and Muddy Waters also inspired him.
Today, Burrell is a professor and leads the Jazz Studies program at the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music.
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Kenny Burrell's Early Life
Kenny Burrell was born in Detroit, Michigan. Both of his parents played musical instruments. He started playing the guitar at age 12. He loved listening to Charlie Christian's guitar recordings. During World War II, metal was hard to find. So, he decided not to become a saxophonist. Instead, he bought an acoustic guitar for just $10.
Oscar Moore inspired him to play jazz. But it was Django Reinhardt who showed him how to find his own unique style. Burrell also studied music composition and classical guitar. In 1951, while still a student at Wayne State University, he made his first recording. He played with Dizzy Gillespie's band. Later, he recorded his own song, "Rose of Tangier." While in college, Burrell helped start the New World Music Society. This group included other Detroit musicians like Pepper Adams and Elvin Jones.
Kenny Burrell's Music Career
After finishing college in 1955, Burrell toured with Oscar Peterson. In 1956, he moved to New York City with pianist Tommy Flanagan. Soon, Burrell recorded his first album as a band leader for Blue Note. Both he and Flanagan became very popular. They played with famous singers like Tony Bennett and Lena Horne. They also recorded with jazz legends like Billie Holiday and Jimmy Smith.
From 1957 to 1959, Burrell played in Benny Goodman's band. He took the place of his hero, Charlie Christian. Burrell has recorded many albums since then. Some of his most famous albums include The Cats (1957) with John Coltrane. Other highlights are Midnight Blue (1963) with Stanley Turrentine. And Guitar Forms (1965) with arranger Gil Evans is also highly praised.
In 1978, Burrell started teaching at UCLA. He created a course called "Ellingtonia." This class explored the life and music of Duke Ellington. Ellington himself called Burrell his "favorite guitar player." Burrell has recorded many songs as a tribute to Ellington's work. Since 1996, Burrell has been the Director of Jazz Studies at UCLA. He has taught many talented students, including Gretchen Parlato and Kamasi Washington.
Awards and Special Honors
Kenny Burrell has received many important awards for his music.
- In 1998, he wrote, arranged, and performed on the album Dear Ella by Dee Dee Bridgewater. This album won a Grammy Award.
- In 2004, he received the Jazz Educator of the Year Award from Down Beat magazine.
- In 2005, he was named an NEA Jazz Master. This is a very high honor in jazz music.
- In 2010, Burrell was honored at a Grammy Salute To Jazz event. The Grammy website said that he "excelled as a leader, co-leader and sideman" for many years.
Kenny Burrell's Life Today
In recent years, Kenny Burrell has focused on writing music. He has also limited his public appearances. This is due to medical advice. He has explained that he is focusing on his creative work during his time away from UCLA.
Selected Albums by Kenny Burrell
Here are some of the albums Kenny Burrell recorded as the main artist:
- Introducing Kenny Burrell (Blue Note, 1956)
- Kenny Burrell (Blue Note, 1957)
- All Night Long (Prestige, 1957)
- Midnight Blue (Blue Note, 1963)
- Guitar Forms (Verve, 1965)
- God Bless the Child (CTI, 1971)
- Ellington Is Forever (Fantasy, 1975)
- Freedom (Blue Note, 1979)
- Live at the Village Vanguard (Muse, 1980)
- Togethering with Grover Washington Jr. (Blue Note, 1985)
- Guiding Spirit (Contemporary, 1990)
- Lotus Blossom (Concord Jazz, 1995)
- 75th Birthday Bash Live! (Blue Note, 2007)
- Be Yourself (HighNote, 2010)
Images for kids
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Burrell in Buffalo, New York, 1977
See also
In Spanish: Kenny Burrell para niños
