The Most Underrated Jazz Pianist In History?

Peter Martin breaks down 4 levels of Kenny Kirkland's jazz piano mastery.
Get the transcription PDF, Peter’s deep dive lesson: Kenny Kirkland Solo Analysis, along with instant access to hundreds of lessons, resources, and the Open Studio community: openstudiojazz.link/membershi...
00:00 Intro
01:57 Level 1: Melodic
04:30 Level 2: Harmonic
08:14 Level 3: Rhythmic
14:29 Level 4: Putting it All Together
Kenny Garrett Quartet live at Montreux 1997: • Kenny Garrett Live in ...
Joshua Redman Quartet live at Montreux 1997: • Joshua Redman Quintet ...

[@charles-antoinepouliot6675]

YESSS FINALLY SOMEONE TALKING ABOUT KENNY KIRKLAND

[@winstonblackett7386]

I had the distinct pleasure of meeting Kenny Kirkland when he was working with Sting. It was mid-80's and they had come to Barbados to record at Eddy Grant's Blue Wave Studios. What an amazing experience I had one night when he came up and jammed with the band I was playing with at the Rockley Resort Hotel. Unforgettable!

[@BajeTiger]

Fellow Bajan over here, I had no idea! Thanks for sharing.

[@nico32433]

I'm jealous!

[@agustinbernal2760]

Kenny, one of the greatest jazz piano players of all time!!

[@playjazzpianonyc]

Totally!

[@PawelLeszczynskipav]

Kenny's technique is absolutely incredible. We can talk rhythm, melody etc but I'd start with trying to play a simple c scale at the speed that he improvises/creates his lines at. So clean.

[@michelechiavarini9218]

Brilliant analysis Peter! Only a musician with your vast knowledge, energy, enthusiasm (and facial expressions! LOL!), can give justice to this kind of exercise on the greatness of Mr Kirkland. Very well done, thank you very much and more more more, please!!!

[@pianopeter]

🙏, more on the way

[@EliaGaitau]

One of the best ways to honor the LEGENDARY Kenny Kirkland! This is an INCREDIBLE breakdown. Thank you Peter, and everyone involved in making this video. ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!

[@george0t]

Thank you for paying homage to Kenny Kirkland. Underrated indeed.

[@QuadriviumNumbers]

Love you man! Respect for the analysis of the great and the literally awesome human that was Kenny Kirkland, a friend and influence of the young me as I was getting my sound together. Also, respect for the Kenny/Bertil Fox link up at 8:21 another hero of mine. Long Live Kenny Kirkland! Peace.

[@juansecar2]

Never late Pete, Kenny deserves every single piece of praise and recognition, he was an awesome musical force of nature... outstanding piece dude, cheers.

[@GDavis-uy1gg]

Truth , always admired His playing on ALL levels ; RIP My brother . GD

[@bluch251]

Thank You Peter for this gem...yes a very underrated artist.

[@dvanselus5999]

Gone too soon. RIP KK. Thanks for giving him the recognition he deserves.

[@AnneSajdera]

Thank you so much for bringing us Kenny Kirkland. What a genius!

[@chriswright2553]

I love that you're so into Kenny, Peter. I've told you before, but I hear a lot of him in your playing.

[@allgems]

Great video. I've listened to that live solo w Kenny Garrett about 100 times over the years. Reading through the comment section, it's pretty clear he's not underrated. Every Jazz fan I know loved his playing.

[@brandonfields7958]

Love the breakdown, Peter. We all need to know more Kenny Kirkland!

[@hocheelin5599]

I first saw him when he was touring with Sting and I had never heard anyone play like that on a rock song. Unbelievable! Thanks for bringing some attention to this amazing musician

[@playjazzpianonyc]

Brilliant choice Sting made!

[@hocheelin5599]

@@playjazzpianonyc yeah, that whole touring band was top level

[@janghijselen3651]

How a musician with Peter’s expertise, mileage and pedigree still can get all excited over the musicianship of the great Kenny Kirkland… wonderful video. Moving and interesting at the same time.

[@QuadriviumNumbers]

Peter has always been the truth. Peace.

[@octatonicgardenmarcospi4978]

Back in the 90s it was so clear how impressive his playing was even for a classical guitar player like me who loved jazz but could not play it. His playing stood out from the other great players for its rhythmic precision and outside playing. For me he was always on fire.

[@sebastiangahler.official]

An absolutely wonderful breakdown and tribute to a true master!!! Thanks so much Peter! I wanna share this short story with anyone interested. I will never forget how I came to know about Kenny Kirkland. I had just graduated from Highschool and was getting ready for my audition at the music conservatory going to every jam session I possibly could. One day at the session an older pianist told me I should go check out a pianist named Kenny Kirkland because he was the real deal and had played a kick ass solo on a sting record (Bring on the night obviously- which I did not know back then). So I tried to get my hands on some of his music which was really not that easy for me back then in Germany - no KZbin around either obviously. Just about one or two weeks later I was driving back home from yet another jam session and turned on the radio. I tuned right into an absolutely amazing piano solo and wondered who this cat was. After the song ended the radio host said we had just heard Kenny Kirkland play and he started the next song featuring Kenny Kirkland again. I remember saying to myself „This is to good to be true - I am so lucky!!“. I parked the car in front of my house and kept listening to the very end of the radio show in my car and I could not believe how mind blowing his playing was. I thought I heard the host speak of Kenny in the past tense in between songs but I wasn’t paying attention to the talking all to much trying to absorb every last bit of Kenny’s playing. After quiet a few songs the host ended the show saying that Kenny Kirkland had just been found dead in his NY apartment this week and that the whole radio show was dedicated to him. I was in total shock and felt so devastated. What a tremendous loss! This was in November 1998 and Kenny Kirkland has been one of my all time jazz piano heroes ever since and a big influence. His solo on Giant Steps from the Jazz Baltica Festival (also with the Kenny Garrett quartet) is epic IMO. RIP Kenny Kirkland!

[@gaborszollosy2153]

My favourite solos are 'Yes and No' and 'Spartacus' on various Branford Marsalis albums. I've listened them so many times. Among jazz musicians and enthusiasts he is not underrated at all I guess.

[@edwardvivenzio5843]

Thanks Peter,another great lesson,speaking of blast off,Kenny’s solo on Sting’s “Bring on the Night”,is incredible. His genius was Epic!

[@pianopeter]

Absolutely. So glad I got to see Kenny play live with Sting, was straight 🔥

[@DavidBONNINpianiste]

Thank you so much Peter, Peace and Piano

[@pianopeter]

🙏✌️🎹

[@rayofsax]

Fantastic, thanks. Always utterly blown away by Kenny Kirkland and was very lucky to see him at Brecon Jazz Festival (with Branford Marsalis) not long before he died.

[@ChrisLeePiano]

Thanks for the great analysis Peter! Your playing on “my one and only love” on Joshua Redman’s record “spirit of the moment” blew my mind! That record is still one of favorites all time. I love Kenny’s modern and sophisticated playing so much. His solo on “chambers of tain” in W Marsalis’s album is out of this world. I am still working on the transcription I managed to play the whole solo but at a slower tempo. That tune is burning fast. Oh and every tune in KG’s album is so musical and lyrical. Love the album!

[@Uronfire360]

I transcribed the first lick from Kenny Kirkland's solo on Dienda. Probably my favorite lick ever. Easy to play but yet so effective.

[@garryjacksonbass]

As ever you guys are presenting world class online education. A constant breath of fresh air in a world of bs. Thanks so much for keeping it real and truly informative. More power to you guys. Fantastic stuff.

[@anneonym7346]

Well said bro !

[@pianopeter]

🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@pkmentoring]

This is not only an educational resource on the greatness of Kenny Kirkland, but an incredibly rich resource on playing out and comping rhythmically, all with great production and remarkable teaching. Thank you Open Studio!

[@fredkennedy8435]

I'm so happy to see you featured this particular performance. My friend and I have watched this recording so many times together. Both Kennys killed it, but Kenny Kirkland was my favorite. He makes it look so damn easy.

[@eduardoinke2943]

What a Master class!!!

[@edzielinski]

Wow. Brilliant breakdown of these performances. There was zero slack in there - you were propelled forward continuously.

[@pianopeter]

tried to structure this video like a constantly forward propelling Kenny solo

[@CWBella]

And thank you, Peter, for sharing your insights! These videos are so informative and enjoyable. I sooooo appreciate your enthusiasm and how you always get to the point. No filler, no fluff, just MUSIC.

[@knicksmithmusic]

Great Video! I met Kenny several times first time hearing him I was completely blown away you hear Keith Jarrett, McCoy Tyner, Herbie Hancock but you definitely hear Kenny! A great brother and friend an amazing incredible musician and piano player gone way too soon. RIP my friend your music and greatness lives forever. Kenny definitely inspires me. Thanks for sharing.

[@CWBella]

LOVE the rhythmic analysis part! Also great to see Peter's hands playing the voicings in the LH during the Ebminor burn.

[@darrylslaughter649]

I just found out or realize he had passed away.But if somebody want to hear some real funky Kenny Kirland listen to that classic solo at the end of " Window Shopping " playing with Hiram Bullock

[@anotherluckyone]

Fantastic analysis! Thank you Peter.

[@louisepaolini9922]

Black codes piano solo from the moment I heard it . perfection

[@genjimonogatari6156]

Excellent how this was broken down. I have no music training but I followed this well. Very cool

[@waynematthews8165]

What and incredible analysis of one great artist from another! Thank you! Got me revisiting Kenny Kirkland!!

[@toddoliver168]

omg, this is so freaking awesome! Thank you Peter!!!

[@alexpavchinski]

Amazing analysis, Peter, of some very complicated music. An earlier live performance with Branford Marsalis, 1987 Newport, is another must-see Kenny Kirkland performance. One of the great jazz pianists of the past 50 years, Kenny tragically left us much too early.

[@pianopeter]

thanks you…. from Newport ‘87: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eJPCiWmXn9qKp68

[@JuanRamirez-nw1yu]

Wow!!! Amazing lesson. Thank you so much Peter!!!

[@balcomoz]

Just remembered see you in Marsalis and Battle video with Marcus Roberts . Thanks fot this video. Mr Kirkland is legend! You too

[@pianopeter]

wow 🙏

[@MSTRLapeno]

Just dive into Kenny's music this year, and I truly agree with the video title.

[@kaixo7]

I knew Kirkland (half puertorrican), he was a very humble genius,... played beautiful.

[@fjzingo]

Thanks for this breakdown, Kenny Kirklands workwith Sting brought me into listening and playing jazz. What a genius.

[@deetee4403]

I love the fact that he was never talking sbout kenny in the past tense throughout...the music keeps him alive.❤

[@jmarvins]

omg so much in this vid - you guys are a godsend

[@insidejazzguitar8112]

That was amazing. I didn’t know it was called the “burnout,” and definitely didn’t know what he was doing there. Thank you!

[@lbamusic]

A monster breakdown and tribute - thanks so much !!

[@jamescorneliustaylor6997]

Wonderful! I love what you've done, and great choices of music. Can I add that, for me, the thing about Kenny isn't just his unbelievable musicianship, it's the sheer honest humanity of his playing which makes his sound so powerfully moving.

[@Guitar-free]

Kenny K was absolutely brilliant! Thanks for the reminder of how phenomenal he was.

[@GER_1]

Thank you Kenny!!!!! What a wonderfull musician! Thank you Peter!!!!! Your concerts with Kenny Garrett are awesome too! Have a nice day! CL

[@stmserio]

Peter, thank you for doing this video on Kenny, he has also been one of my favorite artist. His solos and comping are as good as it gets, like everyone who has ever heard Kenny are glad of the recordings of him, but all want more … question, is that video available to purchase of that concert? Thanks Sal, Open Studio member …

[@mdp303]

I’m a pop rock player. When I heard Kenny Kirkland on that Sting live album When the World Starts Running Down I’d never heard anything like it. Rhythmic complexity melodic complexity you never hear in rock. It shouldn’t work but it was totally amazing. The best solo ever on a rock record as far as I’m concerned. A master of the instrument gone too soon

[@GabrielRuizBernal]

A true masterclass! Thank you Peter!

[@nopalitosms]

Great video Peter!!! a amazing short masterclass on K.Kirkland genius/artistry. THNAK YOU!

[@raymondkarlsson9794]

I was lucky to play drums with Kenny when he came down to Club Nefertiti in Gothenburg, Sweden 1986 after a Sting concert. I had finished a quartet gig and Kenny heard a couple of our tunes. He liked it and wanted to jam. Darryl Jones was with him but there was no fretted bass so he didn’t join. I remember Billie’s Bounce and Confirmation and Kenny’s amazing playing .

[@JuroJanik]

Absolutely perfect video!! Thank you Peter!

[@EAMAMUSIC]

Beautifully done. Thanks a lot.

[@kimbullard770]

Thanks for this! Contagious enthusiasm

[@chazinko]

Fantastic tribute and breakdown of this legendary jazz master - loved it!

[@jonathandeutsch3991]

Great job. Always loved his playing.

[@PedroRodriguez-yw1wm]

Brilliant and inspiring analysis!! Thank you Peter!

[@BeauShelbyandFlyy]

One things for sure , here I’m going to LEARN SOMETHING IMPORTANT. I’ve not taken a look at Kenny Kirklands work, not at all. That’s saying a lot because his clusters and dissonance & transformative extended melodic phrasing is my favorite stuff from many other piano/keyboard giants. Imma just kick back and listen some more. I will also be pulling him up on Pandora for some passive saturation going on in the background as I’m exercising or just doing other things. Thanks guys. As always , great post.

[@SirinAlexa]

The great jazz pianist Kenny Kirkland had long since passed away. Thanks to him, I was able to see Stevie Wonder and Sting concerts in Japan without paying for them.

[@jamesedricshaw]

This is just brilliant!!! Thank you so much Peter!

[@michaeldavis9954]

Awesome lesson.

[@samuelele]

What an amazing analysis! Thank you Sir

[@playjazzpianonyc]

Love the title and I agree 100%! I stated that many times to my students. Thanks!

[@brandonl3701]

Awesome analysis. Would love for you to breakdown KK's solo on "Chambers of Tain" from "Black Codes."

[@mozee_]

Peter - With all of the GREAT content that Open Studio is putting out, I'm several months behind, BUT this particular video is exceptional! You truly honor Kirkland's genius with this deep dive into his brilliance. Adding your own personal reflections re: the Kennys REALLY helps to provide context for those who might have been too young to heard him in concert. MANY, MANY THANKS, not only for this video, but for ALL of the work that you/your team pour into Open Studio. I'm not alone when I say that I am truly grateful for these lessons and insights!

[@kalletjaben-jazz-funk-soul-key]

Thanks a lot for this! You‘re a fantastic jazz-educator 🤗

[@kmttaseti]

This was wonderful. Thanx! A+

[@thierrymace4735]

Hello, brilliant analysis, really exciting!

[@roanmccormick7923]

Awesome exploration of Kenny Kirklands immense genius and spiritual creativity.

[@orangeproduction7609]

Peter, thank you so much for your analysis and presentation of information! brilliantly!

[@andradas9688]

absolutely fantastic analysis of a wonderful, unique pianist that I still admire very very much! I would say that when he plays A7/C7#9, he is actually using a C octatonic...But his use of triads does create a sense of polychords throughout. I worship his solo on Blacks Codes from Black Codes from the Underground, and his comping under Branford Marsalis' solo is another work of art.

[@riberto123]

awsome presentation

[@davidrosen9711]

This is fantastic

[@zrazymusic]

Thank you so much. Loving this teaching

[@KaylaDad75]

Thank you for this!!

[@ddesongs]

Thanks soon much for this breakdown!...I was a fan of Kenny Kirkland (RIP) The 1st time I heard him on Duzzy's New Faces album. He synthesized modern jazz piano like No one else! It's such a shame we lost him too early 😞 I would throw Lyle Mays as a close contender for most under-rated. Would love to see a breakdown like this for Lyle!

[@isoEH]

Insightful!

[@CRtrain]

Peter- you've done it again! This was incredible. Amazing analysis. You guys also upped the production ante with this video. I was lucky enough to see this band play at the New Haven Jazz fest several months before he passed. Also - 08:21 🤣

[@Zacharysandilands]

I love you guys so much

[@trentwaterman7049]

You the man Peter

[@PunyapatFungtammasarn]

One of my all time favorite jazz concert, I got Kenny Garrett’s solo transcription on Giant Steps from this concert about 4.35 minutes long. It was unfinished because I couldn’t count anymore after his shredding with Jeff T Watts. However, if anyone interested feel free to check out in my channel 😅

[@RealGeoMagic]

thanks for this

[@christophersimmons6377]

🎼This is a brilliant breakdown by Peter Martin of the mastery of the late great Kenny Kirkland. Thank you for all your great work Peter, and thank you Kenny Kirkland for taking jazz piano to new heights and beyond! 🚀 Kenneth David Kirkland (September 28, 1955 - November 12, 1998) 🎹

[@deaconblues3964]

Don't know how to contact Peter directly but.... Happy Birthday my man!

[@rumpelRAINS]

Great video! I always wondered, "How he do that?"

[@user-ec6ix9ck2k]

Thank you :)))))

[@vitaminfian]

Wonderful

[@georgecolligan9381]

I don’t think he was “underrated” per se- that would be a whole discussion on how anyone can “ rank” great artists as it is subjective….Kirkland was in pretty high demand as a sideman throughout his career which was cut short by his sudden death in 1998. It’s a drag that he only did one record as a leader- that GRP record is incredible……anyway, this is an awesome video- love it!

[@aivrsn75phila]

Kenny Kirkland is no joke. I love the stuff he did on Ray Obiedo's album

[@mickehaglund4119]

Awesome! Wish you could do an analysis/ breakdown of his solo with Sting on Bring on the night!?

[@samthorpe_]

Some big parts of the 'Melodic' phrase are also classic Kenny Kirkland licks, which you'll hear all over some of his other playing from the era and can transcribe in different contexts there as well. For example, in his tune 'Chance,' listen to the line starting around 2:57 of this recording: kzbin.info/www/bejne/g3SppWqMbrSFgJY

[@Eden_Rubin_Music]

flawless monster!

[@edwinkeys]

WOW ..!!!!

[@maramazone]

I think Peter means underrated in the sense that his name does not stand out, as much as other Titan’s of Jazz such as, Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea, Keith Jarrett, Kenny Barron etc etc.. only the real jazz heads will know how important he was a bridge to this music! But glad Sting talent spotted him out of the crowd, so he definitely rated his playing!