The Most Underrated Jazz Pianist In History?

[@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!

[@charles-antoinepouliot6675]

YESSS FINALLY SOMEONE TALKING ABOUT KENNY KIRKLAND

[@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!

[@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.

[@agustinbernal2760]

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

[@playjazzpianonyc]

Totally!

[@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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@GDavis-uy1gg]

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

[@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!

[@bluch251]

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

[@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.

[@dvanselus5999]

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

[@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]

🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@brandonfields7958]

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

[@tecluchi]

You’re a master yourself but thank you for honoring the great Kenny Kirkland a truly unique and genius musician

[@genjimonogatari6156]

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

[@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

[@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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@waynematthews8165]

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

[@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!

[@nopalitosms]

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

[@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

[@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.

[@chazinko]

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

[@JuanRamirez-nw1yu]

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

[@lbamusic]

A monster breakdown and tribute - thanks so much !!

[@toddoliver168]

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

[@kaixo7]

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

[@jmarvins]

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

[@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.

[@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

[@PedroRodriguez-yw1wm]

Brilliant and inspiring analysis!! Thank you Peter!

[@jamesedricshaw]

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

[@orangeproduction7609]

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

[@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

[@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 🤣

[@Guitar-free]

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

[@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.

[@jonathandeutsch3991]

Great job. Always loved his playing.

[@eduardoinke2943]

What a Master class!!!

[@JuroJanik]

Absolutely perfect video!! Thank you Peter!

[@EAMAMUSIC]

Beautifully done. Thanks a lot.

[@roanmccormick7923]

Awesome exploration of Kenny Kirklands immense genius and spiritual creativity.

[@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

[@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 .

[@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.

[@michaeldavis9954]

Awesome lesson.

[@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!

[@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 😅

[@trentwaterman7049]

You the man Peter

[@hansdumbf7608]

0:57 Thanks man... At that point i was thinking "hmm... is Kenny Kirkland the guy on the bass? Or... or maybe he is the guy on the saxophone? After explaining from the very beginning of this video that everything here is about the genius of Kenny Kirklands piano playing, showing him playing on the piano on several different instances, it was quite a relief when you pointed out that Kenny Kirkland is actually the guy on the piano! I am not sure if i would have realized that otherwise!

[@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) 🎹

[@isoEH]

Insightful!

[@thierrymace4735]

Hello, brilliant analysis, really exciting!

[@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!

[@mickehaglund4119]

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

[@aivrsn75phila]

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

[@zrazymusic]

Thank you so much. Loving this teaching

[@RogerBiwandu]

I don't think Doc was underrated, really. Great to see a video about him though, VERY interesting and informative, well done Peter, cool.

[@jimdixon3470]

It is hard to fathom that Kenny only released one record under his own name. I wonder if he was approached by European or Japanese labels like Criss Cross or DIW, where many jazz musicians of his era who were certainly no better than Kenny were recording regularly. I know he had his personal demons, and maybe that accounts for some of the choices he made or the paths he didn't take. Thankfully, he did create quite a legacy through his scene-stealing performances as a hired gun. Yes, he's hardly overrated by those in the know, but if you look through his discography, you just shake your head reading record after record where he was more talented and more of an artist than the person who's name was on the front of the record. The record industry and the general public certainly underrated Kenny, regardless of whether or not some other talent was even more unjustly neglected.

[@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

[@deaconblues3964]

Brriliant analysts by Peter as always! However, I often wonder if these cats are just "feeling" the changes and not analysing what they play in real time. I know they probably know the harmonic stuff but I think they just "feel" the melodic lines and they play what they feel and make it "fit" the changes. This is what I love about jazz and improvisational music...you can play almost anything once you make it fit within the changes...even if you have to go "outside" for a bit. Another interesing observation is Kenny's technique. He plays with a pretty high arch in his fingers...not what you will normally see (almost like Stevie Wonder). Just goes to show.... you can do anything...just get the job done. Nothing is written in stone when it comes to music!

[@karenbenjey1]

know it and then show it...

[@A423-f9o]

Thank you :)))))

[@KaylaDad75]

Thank you for this!!

[@alexa-kimstone3656]

I really like when cats who can actually can play like Peter break down stuff,. thats cool

[@williamchernoff]

in the last example it almost sounds like Kenny is going Em7 A7 Dm7 G7 C F7, and then maybe Dmaj7 back to Ebm but his hands are moving at different speeds, amazing

[@clh3239]

this is so so great! I'm a member and am looking for the pdf to spend some more time. Can't find it on the site -- is it up there yet?

[@chriswright2553]

Me too

[@OpenStudioJazz]

The PDF is with this week's Jazz Piano Method lesson: "Kenny Kirkland Solo Analysis"

[@clh3239]

@@OpenStudioJazz Thanks so much! OpenStudio is beyond great - I've loved Kenny Kirkland for years and this is super useful. Got to see this tour, and Kenny was not only phenomenal as a player but super nice and gracious.

[@drintro]

My issue is maintaining fluidity to execute at those volume levels. Any tips on getting the sound that Kenny gets from the piano? He looks a little tense with splayed fingers, etc. but I'm guessing that's not actually the case.

[@BobMazzo]

I'm not familiar with the term, Ebm BURNOUT CHORD around 20:20. More info please?

[@laurihirsto7161]

Whole solo section is only Ebm

[@Eden_Rubin_Music]

flawless monster!

[@MikeNichols50]

Sorry for the question, but... It seems some of the 'accidentals' are missing in the first few bars shown on the Eflat m7 chord change shown @ 14:47... Is there a key signature [with flats] shown in a previous section of the video?

[@shiloh4184]

How does peter have the same stank face as me listening to this. Yes sir! So good!

[@luke125]

You should do an episode on Michel Petrucciani

[@harrycrab8725]

This is just AWESOME. But I had no idea Kenny was the most underrated jazz pianist in history : ) None of my friends overlook him and we all love his playing with Branford, Wynton, Dizzy, Garrett, Scofield…! I mean, who doesn’t listen to Kenny Kirkland? And without awe and respect? Nat King Cole might be more underrated as a pianist than Kenny, sheesh!

[@johnnyx53]

Thanks so much for this amazing analysis and wonderful tribute for Kenny! Saw him with Wynton in early 80s-just amazing! Another underrated pianist who I think does some of these traits you demonstrated was the great Joe Sample. My favorite is his piece called “Jazz!” with the Jazz Crusaders-kzbin.info/www/bejne/baLZiotuhL6nY5o

[@RealGeoMagic]

thanks for this

[@lautaroquevedo1766]

"The most underrated" I wouldnt say, most of the pianists who do profession and passion over jazz do know him, he is superior big time. We just gotta listen to him ))

[@emmanuelrodulfo6044]

Pls get martin bejerano on this podcast :) he's plays amazing stuff

[@quebolonasere]

Coño que bueno está esto 👍🏼👍🏼

[@somerandomhomeboy]

5:54-5:55. "Look Kenny G's digging it"!😂

[@rodrigoodonsalcedocisneros9266]

He is in a long list of inderrated geniuses, like the recently departed Charnette Moffet.

[@kultan2000]

I always saw Kirkland as a newer Wynron Kelly. Tasteful with mad pocket player.

[@danjtomlinson]

Wow💙

[@nativesonno.1113]

He was the best.

[@harsszeg]

no such

[@laurencefish2178]

🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@paxwallace8324]

I never underrated him but he was so much better live wow like with branford. I should say he made his impact on me live. But I was just listening to him while doing laundry. I got to talk to him regarding a wayneish ballad of his....he was so freaking nice. But in that very long time that transpired after his death I kinda forgot his name. Like I can never remember Kurt Lightsey or George Cables names

[@a.a.1253]

Hi, I saw the title of this video and just insist that you check out Cooper-Moore, and co. :-)

[@ulob]

"Kenny G. is diggin' it!" - I'm absolutely sure that the OTHER Kenny G is diggin' it too :D

[@luizcarlosmarottajunior]

pra mim, ele é nível herbie hancock e chic corea, rip kenny

[@xentakis]

I wish I had a stank face emoji

[@mawesters]

Great video but sorry I gotta go.. practice 🔥🔥

[@hickian2]

I HAD A DA!!!!!!!! MOMENT AS KENNY WOULD SAY MY NAME IS KYLE HICKS DA!!!!! MEANS YOUR NOT PAYING ATTENTION OR SPACING OUT AND WE WOULD JOKE EACH OTHER ABOUT THAT HE WAS MY BEST FRIEND AND BROTHER < WE IN 1981 ON TOUR WITH TERRAMASO HINO (TRUMPET) KENNY AND I BECAME ROOMATES IN NYC AND BROYHERS FOR LIFE IM ALSO A DRUMMER I KNNOW A LOT OF HIS LIFE WE MET AT AGE WE WERE 22 & 23 HE WAS THE MOST LOVING HUMAN BEING IVE EVER KNOW < HE TAUGHT ME HOW TOO LIVE

[@danieldemaris2975]

Here early 🔥

[@oriraykai3610]

Easy! He's the reincarnation of Cecil Taylor

[@supmet2]

The most underrated? Hmmm?

[@renatopluspiano9541]

He’s underrated??