Kenny Garrett

For his third Mack Avenue Records release, Pushing the World Away, alto/soprano saxophonist/composer/bandleader Kenny Garrett literally had to “push away” a steady flow of distractions to get to the inner core of the album, shifting priorities in his schedule, and diving deep into the essence of the music.

 

“I’m always writing, so coming up with the music wasn’t a problem,” says Garrett, who is arguably the most imitated alto saxophone player in jazz. “But I had been traveling a lot with my band, and I don’t rehearse new material on tour. Yet to record an album requires a lot of preparation and to conceptualize the music I had to push away to receive the blessings and gifts from these songs.”

 

Photo Credit: Keith Major

On Pushing the World Away, Garrett continues to mature as a composer. As the late Mulgrew Miller, his close friend for many years, noted in a DownBeat feature on the saxophonist last year: “Kenny has always had a great sound from the beginning. He had his own unique sound, but [thanks to his compositions] that sound has transformed into a more captivating and lyrical voice.”

 

Pianists Vernell Brown and Benito Gonzalez are two of Garrett’s go-to band members, who are both graduates of the informal Kenny Garrett School of Music. “When I think about Art Blakey being a mentor for so many years, and how Miles mentored me as well, I like to give back in my own way,” he says. Kenny points out that his band was the first marquee stop for such drummers as Brian Blade, Chris Dave, Ronald Bruner, and Jamire Williams. On Pushing the World Away the drummers include McClenty Hunter, Marcus Baylor and Mark Whitfield Jr.. “They come through, and then there are people always waiting to get them for their own bands,” he says. “I’m just happy that I’m able to help them find their voices.”

 

Presently, Garrett’s core working/touring band is comprised of pianist Brown, bassist Corcoran Holt and Hunter on drums. Gonzalez subs on piano when he’s free. And Garrett has expanded his basic quartet to quintet with percussionist Rudy Bird. “Rudy adds a lot to the band,” Garrett says. “He too used to play with Miles and he adds so much to the music.”

 

In last year’s DownBeat article, Garrett said, “You want to see growth in each album you record.” That’s certainly the case with Pushing the World Away, his 17th album as a leader, which captures the 52-year-old artist at the peak of his creative abilities, both as a saxophonist and as a composer who is committed to clearing the path so that he can delve deeply into his indelible art.

 

 

Upcoming Kenny Garrett U.S. Appearances:

September 27 / Henrick Chapel, Grinnell College / Grinnell, IA

November 9 / EXIT 0 International Jazz Festival / Cape May, NJ

November 17 / Jewish Vocational Services Benefit Gala / Livingston, NJ

December 5 – 8 / Iridium / New York, NY

January 11, 2014 / Nova Southeastern University – 

Rose and Alfred Miniaci Performing Arts Center / Ft. Lauderdale, FL

January 17, 2014 / Dillard University / New Orleans, LA

February 22 – 24 / Jazz at Lincoln Center / New York, NY

April 5, 2014 / University of Massachusetts: Amherst / Amherst, MA

May 2, 2014 / Lawrence Jazz Series at Lawrence University / Appleton, WI

Upcoming Kenny Garrett International Appearances: