For 30 years, Kenny Barron played all over the world and in countless recording studios with his bassist Kiyoshi Kitagawa, a musician from Osaka, Japan, who arrived in the United State in 1988. Mr. Kitagawa passed away suddenly earlier this year, as Mr. Barron recounts in the following interview he gave to Blue Lake Public Radio on September 16, 2026.
Kenny Barron fondly recalls playing with bassist Endea Owens at the Gilmore International Piano Festival in 2024 and bassist Dave Holland in Chicago Symphony Center in 2023.
When Kenny Barron’s Trio opens the new season of St. Cecilia Music Center’s Spectacular Jazz Series on Thursday, October 8th at 7:30 p.m. he’ll be with celebrated bassist Robert Hurst plus his long standing drummer Johnathan Blake.
Kenny Barron is a jazz icon as composer, pianist, educator, and National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Master. He released over 40 albums as a leader, earned 12 Grammy nominations and played with or recorded with jazz masters Dizzy Gillespie, Yusef Lateef, Stan Getz and Chet Baker. In the 25 years he taught at Rutgers University, Barron shepherded the careers of Terrance Blanchard, Steve Nelson, David Sanchez and Regina Bell, among others.
During this half hour long conversation from his home in Brooklyn, Mr. Barron’s conversation turns in many directions. Young listeners may enjoy his perspective on the music of Bud Powell and Thelonious Monk, the deep influence of the Detroit jazz piano tradition, as well as how his time in the band of Detroit’s Yusef Lateef opened up his playing to infinite possibilities.
Whatever grabs your ear or piques an interest be sure to hear this 83-year-old jazz treasure with this trio live at St. Cecilia Music Center on Thursday, October 8th at 7:30. www.scmc.org for tickets and more information.
