With this growing recognition, Washington was voted a “Rising Star” in the male vocals category in the 57th Annual Downbeat Critics’ Poll. This man is a must-see. A New Orleans native, Washington grew up with the gospel music he heard in church, singing and performing from an early age. Quick Facts Name Kenny Washington Birth Date August 31, 1918 Death Date June 24, 1971 Did You Know? Later he played electric bass in rock bands. He auditioned as a saxophonist, but upon discovery of  his singing talent, he became one of the featured vocalists with both bands. 2 reviews of Kenny Washington "Kenny Washington is a very talented Jazz Vocalist! In 2017, Washington performed with Wynton Marsalis and The Jazz At Lincoln Center Orchestra and vocalist Roberta Gambarini to celebrate Ella Fitzgerald’s 100th birthday. -- Andrew Gilbert, eastbayexpress.com. After a 35-year career in which he has often been a featured guest on others’ records, this summer the 63-year-old singer is finally releasing his first studio album under his own name. Kenny Washington (photo: Jim Dennis) Kenny Washington, the jazz vocalist (not to be confused with the drummer of the same name), has always taken his time. Soul Jazz Vocal Jazz. Washington will be joined by the Dan Miller – Lew Del Gatto Quintet. Washington is also the featured vocalist on three recordings by tenor saxophonist Michael O’Neill,  The Long and the Short of It (2004), Still Dancin’ (2007) and New Beginnings (2014) on Jazzmo Records. Recently dubbed “the Superman of the Bay Area jazz scene” by the San Francisco Chronicle, Kenny Washington is a jazz virtuoso who thrills audiences with his soulful interpretations, seemingly limitless range, and rapid-fire scatting. That Kenny Washington was born in New Orleans and presently inhabits the Bay Area. The 58 year old Brooklyn born, Staten Island-bread drummer has played behind Benny Goodman, Dizzy Gillespie, Lionel Hampton, Ahmad Jamal and a never-ending list of amazing players. His early musical training was in the gospel church, and he only picked up on jazz in his late teens. The Best Living Male Jazz Vocalist on the Planet....none other than Kenny Washington! American jazz drummer, born May 29, 1958 in Brooklyn, New York, USA. Styles. Feeding into that line of thinking is the debut studio date from veteran vocalist Kenny Washington. A masterful vocalist and “the superman of the Bay Area jazz scene” (SF Chronicle), Kenny Washington is easily among the most beloved and soulful singers working today. NYC jazz trumpeter Dan Miller built his reputation touring and recording with Harry Connick Jr., Wynton Marsalis, Maynard Ferguson and Woody Herman. Buy Kenny Washington tickets from the official Ticketmaster.com site. Submit Corrections. Kenny Washington has a strong interest in jazz history; he's written liner notes for and/or helped prepare classic jazz re-releases by Art Blakey and Count Basie, among others. Peter Washington (born in Los Angeles on August 28, 1964) is a jazz double bassist.He played with the Westchester Community Symphony at the age of 14. Kenny Washington was raised in America's jazz and party capital of New Orleans, but his father kept him away from the wild atmosphere of the French Quarter. He's a real improviser who brings depth to everything he does. Washington returned to the national and global stage when vibraphonist Joe Locke brought Washington to New York for a week-long run at the Lincoln Center’s Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola, a residency that began an annual Dizzy’s tradition. ... Find Kenny Washington discography, albums and singles on AllMusic. Kenny Washington + Follow Artist. The last person you’ll find singing the praises of Kenny Washington is the Oakland jazz vocalist himself. Find Kenny Washington tour schedule, concert details, reviews and photos. He's also taught jazz drumming at the New School in New York City, and worked as an announcer at the New Jersey jazz radio station WBGO. Recently dubbed “the Superman of the Bay Area jazz scene” by the San Francisco Chronicle, Kenny Washington is a jazz virtuoso who thrills audiences with his soulful interpretations, seemingly limitless range, and rapid-fire scatting. Kenny Washington Busy jazz drummer and longtime MD contributor Paul Wells—who we last heard from in his December 2012 Drummer to Drummer feature with the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra’s John Riley—sits down this month with a man that many consider to be the authority on classic jazz drummers. Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis, Big Band Holidays, Cecile McLorin Salvant, Aaron Diehl, Sherman Irby, Kenny Washington, Bria Skonberg, Randy Weston, Rosa Passos, T-Bone Walker, apple music, jazz playlists, playlist Ravi Coltrane has declared Kenny his favorite male vocalist, and Mark Murphy said in a Jazz Times interview that Kenny was the only contemporary male vocalist carrying on the tradition. I have had the pleasure of listening to him perform with the Michael O'Neill Quintet, and other ensemble's. He then went on the road for several European performances. He's a consummate professional, with impeccable intonation. In 2014, Washington returned to Jazz at Lincoln Center to perform Basie & The Blues with pianist Eric Reed and again in 2016 as the featured vocalist in JALC’s tribute to Frank Sinatra, in celebration of Sinatra’a 100th birthday. In 2013, Washington appeared at The Mid-Atlantic Jazz Festival, The 2013 Virginia Arts Festival, and as an adjudicator for the Monterey Jazz Festival’s Next Generation Jazz Festival. After college, Washington played with the honorary U.S. Navy Band Guam, followed by the U.S. Navy Band 7th Fleet, stationed in Japan. The Best Living Male Jazz Vocalist on the Planet....none other than Kenny Washington! What’s The Hurry is an apt title for vocalist Kenny Washington’s album, for although he’s been singing professionally for many years (including a stint in the US Navy in the 1980s and 90s) this is his debut as leader. Turning to the second focus on Kenny drumming, the broad scope of Kenny’s Jazz background and knowledge can be heard on the forty-four [44] albums he made to date for Criss Cross Records, the Dutch label owned by producer Gerry Teekens. For nine years Washington performed with the Navy bands across Asia, Russia, Australia and the U.S. After settling in the San Francisco Bay Area, Washington had an early success with a high profile project came when he was cast in a featured role in an off-Broadway jazz theater production called Fire at Keaton's Bar & Grill, by saxophonist Roy Nathanson. We all love Kenny… He's a consummate professional, with impeccable intonation. Recently dubbed the Superman of the Bay Area jazz scene by the San Francisco Chronicle, Kenny Washington is a jazz virtuoso who thrills audiences with his soulful interpretations, seemingly limitless range, and rapid-fire scatting. He's also taught jazz drumming at the New School in New York City, and worked as an announcer at … Born and raised in New Orleans, Washington grew up singing gospel in the church where his parents were choir members and playing saxophone in school bands. Christian Brorsen, music director of the Jazzhus, says, "A great affection developed between Kenny and the audience. The Brooklyn-born, Staten Island-bred drummer has played behind Benny Goodman, Dizzy Gillespie, Lionel Hampton, Ahmad Jamal, Ronnie Mathews, Lee Konitz, Betty Carter, Johnny Griffin, Clark Terry, George Cables, Benny Goodman, Lionel Hampton, Sonny Stitt, James Spaulding, Phil Woods, Bill Charlap, Bobby Watson, Curtis Lundy, and Tommy Flanagan, to … He's a real improviser who brings depth to everything he does. The New Orleans native, now based in the San Francisco Bay Area, appeared in 2013 at Jazz At Lincoln Center with Wynton Marsalis and The Jazz At Lincoln Center Orchestra to perform Marsalis’ Pulitzer Prize-winning oratorio Blood On The Fields, alongside vocalists Gregory Porter and Paula West. Emulating the classic styles of Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughn, infusing colors of Stevie Wonder and Donny Hathaway, Kenny’s freedom • play approach, with over a four-octave range is awe inspiring Washington is featured on Joe Locke’s For The Love of You (E1 Records, 2010) and has appeared internationally with The Joe Locke Group in Germany, Georgia, and Scotland and at various festivals. "The thing is, Washington slays 'em wherever he performs. Described as one of “the Bay Area’s best kept musical secrets,” Washington’s astounding improvisational flights, inventive approach and emotional intensity are awe inspiring. Other recent highlights include The 58th Annual Monterey Jazz Festival with the Michael O’Neill Quintet, a 2014 Grammy win for the eponymous album from The Pacific Mambo Orchestra, which featured Washington’s stand-out rendition of Stevie Wonder’s tune ‘Overjoyed” and two new releases that feature Washington on vocals: Groove Conspiracy, from drummer Tommy Igoe’s modern big band, and New Beginnings, the third collaboration with saxophonist Michael O’Neill. Kenny has been a huge influence on a few generations of drummers at this point. None of whom is the Kenny Washington who wowed Danish jazz audiences for three nights at Jazzhus Montmartre, Copenhagen in October 2015. Kenny Washington thrills audiences across the globe with his soulful interpretations, seemingly limitless range, and rapid-fire scatting. The project was captured on an excellent cast album, released in 2000 on Six Degrees Records. Recent solo international performances include dates in Germany, Spain, Denmark, Georgia, Czech Republic, Singapore, South Korea, Mongolia, Canada, Japan and Russia. Born and raised in New Orleans, Washington grew up singing gospel in the church where his parents were choir members and playing saxophone in school bands. I truly enjoy his elegant style, musicality, and creative expression. Jazz caught his interest during his senior year of high school, when the great clarinetist Alvin Batiste performed at his school with a band of students that included two precociously talented teenage brothers named Branford and Wynton Marsalis. Wynton Marsalis says: "I love this man! Find Kenny Washington discography, albums and singles on AllMusic AllMusic. Band supporting Kenny Washington's vocals are Josh Nelson on piano, Gary Brown on acoustic bass (except track 9), Lorca Hart on drums, Victor Goines on tenor sax and clarinet (tracks 3 &10), Jeff Massanari on guitar (tracks 2, 4 &11), Mike Olmos (track 5) on trumpet, Peter Michael Escovedo on bongos (track 7), Dan Feiszli on acoustic bass (track 9), Jeff Cressman on trombone (track 10), and … Kenny is a jazz vocalist virtuoso. Jazz Lives: 100 Portraits in Jazz, p. 186. Guys in their 40s-50 like Greg Hutchinson, Willie Jones III, and Joe Farnsworth were mentored by him. From Kenny Washington to John Santos to Noa Levy to the Jazz Mafia, these Bay Area musicians were among the highlights of 2020. In 2017, Washington performed with Wynton Marsalis and The Jazz At Lincoln Center Orchestra and vocalist Roberta Gambarini to celebrate Ella Fitzgerald’s 100th birthday. With a childhood background singing in gospel, Kenny is at home with the Blues as well as Jazz. One of the pre-eminent jazz drummers of his generation, Kenny Washington is an in-demand sideman, session player, and educator with an extensive list of credits to his name. He attended the University of California, Berkeley, where he majored in English Literature, and performed with the San Francisco Youth Symphony and the UC Symphony Orchestra. Kenny Washington is a jazz legend. Wynton Marsalis says: "I love this man! Kenny Washington, vocalist Luciano Morello, founding producer Lew Del Gatto, artistic director, tenor saxophone Glenn Basham, coordinator, violin and harmonica Mike Harvey, drums Kevin Mauldin, bass Dan Miller, trumpet Jerry Stawski, co-bandleader, vocals, piano. Kenny Washington is a Jazz Legend. Talented vocalist Kenny Washington returns to Naples to perform with the Naples Philharmonic Jazz Orchestra in Hayes Hall. New Releases. A native of the Crescent City who cut his teeth as both a saxophonist and singer, Washington worked his way through military bands in his younger years before settling in the Bay Area in the mid 1990s. Inspired, Washington went on to study music at Xavier University, playing saxophone and singing in a variety of styles including pop, classical, R&B and jazz, while listening closely to Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan and Mel Tormé. We all love Kenny… Jazz. Kenny Washington's profile including the latest music, albums, songs, music videos and more updates. Note: for the jazz vocalist, use Kenny Washington (5). Washington performed at the New York City debut in a glittering cast with Elvis Costello, Deborah Harry and Nancy King. Kenny Washington played football and baseball with Jackie Robinson at UCLA. Washington performed a featured role with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra when Marsalis reprised his Pulitzer Prize-winning oratorio “Blood On the Fields” in … Standing not quite five-foot-two, he's an oversize talent who can scat with the harmonic daring and rhythmic command of a bebop saxophonist, croon with the simmering soul of Donny Hathaway, and interpret standards with such intelligence and emotional commitment it's like Rodgers and Hart wrote "I Didn't Know What Time It Was" with him in mind." It’s also a useful description of the relaxed, laid-back, approach to singing that’s a strong feature of these enjoyable performances of American Songbook standards. Washington has a strong interest in jazz history; he's written liner notes for and/or helped prepare classic jazz re-releases by Art Blakey and Count Basie, among others.