Photo by Andrea Canter

One of the most influential jazz artists of his generation, alto - soprano sax monster Kenny Garrett has been a major force in jazz since his first appearances with the Jazz Messengers and Miles Davis nearly twenty years ago. This week, he brings his stellar quartet to the Iridium in New York, October 26-30.

Kenny Garrett grew up surrounded by jazz, gospel, R & B, and classical music in his native Detroit. His father, who played tenor sax, introduced young Kenny to jazz and the saxophone. Like many young Detroit jazzhounds in the 70s, Garrett was mentored by Marcus Belgrave. In 1978, his plan to attend the Berklee College of Music in Boston took a back seat when Garrett had the opportunity to tour with the Duke Ellington Orchestra (under Mercer Ellington’s direction). Moving to New York 3 years later, Garrett played in the Ellington band’s Sophisticated Ladies; he was exposed to the music of Thad Jones as a member of the Mel Lewis Orchestra and to the music of Mingus as a member of the Dannie Richmond Quintet. His first recording (Introducing Kenny Garrett, Criss Cross) was released in 1984, and soon he was performing with Art Blakey, Freddie Hubbard, and Woody Shaw. In 1986, still with the Jazz Messengers, he also joined Miles Davis’ last touring band, playing and recording for five years. Notes Garrett of this association, “Miles’ genius was getting the best out musicians without controlling them—letting them be free, but also getting what he wanted from them.” As one of the last great musicians to work his way up the ranks in the bands of other great musicians, Garrett attributes much of his success to his early work in those great bands, but cites John Coltrane as having the most influence on his artistry.

Photo by Andrea Canter

Garrett recorded two for Atlantic—Prisoner of Love and African Exchange Student— before signing with Warner Brothers, for whom he has released eight acclaimed recordings in the last 12 years. He has over 100 appearances as sideman, tours with Roy Haynes’ Charlie Parker tribute band, Birds of a Feather, has received multiple Grammy nominations, and is a frequent critics’ and readers’ poll winner, having topped Phil Woods for the alto “king” spot in the Down Beat Readers poll. And while most of his work is in modern mainstream idioms, Garrett is an eclectic artist who has experimented with fusion and hip hop (including Guru’s Jazzmatazz projects) as well as appearing with the New Jersey Symphony (Barber’s “Adagio for Strings”), Bruce Springsteen, Sting, and Peter Gabriel. Says Garrett, “Rather than simply say, ‘I play jazz,’ I say, ‘I play music.’”

Garrett’s efforts in the past 7-8 years have leaned more and more toward his own compositions. Songbook (1997) was the first to feature his original music and was honored with a Grammy nomination. His most recent Warner Brothers recording (Standard of Language, 2003) was described by Ted Kurland as “roll-up-your sleeves, in-your-face, hard bop blowing at its best; an energized set of rippling melodic songs.” Other recent projects have put him in the company of Jeff “Tain” Watts, Pharoah Sanders, John Scofield, and Pat Metheny.

Photo by Andrea Canter

Garrett always brings a stellar quartet on tour. Keyboardist Carlos McKinney is a perfect foil for Garrett, capable of matching the sax master phrase for phrase, nuance for nuance, ripping across the piano keyboard with Tyner-like power yet capable of Evanescent lyricism on both piano and Fender Rhodes. He can be a ferocious improviser, his playing frequently playful and consistently riveting. Bassist Chris Funn maintains a rapid pulse, at times setting a heavy funk rhythm that keeps the band in the groove. Drummer Ron Bruner plays with a frenetic energy applied to every whack, every skitter, every rimshot. Noted Gregory Robb (All About Jazz), “His strokes and accents combined for stunning effect, sometimes sounding like ecstatic piston fire. One can only shake a head, and grin, when a drummer this good strides off a stage into the human world.”

At the Iridium, be prepared for a lot of high flying alto and soprano sax pushed ahead by unrelenting youthful exuberance. As noted by the Washington Post, “Someone should post a storm warning prior to a Kenny Garrett concert.”

The Kenny Garret Quartet will be on the bandstand at the Iridium in New York City, October 26-30, sets at 8 and 10 pm ( www.iridiumjazzclub.com).