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Kenneth David “Kenny” Kirkland was born September 28, 1955 in Newport, New York and when only six sat down at a piano keyboard. Following years of Catholic school Kenny enrolled in the Manhattan School of Music and studied classical piano performance, theory and composition. He first worked professionally touring through Europe with Polish fusion violinist Michal Urbaniak in 1977 and recording with him on “Urbaniak” and “Daybreak”. His next high-profile gig was with Miroslav Vitous with subsequent recording dates on “First Meeting” and “Miroslav Vitous Group”.

In the early 80s, Kirkland toured Japan with trumpeter Terumasa Hino, met Wynton Marsalis and their long association began with him playing on Marsalis’ self-titled debut album and sharing duties with Herbie Hancock. He became the sole pianist on Marsalis’ subsequent releases “Think Of One”, “Hothouse Flowers” and “Black Codes (From The Underground)”. Following this stint he joined Branford’s band After his association with Wynton Marsalis, Kirkland joined Branford Marsalis’ band and is featured on the albums “Royal Garden Blues”, “Renaissance”, “Random Abstract”, “Crazy People Music”, “I Heard You Twice The First Time”, “Buckshot Lefonque”.

Kenny worked for a short period as The Tonight Show pianist during Branford’s tenure but returned to the East coast and session work. Contrary to jazz orthodoxy Kirkland stretched to include keyboards and synthesizers coupled with straying from traditional jazz to work with Sting, on the documentary “Bring On The Night”, and in 1991 released his debut “Kenny Kirkland” for GRP and “Thunder and Rainbows/J.F.K.” on Sunnyside followed.

Leading up to June 1998, Kirkland worked diligently with long-time associate Jeff “Tain” Watts on the drummer’s debut recording “Citizen Tain” but his health was failing due to abuse and neglectful physical exercise. Jazz pianist Kenny Kirkland, most often associated with Sting, Branford Marsalis, Wynton Marsalis, and Kenny Garrett, passed away quietly in his Queens apartment of congestive heart failure on November 12, 1998.

In his more than twenty-year career, Kirkland performed or recorded with such artists as Don Alias, Carla Bley, Terence Blanchard, Michael Brecker, Stanley Clarke, Kevin Eubanks, Charles Fambrough, Chico Freeman, Dizzy Gillespie, Elvin Jones, Arturo Sandoval and the list of jazz greats continues along with Ben E. King, Angela Bofill, Youssou N’Dour, Stephen Stills and David Crosby.

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