Songbook Kenny Barron

• 1 Beyond This Place 05:22
• 2 Until Then 04:48
• 3 Cook's Bay 05:13
• 4 Thoughts and Dreams 04:42
• 5 Illusion 06:11
• 6 Minor Blues Redux 05:24
• 7 In The Slow Lane 04:47
• 8 Sunshower 05:54
• 9 Calypso 03:23
• 10 Lullabye 06:27
• 11 Sonia Braga 05:16
• 12 Marie Laveau 06:57
• 13 Song For Abdullah 05:43
• Total Runtime 01:10:07

Info for Songbook

NEA Jazz Master and 14x GRAMMY nominee Kenny Barron announces Songbook, arriving November 14, 2025 on Artwork Records. This album represents the fulfillment of a decades-long dream for the 82-year-old piano master, showcasing 13 of his original compositions reimagined with lyrics by gifted songwriter Janice Jarrett and interpreted by an extraordinary ensemble of established and emerging vocalists.

Joined by his long-standing trio featuring Kiyoshi Kitagawa on bass and Johnathan Blake on drums, Barron unveils a collection that seamlessly blends lyrical sophistication, harmonic depth, and rhythmic vitality. When asked why he decided to venture into this new direction at this point in his amazing career, the 82-year-old Barron laughs, “Because I’m getting old. It’s something that I’ve always wanted to do. This project had been running through my head for more than three decades. So, I decided that this would be the perfect time.”

The album features a remarkable cast of vocalists, including jazz luminaries Cécile McLorin Salvant, Kurt Elling, Ann Hampton Callaway, Catherine Russell, and Jean Baylor, alongside three exceptional emerging artists: Kavita Shah, Ekep Nkwelle, and label-mate Tyreek McDole.

Songbook marks Barron’s first album to fully feature vocals. The project showcases the enduring resonance of his compositional catalog, with each song revealing new facets through Jarrett’s evocative lyrics and the distinctive interpretations of each vocalist.

Salvant contributes her exploratory artistry to three tracks: the samba-powered “Thoughts and Dreams,” the sashaying Afro-Cuban tinged “Sunshower,” and the dreamy “Song for Abdullah.” Elling brings his distinctive baritone to the sanguine ballad “In The Slow Lane” (composed for the unreleased film Another Harvest Moon), while Russell graces the swaggering “Minor Blues Redux“ – the only track on the album not featuring Jarrett’s lyrics, with Russell providing her own.

Callaway returns to collaborate with Barron (following her appearances on 2007’s The Traveler), her soothing and smoky vocals caressing Jarrett’s lyrics on the prancing “Cook’s Bay” – a delightful piece Barron wrote to commemorate his 40th wedding anniversary with his wife, Joanne. Baylor commands attention with her gospel-inflected delivery on “Beyond This Place” and the jazz bossa nova “Until Then.”

The album also highlights three rising stars who represent the future of jazz vocals. New York City-based Kavita Shah, fluent in music from Brazil, West Africa, and India, enchants on Barron’s “Lullabye.“ Washington, D.C. native Ekep Nkwelle beautifies the pensive “Illusion” and “Sonia Braga,” a tone poem paying homage to the legendary Brazilian actress. Florida-bred Tyreek McDole accentuates the bright, wordless Trinidadian-flavored melody on “Calypso” and the suspenseful “Marie Laveau,” named after the famous New Orleans voodoo priestess.

Central to Songbook is Barron’s collaboration with lyricist Janice Jarrett, whose words first appeared on his music for 2007’s The Traveler. Their partnership began in the late 1960s when Jarrett worked as secretary for Barron’s older brother, saxophonist Bill Barron, during his tenure directing a jazz workshop at the Children’s Museum in Brooklyn.

“When I listen to Barron’s music, I get visuals or moments from them, especially when I pay close attention to the melodies and song titles,” Jarrett explains. “I had carte blanche in writing the lyrics because he trusted me.”

Ann Hampton Callaway observes: “Kenny and Janice are both poets. A poet distills truths and makes them come alive in unexpected ways. They are a fine writing team because Kenny paints stories and Janice brings them alive with words that leave room for the imagination.”

Songbook arrives during a particularly fruitful period for Barron, following his 14th GRAMMY nomination for 2024’s Beyond This Place and the critical acclaim for 2023’s The Source, his first solo piano recording in over four decades, both released via Artwork. With a solo career spanning more than half a century, Barron has established himself as one of the eminent masters of jazz piano currently at work and a thriving link to jazz’s mid-century Golden Age.

From his collaborations with jazz aristocracy, including Dizzy Gillespie, James Moody, Stan Getz, and Yusef Lateef, to his role as educator and mentor to rising generations of musicians, Barron has demonstrated excellence in virtually every jazz format and idiom. His vast discography as both leader and sideman stands as testament to an artist who continues to evolve and inspire.

Songbook is both a showcase of Kenny Barron’s artistry and his enduring compositional voice. The album highlights the pianist’s knack for reinvigorating his material while featuring both established vocal masters and three promising emerging artists.

Kenny Barron, piano
Kiyoshi Kitagawa, bass
Johnathan Blake, drums
Jean Baylor, vocals (tracks 1, 2)
Ann Hampton Callaway, vocals (track 3)
Cécile McLorin Salvant, vocals (track 4, 8, 13)
Ekep Nkwelle, vocals (track 5, 11)
Catherine Russell, vocals (Track 6)
Kurt Elling, vocals (track 7)
Tyreek McDole, vocals (track 9, 12)
Kavita Shah, vocals (track 10)

Kenny Barron
Honored by The National Endowment for the Arts as a 2010 Jazz Master, Kenny Barron has an unmatched ability to mesmerize audiences with his elegant playing, sensitive melodies and infectious rhythms. The Los Angeles Times named him “one of the top jazz pianists in the world” and Jazz Weekly calls him “The most lyrical piano player of our time.”

Philadelphia is the birthplace of many great musicians, including one of the undisputed masters of the jazz piano: Kenny Barron. Kenny was born in 1943 and while a teenager, started playing professionally with Mel Melvin’s orchestra. This local band also featured Barron’s brother Bill, the late tenor saxophonist.

While still in high school. Kenny worked with drummer Philly Joe Jones and at age 19, he moved to New York City and freelanced with Roy Haynes, Lee Morgan and James Moody, after the tenor saxophonist heard him play at the Five Spot. Upon Moody’s recommendation Dizzy Gillespie hired Barron in 1962 without even hearing him play a note. It was in Dizzy’s band where Kenny developed an appreciation for Latin and Caribbean rhythms. After five years with Dizzy, Barron played with Freddie Hubbard, Stanley Turrentine, Milt Jackson, and Buddy Rich. The early seventies found Kenny working with Yusef Lateef who Kenny credits as a key influence in his art for improvisation. Encouraged by Lateef, to pursue a college education, Barron balanced touring with studies and earned his B.A. in Music from Empire State College, By 1973, Kenny joined the faculty at Rutgers University as professor of music. He held this tenure until 2000, mentoring many of today’s young talents including David Sanchez, Terence Blanchard and Regina Bell. In 1974 Kenny recorded his first album as a leader for the Muse label, entitled “Sunset To Dawn.” This was to be the first in over 40 recordings (and still counting!) as a leader.

Following stints with Ron Carter in the late seventies Kenny formed a trio with Buster Williams and Ben Riley which also worked alongside of Eddie Lockjaw” Davis, Eddie Harris, Sonny Stitt and Harry “Sweets” Edison. Throughout the 80’s Barron collaborated with the great tenor saxophonist Stan Getz, touring with his quartet and recording several legendary albums including “Anniversary”, “Serenity” and the Grammy nominated “People Time” Also during the 80’s, he co-founded the quartet “Sphere,” along with Buster Williams, Ben Riley and Charlie Rouse. This band focused on the music of Thelonious Monk and original compositions inspired by him. Sphere recorded several outstanding projects for the Polygram label, among them “Four For All” and “Bird Songs.” After the death of Charlie Rouse, the band took a 15-year hiatus and reunited, replacing Rouse with alto saxophonist Gary Bartz. This reunion made its debut recording for Verve Records in 1998.

Kenny Barron’s own recordings for Verve have earned him nine Grammy nominations beginning in 1992 with “People Time” an outstanding duet with Stan Getz followed by the Brazilian influenced “Sambao and most recently for “Freefall” in 2002. Other Grammy nominations went to “Spirit Song”, “Night and the City” (a duet recording with Charlie Haden) and “Wanton Spirit” a trio recording with Roy Haynes and Haden. It is important to note that these three recordings each received double-Grammy nominations (for album and solo performance.) His CD, “Canta Brasil” (Universal France) linked Barron with Trio de Paz in a fest of original Brazilian jazz, and was named Critics Choice Top Ten CDs of 2003 by JazzIz Magazine. His 2004 release, Images (Universal France) was inspired by a suite originally commissioned by The Wharton Center at Michigan State University and features multi-Grammy nominated vibraphonist Stefon Harris. The long awaited trio sequel featuring Ray Drummond and Ben Riley, The Perfect Set, Live At Bradley’s, Part Two (Universal France/Sunnyside) was released October 2005.

In Spring 2008 Mr. Barron released The Traveler (Universal France), an intoxicating mix of favorite Barron tunes set to lyrics and newly penned compositions. For his first vocal based recording, Barron invited Grady Tate (who sheds his drumsticks for this special appearance), Tony award winner Ann Hampton Calloway and the young phenom Gretchen Parlato, winner of the Thelonious Monk International Competition for Jazz. On “Um Beijo”, Mr. Tate’s warm, leathery voice balanced by Mr. Barron’s poignant touch make for a beautifully textured conversation, underscoring their longtime on stage collaboration. Another Barron original, “Clouds” is a lush vehicle for Ann Hampton Calloway’s romantic pitch-perfect yearnings matched with Barron’s trademark mastery of subtlety. The dramatic “Phantoms” intertwines Parlato’s ephemeral intimacy and syncopatic rhythms in an emotional escapade between Barron’s haunting notes, the West African stylings of guitarist Lionel Loueké, drummer Francisco Mela (who also adds a Cuban flavor to the vocals) and the driving bass of Kiyoshi Kitagawa. The journey continues with the aptly named “Duet” an improvisation with Benin-born Loueké who also joins the trio for a rousing version of Barron’s “Calypso”. A composer who relishes in the moment, Barron’s modern approach is highlighted by alto saxophonist Steve Wilson’s open musings on “Illusion” and “The Traveler” who also brings an urgency to the fun-paced “Speed Trap”.

After a successful musical meeting of the minds with bassist Dave Holland, the two masters decided to collaborate on a duet project to be released on Impulse/Universal records in 2014 followed by a tour.

Barron consistently wins the jazz critics and readers polls, including Downbeat, Jazz Times and Jazziz magazines. The famed Spanish ceramist Lladro honored Mr. Barron with a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2012 and he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from his alma mater SUNY Empire State in 2013 and from Berklee College of Music in 2011. In 2009 he received the Living Legacy Award from Mid-Atlantic Arts Foundation and was inducted into the American Jazz Hall of Fame and won a MAC Lifetime Achievement Award in 2005. He is a six-time recipient of Best Pianist by the Jazz Journalists Association.

Whether he is playing solo, trio or quintet, Kenny Barron is recognized the world over as a master of performance and composition.

This album contains no booklet.