Kenny Drew

A gifted pianist steeped in bop traditions, Kenny Drew suffered relative neglect after settling permanently in Copenhagen during 1964, even though his son ranked among the leading keyboardists of the 1990s. His first recording session occurred in 1949 alongside Howard McGhee, after which the 1950s found him contributing to dates led by an array of jazz luminaries such as Charlie Parker, Coleman Hawkins, Lester Young, Milt Jackson, Buddy DeFranco’s quartet, Dinah Washington, and Buddy Rich in 1958. Between 1953 and 1960 he headed his own dates for Blue Note, Norgran, Pacific Jazz, Riverside, and the little-known Judson imprint, the majority of which have since appeared on compact disc. After relocating to Paris in 1961, he shifted to Copenhagen three years later and became co-owner of the Matrix label. There he established a duo partnership with Niels-Henning Orsted Pederson while maintaining a steady presence at the Montmartre club. Throughout the 1970s he cut numerous sessions for SteepleChase and continued performing until the end of his life.