Wynton Kelly was a pivotal figure in the jazz world, whose subtle touch and rhythmic sophistication adorned some of the genre's most enduring records. Born in Jamaica on December 2, 1931, but raised in Brooklyn, New York, from the age of four, Kelly's talent blossomed early. His lithe and blues-inflected style made him a sought-after side musician and a distinguished band leader in his own right. His career took off in the 1950s, when he started performing with major artists like Dizzy Gillespie, Lester Young, and Dinah Washington, with whom his reputation for being an exceptional accompanist was solidified.

Perhaps best known for his tenure with the Miles Davis Quintet in the late 1950s and early 1960s, Wynton Kelly's playing provided a cornerstone on such classic albums as "Kind of Blue", although he was not the only pianist on that seminal work. His own compositions and recordings, such as "Kelly Blue" and "Wynton Kelly!", showcase his dynamic range and fluid interplay between blues and bebop. The titles of his albums, like "Kelly At Midnight" and "Someday My Prince Will Come", hint at the nocturnal, introspective nature of his playing style, though he was just as adept at buoyant, upbeat tracks. His final years saw him continuing to record and perform vigorously, with "Last Trio Session" being a poignant indication of his enduring dedication to his craft. Wynton Kelly's death in 1971 was an immense loss to the jazz community, but his influence lives on through the countless recordings that capture his mastery.

Genres

Bebop

Hard Bop

Jazz

Jazz Piano

Related Artists

Bill Evans

Oscar Peterson

Red Garland

Herbie Hancock

McCoy Tyner

Ahmad Jamal

Tommy Flanagan

Bud Powell

Hank Jones

Horace Silver

Cedar Walton

Kenny Drew

Latest Release

The Stars of Jazz - Wynton Kelly

Wynton Kelly

Album - 40 Tracks - Released February 20, 2023