Kenny Barron | Concentric Circles

Written by | New Releases Page

In 2018, the esteemed pianist, composer, bandleader and educator Kenny Barron will mark the 50th year of a remarkable recording career with the release of his Blue Note debut Concentric Circles, a sublime 11-song set that finds the 11-time Grammy nominee returning to a dynamic quintet setting.

Barron is no stranger to Blue Note and has made notable appearances on Blue Note records going all the way back to 1967 with the likes of Stanley Turrentine, Booker Ervin, and Bobby Hutcherson, and in more recent years with Sonny Fortune, Dianne Reeves, and Terence Blanchard.

On Concentric Circles, he introduces a new edition of the Kenny Barron Quintet featuring Blake and Kitagawa along with saxophonist Dayna Stephens and trumpeter Mike Rodriguez. “I’ve wanted to do a quintet date because I get to write more,” Barron says matter-of-factly, clearly relishing the opportunity to expand his sonic palette on these eight original compositions plus new interpretations of songs by Caetano Veloso, Thelonious Monk, and Lenny White.

Concentric Circles is another sparkling jewel in Barron’s crown; and it surely won’t be the last.

Label: Blue Note Records
Format: CD | Digital
Release Date: 4 May 2018

Line-up:
Kenny Barron, Piano | Dayna Stephens, Sax | Mike Rodriguez, Trumpet | Kiyoshi Kitagawa, Bass | Johnathan Blake, Drums

Track Listing:
1. DPW | 2. Concentric Circles | 3. Blue Waters | 4. A Short Journey | 5. Aquele frevo axe | 6. Von Hangman | 7. In the Dark | 8. Baile | 9. L’s Bop | 10. I’m Just Sayin’ | 11. Reflections

Available at: iTunes | Amazon

Last modified: July 15, 2018