Kenny Garrett

One of the most singular sax stylists to emerge in jazz’s post-bop era, Kenny Garrett has heavy bebop roots but has constantly moved forward throughout his career. Born in Detroit in 1960, he started playing with The Duke Ellington Orchestra (in its post-Duke phase) while still a teen. He subsequently worked with greats like Mel Lewis, Woody Shaw and Freddie Hubbard before releasing his solo debut in 1985. His first outings took a relatively straight-ahead approach, but before long he tapped his inner Coltrane and began pursuing a multitude of directions. In the late ’80s, he played funky, R&B-inflected electro-jazz with Miles Davis. During the ’90s, he recontextualised his bop influences in a minimalist sax/bass/drums format on Triology, and a decade later, he explored Eastern flavours on Beyond the Wall. Garrett has received multiple Grammy nominations, but for all his mainstream accolades, he’s remained focused on pushing his musical vision into new territory.