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Frank Kimbrough
North-American jazz pianist, composer and educator Frank Kimbrough was born November 2, 1956 in Roxboro, North Carolina and has been playing piano since before he can remember, and received influential piano instruction from an early age. His foundation in classical music studies grounded him in strong technique and profoundly influenced his open musical tastes. After leaving college, he formed his first trio and set out in pursuit of real world musical opportunities, first in Chapel Hill, and then in Washington, D.C. In Washington he met Shirley Horn, who became an enthusiastic supporter and mentor. He worked there with his trio and as a sideman with Maurice Robertson, Buck Hill, Paul Horn, Anthony Braxton and Webster Young. Arriving at New York in the fall of 1981, he sought out pianists Paul Bley and Andrew Hill, both unique artists who helped him hone his artistic identity. In 1985, he won the Great American Jazz Piano Competition at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival. The next year, on Shirley Horn’s recommendation, he made his first recordings and since then has recorded twenty albums as a leader or co-leader.
Frank was a founding member and composer-in-residence of the Jazz Composers Collective (1992 – 2005), and played and recorded in nearly twenty of its associated groups, such as Ben Allison’s Medicine Wheel and Peace Pipe groups; Ted Nash’s Still Evolved Quintet and Double Quartet, Ron Horton’s Quartet and Septet, and Michael Blake’s Elevated Quartet, Free Association, and Eulipion Orchestra. Besides co-leading the Herbie Nichols Project with Ben Allison (with which he was present in Angrajazz 2004), he participated in other Collective endeavors focusing on the music of Andrew Hill, Lucky Thompson and Lennie Tristano; and he’s played on concerts and recordings by some of the Collective’s guest composers including Eddie Gale, Ed Neumeister and Jon Gordon.
As a duet partner, he’s been paired with Lee Konitz, Norma Winstone, Paul Bley, Joe Locke, Noah Preminger, Scott Robinson, and Ben Allison, among others and also has performed or recorded with saxophonists Dewey Redman, Rick Margitza, Rich Perry, and Noah Preminger, trumpeter Dave Ballou, bassist Ron Brendle, drummer Tony Moreno, and vocalists Kendra Shank, Maryanne de Prophetis, Judi Silvano, Katie Bull, and others. He has played in Ryan Truesdell’s Gil Evans Centennial Project since its inception in 2010. He is a member of Maria Schneider Orchestra since 1993.
Frank’s playing has been recognized by his inclusion in the Downbeat Critics Poll each year since 2001, and his recordings are often included in jazz critics’ year’s-end top-ten lists.
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Frank Kimbrough: Frank Kimbrough 2003 - 2006
by Pierre Giroux
Frank Kimbrough, who died in December 2020, was a pianist of passionate originality, whose playing can be defined by an ease of technique coupled with a flow of ideas and meticulous execution. This current release, Frank Kimbrough 2003-2006, features newly mixed and remastered versions of the pianist's 2003 album Lullabluebye and the 2006 follow-up release Play. These albums were thought to be representative of a particularly productive period in his career. On Lullabluebye, Kimbrough is accompanied ...
Continue ReadingCelebrating The Work Of Frank Kimbrough
by Bob Osborne
Pianist, composer, and educator Frank Kimbrough was a revered presence on the New York jazz scene for nearly 35 years prior to his untimely death in December 2020. This show celebrates his life and work. Due out August 12, 2022 with LPs following, a new collection Frank Kimbrough 2003-2006 brings together 2003's Lullabluebye, featuring long-time collaborators bassist Ben Allison and drummer Matt Wilson (drums); and the 2005 follow-up, Play, boasting a new trio with the then relatively unknown bassist Masa ...
Continue ReadingFrank Kimbrough: Frank Kimbrough 2003 - 2006
by Dan McClenaghan
Pianist Frank Kimbrough (1956 -2020) was involved in a good deal of collaboration throughout his career, with the Herbie Nichols Project and, most notably, his twenty-four year, seven CD stint in the piano chair of the Maria Schneider Orchestra, where he elevated an already high altitude music to an even loftier level. Such was Kimbrough's willingness to give his all in sideman contexts with like-minded artists that it could be argued that his own work as a leader may not ...
Continue ReadingFrank Kimbrough, Kirk Knuffke, Masa Kamaguchi: Ancestors
by Angelo Leonardi
Come hanno sottolineato i molti partner di Frank Kimbrough nel recente omaggio della Newvelle Records, c'è sempre stata una chiara vena lirica nell'arte musicale del pianista, espressa in equilibrio tra dimensione tradizionale e ricerca astratta. Nei suoi dischi da leader amava esibirsi in duo o in trio e quest'album postumoregistrato nel 2017mostra già dall'organico la propensione a esplorare sentieri meno battuti. Assieme a Kirk Knuffke alla cornetta e Masa Kamaguchi al contrabbasso, Kimbrough presenta sette composizioni originali, tre ...
Continue ReadingFrank Kimbrough: Un Ciclopico Omaggio
by Angelo Leonardi
Kimbrough è l'ambizioso e ciclopico progetto discografico dedicato a Frank Kimbrough, il grande pianista e compositore scomparso il 30 dicembre 2020 a 64 anni. Prodotto da Elan Mehler della Newvelle Records, è stato realizzato da 67 musicisti che hanno inciso 61 composizioni di Kimbrough in differenti ensemble, dal piano solo al settetto. Molti dei protagonisti sono stati suoi partner o allievi, e, nel complesso, abbiamo quattro generazioni di jazzmen accomunati dalla stima per l'artista e l'amico. Tra ...
Continue ReadingKaja Draksler, Frank Kimbrough, Berta Moreno, Julien Lourau & More New Releases
by Ludovico Granvassu
This week's exploration of new and upcoming releases continues with a special focus on the late Frank Kimbrough through a preview of his posthumous CD Ancestors and some of the best renditions that appear on the monumental tribute conceived by pianist and producer Elan Mehler, Kimbrough, one of the best releases of the year. Punkt vs. Punkt [Kaja Draksler and Chet Doxas add to the depth and Julien Lourau's tribute to Creed Taylor and Berta Moreno add to the fun. ...
Continue ReadingGiancarlo Schiaffini & Sergio Armaroli and Kopasetic artists
by Maurice Hogue
Deconstructing one of the original deconstructers of jazz, Thelonious Monk, is no easy task, but the Italian duo of trombonist Giancarlo Schiaffini and percussionist Sergio Armaroli do exactly that on their new album Deconstructing Monk In Africa. It's one of the more unusual releases of late; you'll hear an excerpt from their extended work. Monk is also relevant to the career of pianist Frank Kimbrough. His Monk's Dreams: The Complete Compositions of Thelonious Sphere Monk has been hailed by many ...
Continue ReadingTeri Roiger Appearing At Mezzrow in NYC On September 12 with Frank Kimbrough, John Menegon And Steve Williams
Source:
Scott Thompson Public Relations
Performing Teri Roiger latest release Ghost of Yesterday: Shades of Lady Day Tuesday, September 12th, 2017 8pm & 9:30pm MEZZROW 164 West 10th Street New York, NY 10014 646-476-4346 TERI ROIGER: voice JOHN MENEGON: bass FRANK KIMBROUGH: piano STEVE WILLIAMS: drums New York based vocalist Teri Roiger recently released her fourth recording as a leader, Ghost of Yesterday: Shades of Lady Day, a heartfelt ...
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All About Jazz Top 10 MP3 Downloads: November 2016
Source:
All About Jazz
All About Jazz features a free song every day spanning all genres of jazz, and of the 30 tracks featured in November, these ten represent our personal favorites. We also included the top ten reader favorites as indicated by total downloads. Musicians and record labels can submit full length MP3s for consideration here. Enjoy! EDITOR'S PICKS Solstice 8:13 Frank Kimbrough From: Solstice Blues For Q 7:52 Erik Jekabson ...
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Frank Kimbrough Solo at Rubin Museum of Art, NYC on November 9
Source:
Palmetto Records
Frank Kimbrough - solo piano Friday, November 9 at 7 pm Rubin Museum of Art - 150 W. 17th St. (at 7th Ave.), NYC
Celebrating the release of Air, on Palmetto Records, featuring original compositions and tunes by Thelonious Monk, Duke Ellington, and Paul Motian.
Tickets are $20, and are available in person or by telephone at the RMA Box Office (tel. 212 - 620 - 5000, ext. 344). Hours are M-F 11am - 5 pm. ...
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Monk Birthday Piano Marathon in New York
Source:
All About Jazz
Monk at 90 - Fazioli Piano Marathon Winter Garden, World Financial Center, NYC October 10 from 5 - 9:15pm: free admission The World Financial Center is located in Lower Manhattan, in the heart of Battery Park City. The complex is bordered by Vesey Street along the north, West Street to the east, Liberty Street on the south, and the Hudson River to the west. Please join New York's finest jazz and classical pianists to ...
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Frank Kimbrough with Paul Motian and John Hebert at Jazz Standard 9/25 and 26
Source:
Palmetto Records
Frank Kimbrough Trio with John Hebert and Paul Motian
Frank Kimbrough - piano John Hebert - bass Paul Motian - drums
Tuesday and Wednesday, September 25 and 26 Sets at 7:30 and 9:30 $20 music charge / no minimum
Jazz Standard 116 E. 27th St. (between Park and Lexington), NYC reservations: 212 - 576 - 2232
PlayM/, with Masa Kamaguchi and Paul Motian, and Lullabluebye, with Ben Allison ...
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Firehouse 12 to Present Frank Kimbrough Trio March 23rd
Source:
Improvised Communications
Friday, March 23rd at 8:30 and 10:00 p.m. Frank Kimbrough Trio Firehouse 12 45 Crown Street in New Haven, CT Tickets and more info are available here
Frank Kimbrough, piano; John Hebert, bass; Matt Wilson, drums
On Friday, March 23rd, New Haven's Firehouse 12 will present the Frank Kimbrough Trio as part of the venue's ongoing 2007 Spring Jazz Series. Known as a thoughtful and harmonically literate pianist, with equal taste for ...
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SOUL NOTE releases FRANK KIMBROUGH - NOUMENA on June 13th
Source:
All About Jazz
THE JAZZ COMPOSERS COLLECTIVE AND SOUL NOTE RECORDS ANNOUNCE THE RELEASE OF NOUMENA BY FRANK KIMBROUGH, with SCOTT ROBINSON, BEN MONDER and TONY MORENO
RELEASE DATE - JUNE 13th The album's title is taken from Jack Kerouac's book On The Road, where he writes that Noumena is what you see with your eyes closed". Kimbrough's compositions are what we hear with our eyes closed, loosely written to encourage freedom, spontaneity, interpretation and improvisation, with melody and ...
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Photos
Music
Lullabluebye
From: Frank Kimbrough 2003 - 2006By Frank Kimbrough
Solstice
From: SolsticeBy Frank Kimbrough