Greats Gather to Remember One of Their Own: Kenny Kirkland

When pianist Kenny Kirkland died suddenly a few weeks ago, he was all alone in his New York home, undiscovered until a few days after his passing. The circumstances were unfortunate, but not necessarily surprising, given Kirkland’s reportedly well-known history of failing to return phone calls.

On Monday night at Catalina Bar & Grill, however, the real extent of the affection and friendship that existed for Kirkland was obvious. A tribute to his memory generated a room packed full of enthusiastic musicians and fans, while more listeners waited in line outside for possible opportunities to enter.

The performers who took the stage to offer their own personal Kirkland tributes included such relatively close musical associates as bassist Bob Hurst and Sal Marquez (who worked with Kirkland in Branford Marsalis’ band on the Jay Leno “Tonight Show”). But there were others, as well, some with only fleeting Kirkland associations, but all profuse in their admiration for his talents.

Included, among others, was a talented array of pianists, including Billy Childs, Patrice Rushen, Bobby Lyle, George Duke and Greg Kurstin, as well as drummers Marvin “Smitty” Smith, Ralph Penland and Terri Lyne Carrington, bassists Nathan East and Nedra Wheeler, percussionist Munyungo Jackson, singer Lucinda Williams and saxophonist Ravi Coltrane. (Herbie Hancock, originally listed as a participant, did not appear.)

Despite the participants’ obvious skill and enthusiasm, the evening’s undercurrent, appropriately, kept coursing back to Kirkland. Although his recording career, as a leader, was minimal, he was a composer with a highly original perspective, and renderings of two of his pieces--”Mr. J.C.” and “Steepian Faith”--offered a poignant sense of his unfulfilled potential. His far-ranging musical interests also emerged in romps through works by Thelonious Monk (“Evidence”) and McCoy Tyner (“Blues on the Corner”), pianist-composers who had a significant impact upon Kirkland.

The highlight of the tribute, however, was the reading of an untitled poem, emphasizing his sense of humor, written by a cousin. Its gentle, affectionate view of Kirkland provided the perfect focus for a program honoring a too-brief but much-valued life in jazz.