Kenny Barron to Perform with Berklee World Strings Ensemble

Kenny Barron to Perform with Berklee World Strings Ensemble The jazz icon will perform original arrangements of his work with Berklee's flagship string orchestra on October 27.

By

Daniel Pesquera

October 13, 2022

Kenny Barron

Image courtesy of the artist

Berklee's fall Signature Series brings to the stage Kenny Barron, a living legend of jazz, in a special performance of his work featuring the Berklee World Strings orchestra. The concert will take place on Thursday, October 27, at 8:00 p.m. at the Berklee Performance Center, in Boston.

The concert, Kenny Barron with Strings, celebrates the decorated career of one of the most prolific composers, arrangers, and bandleaders in jazz history in a career-spanning performance of his music as arranged by Eric Gould, professor of piano. Barron's distinct and melodically rich piano stylings will be amplified by the Berklee World Strings ensemble, the flagship orchestra of the college's String Department, under the direction of faculty member Eugene Friesen.

Eugene Friesen and the Berklee World Strings ensemble

Image by Kelly Davidson

Kenny Barron is one of the great melodists in the history of jazz, both for his playing and his compositions, which are thoroughly lyrical down to the inner voices of his harmony, said Gould. It's been a thrill to work with Kenny through this process of creating arrangements that reflect and remain true to the intent of his original compositions. Eugene Friesen is exceptionally well-versed in the rhythmic language of jazz and world music, and has the ability to bring these arrangements to life in a special way. As a pianist, Im really looking forward to sitting in the audience and watching Kenny just be himself in that context.

Barron was an inductee into the prestigious National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Masters class of 2010, and was awarded an honorary degree from Berklee that same year. His journey as a professional musician has traversed seven decades, with over 40 albums and 12 Grammy nominations to his name. Barron has played with countless jazz icons, including Dizzy Gillespie, Chet Baker, and Stan Getz. A champion for arts education, Barron was a music professor from 1973 to 2000 at Rutgers University, where he frequently invited young musicians into his band and his studio to perform on stage and record on his albums.

Kenny Barron's music has a deep smile in it; you can't help but feel the uplift even as you're marveling at the innovation, said Friesen. Eric Gould's arrangements feature the strings like you would feature a guest soloist, with many moments plenty of interplay with the piano, drums, and bass. A total joy to work on this music.

Kenny Barron with Strings takes place at the Berklee Performance Center, located at 136 Massachusetts Avenue, in Boston. Advanced tickets are $15-$20, with a discount for Berklee community members. Purchase tickets.

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Kenny Barron

Image courtesy of the artist

Kenny Barron to Perform with Berklee World Strings Ensemble The jazz icon will perform original arrangements of his work with Berklee's flagship string orchestra on October 27.

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