Kenny Burrell 80th Birthday Celebration at Yoshi's Oakland

Jul 28 - Jul 31, 2011

"The greatest guitarist in jazz history." Time

Kenny Burrell is among a handful of guitarists who have forever changed the role of the instrument in jazz. For over fifty years, his distinct style, tone, and phrasing have graced recordings and performances by almost every major performer in jazz history. Combine a consummate sense of swing, lush tones with harmonic creativity and you have the one-and-only jazz guitar artistry of this legendary figure in jazz. From his early years as a sideman with the likes of John Coltrane, Jimmy Smith, James Moody and more, Burrell has always been swinging. Kenny played on his first major recording session in Detroit in 1951, with a Dizzy Gillespie combo that included John Coltrane, Milt Jackson, and Percy Heath and this living legend continues to be a towering giant of jazz. He is a master improviser, prolific composer and distinguished educator.