Kenny Washington
Kenny Washington is one of the most highly regarded drummers in modern jazz. He first came to attention playing with the Lee Konitz nonet in 1977 and was a member of Betty Carter's group in 1978-9. Kenny freelanced throughout the last 20 years with top musicians such as Kenny Burrell, Milt Jackson, George Coleman, Tommy Flanagan, Jay McShann and Benny Goodman, and twice replaced Dannie Richmond in the Mingus Dynasty. From 1980 into the 1990s he was the favored drummer of Johnny Griffin, and from the late 1980s he also played with Benny Carter, Clark Terry and Dizzy Gillespie. Kenny is a drummer capable of working sympathetically with anyone, and his contribution invariably enhances any situation without drawing attention to himself. He teaches jazz drums at New York's New School and, an inveterate student of recorded jazz, he also presents a weekly program of big-band music on WGBO radio.
