Raymond Huston "Ray" Kennedy Jr. (January 6, 1957 – May 28, 2015) was an American jazz pianist, composer, and arranger. He was a member of John Pizzarelli's trio for more than a decade and recorded more than 10 albums under his own name.
Ray Kennedy | |
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Background information | |
Born | January 6, 1957 Maplewood, Missouri, U.S. |
Died | May 28, 2015 New York City, New York, U.S. |
Genres | Jazz |
Occupation(s) | Musician, composer, arranger |
Instrument(s) | Piano |
Website | raykennedy.com |
Kennedy was born and grew up in Maplewood, Missouri, in 1957.[1] His father was a bandleader, trumpeter and vocalist in the 1930s and 1940s in St. Louis.[2] His mother worked in the Maplewood music store that his parents owned.[2] Kennedy had two siblings: Tom, who became a bassist; and Wanda, who also became a musician.[2] With his brother, he formed The Ray Kennedy Trio at the age of 13, and they played together, including with their sister as vocalist, for five years.[2] According to a biographer of Ruby Braff, Ray and his brother made a recording together in 1972.[3]
Kennedy moved to New York City in his early twenties.[2] He was pianist and arranger for the John Pizzarelli Trio for almost 13 years,[4][5] after joining in 1993.[6] With the John Pizzarelli Trio, Kennedy played with the New York Pops and Boston Pops orchestras, played for Broadway and off-Broadway productions, and toured internationally.[2] Kennedy first recorded with Pizzarelli in 1994, after making two recordings for Randy Sandke.[3] In 1997 he was part of the cast for the musical Dream.[7] In 2003 he recorded a piano duo album with Dick Hyman.[8]
Around 2005, Kennedy, according to John Pizzarelli, "began expressing a desire to get off the road and spend more time with his family".[5] Kennedy developed multiple sclerosis symptoms in 2006.[2] His career had ended by 2013, and he was living in a nursing home.[2] Kennedy died at Mount Sinai Hospital, New York City, on May 28, 2015.[2] He was survived by his wife, Eve Langner, and two daughters, Lauren and Brielle.[2]
"Kennedy was known for his finger technique and his ability to swing and improvise versions of well-known jazz works."[2]
An asterisk (*) indicates that the year is that of release.
Year recorded | Title | Label | Personnel/Notes |
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I'm Beginning to See the Light | Victoria | With Bucky Pizzarelli, John Pizzarelli, Martin Pizzarelli, Ray Brown (bass), Jeff Hamilton (drums) | |
2000* | The Sound of St. Louis | Victoria | |
2003 | What Is There to Say? | Victoria | Co-led with Dick Hyman; duo, with Hyman (piano) |
2005* | The Swing Kings | Victoria | Co-led with Bucky Pizzarelli; with Pizzarelli (guitar), Ken Peplowski (clarinet), Chuck Redd (vibraphone), Martin Pizzarelli (bass), Tony Tedesco (drums) |
2005 | Mozart in Jazz | Camerata | Trio, with Tom Kennedy (bass), Miles Vandiver (drums) |
2006 | Plays the Music of Arthur Schwartz | Arbors | Quartet, with Joe Cohn (guitar), Tom Kennedy (bass), Miles Vandiver (drums) |
2006 | Bach in Jazz | Camerata | Trio, with Tom Kennedy (bass), Miles Vandiver (drums) |
2007 | Soft Winds | Camerata | Trio, with Tom Kennedy (bass), Lewis Nash (drums) |
2007 | Baroque in Jazz | Camerata | Trio, with Tom Kennedy (bass), Miles Vandiver (drums) |
2008 | Classic in Jazz | Camerata | Trio, with Tom Kennedy (bass), Miles Vandiver (drums) |
2008 | Beethoven in Jazz | Camerata | Trio, with Tom Kennedy (bass), Miles Vandiver (drums) |
2009 | 癒しジャズ | Camerata | with Tom Kennedy (bass), Miles Vandiver (drums), Sumiko Fukatsu (flute), Howard Alden (guitar) |
Year recorded | Leader | Title | Label |
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c. 1977 | Kenny Rice | The Kenny Rice and Richard Martin Quartet Featuring Nat Adderley | Valley Recorder |
1990 | Dave Weckl | Master Plan | GRP |
1990 | Randy Sandke | Stampede | Jazzology |
1993 | Randy Sandke | I Hear Music | Concord Jazz |
1993 | John Pizzarelli | Naturally | |
1994* | John Pizzarelli | New Standards | |
1994 | John Pizzarelli | Dear Mr. Cole | Jive |
1995 | John Pizzarelli | After Hours | Jive |
1995–98 | Harry Allen | Harry Allen Meets the John Pizzarelli Trio | RCA |
1996* | John Pizzarelli | Let's Share Christmas | |
1997* | Bucky Pizzarelli and John Pizzarelli | Passion Guitars | |
1997 | John Pizzarelli | Our Love Is Here to Stay | |
1998* | John Pizzarelli | Meets the Beatles | |
1999* | John Pizzarelli | P.S. Mr. Cole | |
1999 | John Pizzarelli | Kisses in the Rain | Telarc |
2000 | John Pizzarelli | Let There Be Love | Telarc |
2002 | Ruby Braff | Relaxing at the Penthouse | Victoria |
2002 | Ruby Braff | C'est Magnifique! | Arbors |
2003* | John Pizzarelli | Live at Birdland | Telarc |
2003* | Jessica Molaskey | A Good Day | PS Classics |
2003 | John Pizzarelli | Bossa Nova | Telarc |
2003 | Buddy DeFranco | Cookin' the Books | Arbors |
2004* | Martin Pizzarelli | Triple Play | Victoria |
2004 | John Pizzarelli | Knowing You | Telarc |
2007 | Harry Allen | Down for the Count |
General | |
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National libraries | |
Other |
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