Kevin Eubanks
An adept guitarist with a bent toward contemporary jazz, Kevin Eubanks gained wide recognition as leader of the Tonight Show Band during Jay Leno's tenure as Tonight Show host. Born in 1957 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Eubanks grew up in a musical family along with his older brother, trombonist Robin, and younger brother, trumpeter Duane -- his uncle is pianist Ray Bryant. A talented musician by his teens, Eubanks eventually studied music at Berklee College of Music in Boston. After graduating, he played with a bevy of name musicians including drummer Roy Haynes and saxophonist Sam Rivers; he was also a member of Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers from 1980 to 1981. Eubanks made his solo recording debut with Guitarist on Elektra in 1982. He then signed with GRP and released seven albums, beginning with 1984's Sundance and ending with 1989's Promise of Tomorrow.
Moving to Blue Note, Eubanks released several albums, including 1992's Turning Point, 1993's Spiritalk, 1994's Spiritalk 2, and 1994's Live at Bradley's. In 1992, he joined bandleader Branford Marsalis on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, and in 1995 Eubanks took over the band when Marsalis left. His friendly chemistry and humorous repartee with Leno quickly established the guitarist as a household name. While the Tonight Show Band was his focus during this time, Eubanks did release several albums on his own Insoul label. In 2009, he moved with Leno to lead the Primetime Band on NBC's short-lived The Jay Leno Show.
In 2010, Eubanks left The Tonight Show shortly after Leno returned to host it again. That same year, Eubanks delivered the album Zen Food on Mack Avenue Records, and in 2012 he returned with his second Mack Avenue release, the stylistically eclectic The Messenger. Eubanks then paired up with innovative fellow guitarist/pianist Stanley Jordan for the eclectic 2015 covers album Duets. Two years later, he delivered the expansive East West Time Line, featuring appearances by saxophonist Bill Pierce, drummer Jeff "Tain" Watts, bassist Dave Holland, trumpeter Nicholas Payton, and others.
© Matt Collar /TiVo
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Discography
14 album(s) • Sorted by Bestseller
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East West Time Line
Jazz - Released by Mack Avenue Records on Sep 15, 2017
24-Bit 176.4 kHz - Stereo -
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The Messenger
Jazz - Released by Mack Avenue Records on Oct 23, 2012
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
EEE (Eubanks-Evans-Experience)
Jazz - Released by Imani Records on Mar 18, 2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Shadow Prophets
Jazz - Released by Verve Reissues on Jan 1, 1988
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Live At Bradley's (Live)
Jazz - Released by Blue Note Records on May 21, 1994
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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From Kirk To Nat
Kirk Lightsey Trio, Kevin Eubanks, Rufus Reid
Jazz - Released by Criss Cross Jazz on Nov 28, 1990
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Promise Of Tomorrow
Jazz - Released by Verve Reissues on Nov 1, 1989
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -