The Source

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Any safety nets were removed before the making of this solo record. Though Kenny Barron might be a true master, he hasn’t tried anything like this for a long time—forty years, to be exact. Now approaching his 80th birthday, the Philadelphia pianist has stepped away from his trio (with double bassist Kiyoshi Kitagawa and drummer Johnathan Blake) to produce a sublime solo album entitled The Source, which was recorded in Paris in the Théâtre de l’Athénée. This album is a beautiful reflection of his music career, expressed through a series of personal compositions as well as classic pieces. Barron has always been a focused musician, and his pure, refined sense of swing is a rare thing. His style has been forged from, and shared with, all the greats within the genre, including Yusef Lateef (‘...a great inspiration for me, even before I met him’), Dave Holland (‘I love his perfect intonation and sense of melody’), Ron Carter (‘...through playing with him, I learnt to play more softly’), Stan Getz (‘...his approach to melody was unequalled. Few musicians have such a sonic personality’) and countless others! The Source tells the tale of Kenny Barron’s music journey and everyone he’s met along the way. His mastery of his instrument transforms the piano into a complete orchestra: harmonically, rhythmically, melodically—his playing is nothing if not impressive. And even here, his style cleverly incorporates all genres, whether he’s playing stride, bop, or otherwise. This new release by Kenny Barron is a masterpiece. © Marc Zisman/Qobuz