Kenny Drew Jr(肯尼德鲁),美国伟大的爵士钢琴家。肯尼德鲁在五零年代是非常活跃的唱片艺人,从1953年第一张个人专辑开始,他像约翰柯川《Blue Train》这样的伟大专辑中,都有过他出色的钢琴演奏。在这之前,德鲁有将近两年的时间未曾进入录音室,一直到同年10月间参加Jackie McLean的专辑Jackies Bag才成为他重返唱片圈的初试啼声,之后他就又回复了以往密集的唱片录音工作,在同年12月11日灌录此片前两天,他还参加了Kenny Dorham的Shoboat专辑的录音,显示他是多么广受欢迎的录音乐手。身为接受古典训练出身,又受过Bud Powell调教的高徒,他在完成第一张与Howard McGhee的录音至今,已有十一年的时间,在这过程中,他充份的融合自己的古典训练和当代爵士的氛围,并找到属于他个人的音乐特色。对于时尚敏感的他,对当时流行的放客与酷派爵士的品味也不陌生,却能靠着品味和创造力,让他的演奏始终新鲜却不流于效颦的粗浅手法。隔年底,德鲁就因未能在美国乐坛获得预期的地位而转战欧洲,从此一待30年未返,并长达12年不再录唱片,这份录音也因此成为他赴欧前最后的几份作品之一。
by Scott Yanow
A talented bop-based pianist (whose son has been one of the brightest pianists of the 1990s), Kenny Drew was somewhat underrated due to his decision to permanently move to Copenhagen in 1964. He made his recording debut in 1949 with Howard McGhee and in the 1950s was featured on sessions with a whos who of jazz, including Charlie Parker, Coleman Hawkins, Lester Young, Milt Jackson, Buddy DeFrancos quartet, Dinah Washington, and Buddy Rich (1958). Drew led sessions for Blue Note, Norgran, Pacific Jazz, Riverside, and the obscure Judson label during 1953-1960; most of the sessions are available on CD. He moved to Paris in 1961 and relocated to Copenhagen in 1964 where he was co-owner of the Matrix label. He formed a duo with Niels-Henning Orsted Pederson and worked regularly at the Montmartre. Drew recorded many dates for SteepleChase in the 1970s and remained active up until his death.