Wynton Kelly

Piano · born 2 December 1931 – died 12 April 1971

▸ Click for Richard Cook Bio

Dead at 39 from a heart attack, following an epileptic fit, Kelly now seems like a master of his idiom whose music has been consistently underappreciated. His only real period of prominence was when he was with the Miles Davis group of 1959–62. Before that, he had played in both R&B and jazz groups as a teenager, backed Dinah Washington and run his own trio. Davis hired him in February 1959, replacing Bill Evans (although both of them play on Kind Of Blue), and Kelly's bright, catchy yet almost fiercely tightened delivery – the right hand articulating notes and clusters with an icy decision – is deepened by a blues feel which makes both solos and accompaniments oddly compelling. It was a template which others soon picked up on, but Kelly's career never really went anywhere after he, Paul Chambers and Jimmy Cobb left Davis to set up on their own. They also backed others, including Wes Montgomery (making the superb Smokin' At The Half Note, 1965, with the guitarist), but by the end Kelly was playing solo and doing more sideman work in and around New York. His own-name sets for Riverside, Vee Jay and especially Verve have never enjoyed much notice and repay the best attention.

Biography from Richard Cook's Jazz Encyclopedia (2005).

If you'd like more information, check out The New Grove Dictionary of Jazz (2002) or The Biographical Encyclopedia of Jazz (2007), both of which are still in print.

As leader

  • Wynton Kelly – Kelly BlueWynton Kelly – Kelly Blue
  • Wynton Kelly – Kelly at MidniteWynton Kelly – Kelly at Midnite
  • Wynton Kelly Trio – Smokin’ at the Half NoteWynton Kelly Trio – Smokin’ at the Half Note

Plays on

  • Jay Jay Johnson – The Eminent Jay Jay Johnson, Volume OneJay Jay Johnson – The Eminent Jay Jay Johnson, Volume One
  • Jay Jay Johnson – The Eminent Jay Jay Johnson, Volume TwoJay Jay Johnson – The Eminent Jay Jay Johnson, Volume Two
  • Billie Holiday – Lady Sings the BluesBillie Holiday – Lady Sings the Blues
  • Johnny Griffin – Introducing Johnny GriffinJohnny Griffin – Introducing Johnny Griffin
  • Sonny Rollins – Sonny Rollins, Volume OneSonny Rollins – Sonny Rollins, Volume One
  • Lee Morgan – Lee Morgan, Volume ThreeLee Morgan – Lee Morgan, Volume Three
  • Johnny Griffin – A Blowing SessionJohnny Griffin – A Blowing Session
  • Clark Terry – Serenade to a Bus SeatClark Terry – Serenade to a Bus Seat
  • Dizzy Gillespie – Dizzy In GreeceDizzy Gillespie – Dizzy In Greece
  • Dizzy Gillespie – Dizzy Gillespie and Stuff SmithDizzy Gillespie – Dizzy Gillespie and Stuff Smith
  • Jimmy Cleveland – Cleveland StyleJimmy Cleveland – Cleveland Style
  • Steve Lacy – Soprano SaxSteve Lacy – Soprano Sax
  • Benny Golson – The Modern TouchBenny Golson – The Modern Touch
  • Hank Mobley / Lee Morgan – Peckin’ TimeHank Mobley / Lee Morgan – Peckin’ Time
  • Sonny Rollins – Newk’s TimeSonny Rollins – Newk’s Time
  • Donald Byrd – Off to the RacesDonald Byrd – Off to the Races
  • Miles Davis – Kind of BlueMiles Davis – Kind of Blue
  • Cannonball Adderley & Milt Jackson – Things Are Getting BetterCannonball Adderley & Milt Jackson – Things Are Getting Better
  • Johnny Griffin – The Little GiantJohnny Griffin – The Little Giant
  • Dizzy Reece – Star BrightDizzy Reece – Star Bright
  • Hank Mobley – Soul StationHank Mobley – Soul Station
  • Sonny Red – Out of the BlueSonny Red – Out of the Blue
  • Blue Mitchell – Blue’s MoodsBlue Mitchell – Blue’s Moods
  • Booker Little – Booker LittleBooker Little – Booker Little
  • Paul Chambers – 1st BassmanPaul Chambers – 1st Bassman
  • John Coltrane – Giant StepsJohn Coltrane – Giant Steps
  • John Coltrane – Coltrane JazzJohn Coltrane – Coltrane Jazz
  • Cannonball Adderley – African WaltzCannonball Adderley – African Waltz
  • Paul Gonsalves – Gettin’ TogetherPaul Gonsalves – Gettin’ Together

Liner notes

  • Herbie Hancock – Maiden VoyageHerbie Hancock – Maiden Voyage

Mentioned in text

  • Freddie Redd / Hamp Hawes – Piano East / Piano WestFreddie Redd / Hamp Hawes – Piano East / Piano West
  • Cliff Jordan – Cliff CraftCliff Jordan – Cliff Craft
  • Bennie Green – Back on the SceneBennie Green – Back on the Scene
  • Red Garland Quintet – All Mornin’ LongRed Garland Quintet – All Mornin’ Long
  • Tommy Flanagan – OverseasTommy Flanagan – Overseas
  • The Three Sounds – Bottoms UpThe Three Sounds – Bottoms Up
  • Duke Pearson – ProfileDuke Pearson – Profile
  • Duke Pearson – Tender Feelin’sDuke Pearson – Tender Feelin’s
  • Horace Parlan – Us ThreeHorace Parlan – Us Three
  • McCoy Tyner Trio – InceptionMcCoy Tyner Trio – Inception
  • Dexter Gordon – Homecoming: Live at the Village VanguardDexter Gordon – Homecoming: Live at the Village Vanguard