Pianist Kenny Barron was born in Philadelphia and played with Mel Melvin's orchestra as a teenager. At the age of nineteen, Barron moved to New York City and was hired by James Moody. Later he joined Dizzy Gillespie's band, with whom he played for five years and where he developed a preference for Latin and Caribbean rhythms. Then he played with Freddie Hubbard, Stanley Turrentine, Milt Jackson,
… Buddy Rich and Yusef Lateef. Later still, Barron became a music teacher at Rutgers University, where he mentored many talented artists such as David Sanchez, Terence Blanchard and Regina Bell. He is considered one of the world's best jazz pianists, mainly because of his elegant playing, amazing improvisations and infectious rhythms. Canta Brasil is a melodic exploration of Brazilian jazz, together with his group, Trio da Paz and flutist Anne Drummond. (RM)more