Biography
A talented bop-based pianist, Kenny Drew was somewhat underrated due to his decision to permanently move to Copenhagen in 1964. He recorded with Howard McGhee in 1949 and in the 1950s was featured on sessions with a who’s who of jazz, including Charlie Parker, Coleman Hawkins, Lester Young, Milt Jackson, Buddy DeFranco, Dinah Washington, and Buddy Rich. Drew made his recorded debut as a leader for Blue Note in 1953 with New Faces, New Sounds, and returned to the label in 1961 to lead the excellent quintet date Undercurrent featuring Freddie Hubbard, Hank Mobley, Sam Jones, and Louis Hayes. He also appeared as a sideman on classic Blue Note albums including John Coltrane Blue Train, Dexter Gordon Dexter Calling, Grant Green Sunday Mornin’, and Jackie McLean Bluesnik. Drew 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.
