Joe Kennedy Jr.

[brownie]

Ever heard of Joe Kennedy Jr? I had heard about him and practically never heard him (except for his contribution to the Ahmad Jamal album 'Listen to the Ahmad Jamal Quintet' album from 1960 on Argo. Now I am digging immensely his 'Accentuate the Positive' CD date from 1962 which was released on CAP (Consolidated Artists Productions) a few years ago. With Toots Thielemans on guitar and harmonica, Richard Davis (Art Davis on several tracks) on bass and Grassella Olliphant on drums. Beautiful album. Kennedy plays jazz violin to perfection. The whole session swings. Check it out on this link:

http://www.jazzbeat.com/html/accentuate.html

A very happy surprise!

Anybody has further recommendations on this great player?

[paul secor]

The only Joe Kennedy I have in my collection is his participation on a Benny Carter LP, Jazz All Star Orchestra Live in Japan '79. He plays a fine solo on "This Is Always", part of a ballad medley. He's billed on that record as just Joe Kennedy, but I assume it's the same person as Jr. From just that one solo, I'd like to hear more.

[mikeweil]

He can be heard to good advantage on a 1986 John Lewis session, "Kansas City Breaks" (I have a DRG Swing CD of it). The same sextet accompanied singer Nancy Harrow on another session.

[brownie]

He can be heard to good advantage on a 1986 John Lewis session, "Kansas City Breaks" (I have a DRG Swing CD of it). The same sextet accompanied singer Nancy Harrow on another session.

Mike, thanks for the recommendation of that John Lewis session. Found the Red Baron of this KC Breaks which fits with my recent reinterest in all things John Lewisian. Very nice session which I overlooked when it was released although I enjoyed the other John Lewis/Nancy Harrow album.

Joe Kennedy Jr. is indeed an excellent player. Very inventive violin of the kind I like.

The Benny Carter All Star date that Paul Secor mentioned looks like another worthy album. Might be difficult to get, that one!

[Eloe Omoe]

Anybody has further recommendations on this great player?

He's also on a recent Ahmad Jamal CD, "Live in Paris 1996", released on Dreyfus in 2003. There's also George Coleman on tenor sax. An excellent concert, in my opinion.

Luca

[paul secor]

I saw Joe Kennedy Jr.'s obituary in the NY Times about a week ago. I didn't have the time to post right then, and it slipped my mind until now. My apologies to Mr. Kennedy's memory and to Board members who would have wanted to know about this at the time.

He could make his instrument sing.

[brownie]

More sad news. Missed the obituary when it came out. Thanks (that's not the right word in this case,

but you know what I mean) Paul for taking notice. Dug up the New York Times obituaty:

May 9, 2004

Joe Kennedy Jr., Violinist and Teacher, Dies at 80

By THE NEW YORK TIMES

Joe Kennedy Jr., a classically trained violinist who performed with many jazz greats, including his cousin Benny Carter, died on April 17 in Richmond, Va. He was

80.

The death was reported by Mr. Kennedy's wife, Jennifer.

Mr. Kennedy, who became one of the first African-American members of the Richmond Symphony in 1963 and played there for 20 years, was born in Pittsburgh in

1923 and grew up with the jazz pianist Ahmad Jamal. He appeared on two of Mr. Jamal's albums and recorded two of his own, "Strings by Candlelight" (1998) and

"Falling in Love With Love" (2002). He also performed with John Lewis and the Modern Jazz Quartet as well as Hank Jones.

Mr. Kennedy was director of jazz studies at Virginia Tech from 1984 to 1995. He also taught at Virginia Commonwealth University and in the Pittsburgh public

school system.

In addition to his wife, Mr. Kennedy is survived by a son, Joseph Jerome Kennedy III, of Pittsburgh; a daughter, Victoria L. Kennedy, of Richmond; and a

grandchild.

/QUOTE]