Remembering Frank Kimbrough With Song & Much Love

 Look at this list:

Addison Frei, Alexa Tarantino, Alexis Cuadrado, Allan Chase, Allan Mednard 

Ben Allison, Ben Monder, Ben Rosenblum, Ben Wolfe, Billy Drummond

Clarence Penn, Craig Taborn

Dan Tepfer, Dave Douglas, Dave Treut , Dezron Douglas, Donny McCaslin, Douglas Marriner

Elan Mehler, Elio Villafranca, Evan Harris 

Francisco Mela, Fred Hersch 

Gary Versace, Glenn Zaleski 

Helen Sung

Immanuel Wilkins, Isaiah J. Thompson

Jacob Sacks, Jay Anderson, Jeff Cosgrove, Jeff Hirshfield, Jeff Williams, Jesse Neuman

Joe Lovano, Joel Wenhardt, John Hébert 

Kirk Knuffke

Martin Wind, Marty Jaffe, Matt Wilson, Micah Thomas, Michael Blake, Michael Formanek

Noah Halpern, Noah Preminger 

Olivia Chindamo

Patrick Cornelius

Rich Perry, Rich Rosenzweig, Riley Mulherkar, Rob Jost, Ron Horton, Rufus Reid

Ryan Keberle

Samora Pinderhughes, Satoshi Takeishi, Scott Robinson, Scott Spivak, Sean Mason

Steve Cardenas, Steve Wilson

Ted Nash, Tim Horner, Todd Neufeld, Tony Moreno, & Tony Scherr 

What do they have in common?

This person:

-

Pianist, composer, arranger, and educator Frank Kimbrough, who died on December 30, 2020, is who.  Kimbrough, who was born in North Carolina, settled in New York City in 1981 and slowly, steadily, built his career as a first-class soloist and accompanist, first came to critical exposure when he joined the Jazz Composers Collective in 1991 (co-founded by bassist Ben Allison with trumpeter Ron Horton, saxophonists Ted Nash and Michael Blake).  Two years later, Kimbrough took over the piano chair in  the Maria Schneider Orchestra, staying there until his untimely passing. 

(From the Press Release): (On July 16), Newvelle Records is releasing  "KIMBROUGH", a collection of 61 original compositions by jazz artist and educator Frank Kimbrough, who passed away in December 2020. Featuring tributes from 67 of Frank’s former bandmates, students, and friends across multiple generations, "KIMBROUGH" was recorded over three and a half days in New York as the musical world began reawakening in May 2021. All proceeds from this definitive collection of Frank’s music, available on high-quality digital download on Bandcamp, will benefit the Frank Kimbrough Jazz Scholarship at The Juilliard School.

“Frank was a genuine ‘musician’s musician’ whose talent as a player, composer, and teacher fueled generations of artists in the New York jazz community,” said Elan Mehler, cofounder and artistic director of Newvelle Records, and a student of Frank’s at New York University in the 1990s. “There is something miraculous about attracting 67 world-class artists together in a studio, just as the world began emerging from the pandemic. Only someone of Frank’s impact could inspire such an ambitious project.”

The album, available on Bandcamp for $20.00 and streaming everywhere, was recorded and mixed by Marc Urselli on May 10-14, 2021 at EastSide Sound, mastered by Colin Bryson at The Bunker Studios, and produced by Elan Mehler. All songs were written by Frank Kimbrough, Kimbrough Music BMI.  Executive produced by Maitland Jones, Jim Harvey, Steve Satterfield, Matt Steinfeld and JC Morisseau.

What's fascinating about this project is that, in several ways, the album mirrors one of Frank Kimbrough's final recording projects, "Monk Dreams: The Complete Compositions of Thelonious Sphere Monk" (Sunnyside Records).  The album features Scott Robinson, Rufus Reid, and Billy Drummond – those musicians all appear on the Newvelle recording and the program is all Frank Kimbrough songs. Go listen, pay tribute, and help support his teaching legacy.  

For more information, to listen and to purchase the album, go to  https://newvellerecords.bandcamp.com/album/kimbrough.

Here's the opening track, "The Call".  The musicians include Scott Robinson (tenor saxophone), Allan Chase (alto saxophone), Riley Mulherkar (trumpet), Ryan Keberle (trombone), Samora Pinderhughes (piano), Ben Wolfe (bass), and Jeff Hirschfield (drums).

Maria Schneider Writes for Frank Kimbrough

Fans of the pianist Frank Kimbrough and people who knew him, loved his music, appreciated his teaching as well as how he instantly made you feel at ease while talking to him (even if it was the first time, read this missive from Maria Schneider.

Photo: Dave Kaufman

With deepest sadness I’m writing you all to say that our beloved friend, pianist, collaborator, Frank Kimbrough, passed away on December 30th.  It’s been a shock to so many.  Critic Nate Chinen’s obituary described Frank’s mastery perfectly: "a pianist of unerring taste and touch, a composer drawn to flowing ethereality, and an improviser steeped in the art of epiphany.”

Many of you have experienced his transcendent improvised introductions in concert – every intro entirely unique with spellbinding beauty, creativity, assuredness and fearlessness.  His art thrived on that vulnerable razor edge of the moment.  Frank’s own gorgeous recordings include: Solstice, Play, Rumors, Air, and the astounding box set, Monk’s Dreams (recording every Monk tune).  You can purchase those CDs of his and more, and they are all available on Spotify as well.   

Frank didn’t own a cellphone.  He practiced music walking in the park.  He prioritized his life around the things he felt truly important.  He had a heart of gold.  I would like to be more like Frank.

A revered and devoted teacher at Juilliard, Frank loved his students – I mean LOVED his students. So, there’s no better way to keep his legacy alive than through "The Frank Kimbrough Jazz Scholarship" being instated at Juilliard.  If you’d wish to make a tax-deductible contribution it can be done in several ways:

1. Online contribution: Go to https://giving.juilliard.edu.  Select designation ‘Juilliard Scholarship Fund’ and make sure to note in the comments, “Frank Kimbrough Jazz Scholarship.” 
2. For credit card contributions by phone, simply call: 917-834-4552.
3. Mail contribution:  Checks payable to The Juilliard School (with “Frank Kimbrough Jazz Scholarship” written in the memo line) can be sent to: 
      The Juilliard School 
      Attn: Mary Yeatts, Associate Director of Major Gifts 
      60 Lincoln Center Plaza
      New York NY 10023
4. Contributions by bank transfer (securities and wire transfers) 
Contact: Mary Yeatts, Associate Director of Major Gifts, Development Department: 
      Email: myeatts@juilliard.edu 
      Phone: 917-834-4552
5. For any questions at all, contact Mary Yeatts, myeatts@juilliard.edu.  Again, it’s very important to make sure your gift is earmarked to the Frank Kimbrough Jazz Scholarship.

We’ve kept our special video up on the front page of www.mariaschneider.com that we made as we missed this year’s Jazz Standard Thanksgiving week.  There’s beautiful footage of Frank in the video.  Frank was the first person to tell me about the Jazz Standard when it opened way back when, and it was he who encouraged me to try to book the band there.  Covid circumstances have forced the Standard’s closing.  As memories from that room abound, so many of them have Frank at the center.  Those musical and very cherished moments of camaraderie are golden for me and for the band, and I know for so many of you as well.  After the club announced its closing, Frank wrote to me and to the band: “If there's anyone on Earth that can make this joint come back, it's Danny Meyer.  Let's be grateful for all the Standard did for us individually and as a band, and hope for the best going forward - never say die, say damn, and keep on keepin' on.  I love you all, and hope to see you soon - Best, FK.”  

We love you, Frank.

Love and good things to you all in this new year.  Keep on keepin’ on.  

Maria