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Kenny Garrett
Biography
Although saxophonist, bandleader and composer Kenny Garrett never had the benefit of a college education, that hasn't hurt his career as a jazz musician one bit. Garrett has released several critically acclaimed albums for the Warner Bros. label and prior to the birth of his recording career, earned his Master's degree in the jazz clubs in and around his native Detroit. Garrett's father was a carpenter who played tenor saxophone as an avocation. He got his first saxophone as an eight-year old and quickly learned the G-scale, thanks to his father. He studied with trumpeter Marcus Belgrave and began performing with Mercer Ellington's band before he had finished high school. His first few professional shows were with Detroit area musicians, Belgrave and pianist Geri Allen. He felt he had arrived as a saxophonist when he was asked to join the Duke Ellington Orchestra under the direction of Mercer Ellington. He skipped college and went on the road with the band for the summer and ended up staying with them for three and a half years on the road.

Garrett was raised in the Detroit jazz scene of the 1970's, which wasn't nearly as vibrant as it was a decade earlier. In high school, he had the good fortune to play with organist Lymon Woodward locally in Detroit, but recalls having to travel an hour or two hours from home to maintain his status as a working musician.