Rodney Kendrick
| Rodney Kendrick | |
|---|---|
| Born | April 30, 1960 |
| Origin | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States |
| Genres | Jazz |
| Occupation(s) | Pianist, Composer, Bandleader, Producer |
| Instruments | Piano |
| Years active | 1978–present |
| Labels | Verve, Polygram, Polydor |
| Associated acts | Rhonda Ross |
Rodney Kendrick (born April 30, 1960) is an American jazz pianist, bandleader, composer, and producer. He has been described as a "hard swinging player and composer with a delightful Monkish wit and drive."
Rodney Kendrick was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He grew up in Miami, Florida, where his parents moved soon after his birth. Kendrick grew up in a musical, and Pentecostal church-going family. His father is James “Jimmy Kay” Kendrick, a pianist who worked with saxophonist Illinois Jacquet for seven years, played with saxophonist Sonny Stitt and Sam Rivers. His mother is a gospel singer named Juet.
When Kendrick was eighteen, he turned professional, touring and playing keyboards with R&B and funk acts. He traveled internationally with Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes, James Brown and George Clinton.
At twenty-one, Kendrick began a primary focus on jazz, moving to New York City in 1981. He played keyboards for artists such as Freddie Hubbard, Terence Blanchard, Stanley Turrentine, Clark Terry, J. J. Johnson, and others. He studied with pianist Barry Harris, who remained his teacher and mentor for over 20 years. Kendrick cites Randy Weston and Sun Ra as influences. In the early 1990s he served as Abbey Lincoln’s musical leader for seven years.
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