The new season of Friday Jazz at the High begins this Friday, June 21 with a double header featuring Atlanta music royalty—-Kenny Banks Sr. and Kenny Banks Jr.—-from 6pm until 10pm.
In addition to the music, Friday Jazz patrons will get to enjoy the following exhibitions Truth Told Slant: Contemporary Photography and Three Decades of Democracy: South African Works on Paper.
Kenny Banks Sr. has graced renowned stages like the Jools Holland Television Show in England, Tiny Desk, BET, and the Image Awards. His iconic performances at the inauguration and the United Nations Ceremony for President Barack Obama highlight his impact, resonating across significant venues such as Carnegie Hall in New York City and the Philharmonie in Berlin. Noteworthy movie appearances include scenes in Tyler Perry's "The Family That Preys," and a collaborative composition, "Hello Love," with recording artist Kathleen Bertrand, featured in the GMC movie "Raising Izzie." Kenny has engaged with acclaimed artists like Jimmy Heath, Wess Anderson, Earl Klugh, Kathleen Bertrand, Lizz Wright, Rene Marie, Russell Gunn, Pharez Whitted, Kevin Mahogany, Kurt Whalum, Albertina Walker, Dorothy Norwood, Byron Cage, Jennifer Holiday, Aretha Franklin, and even the prestigious Philadelphia Orchestra, showcasing just a glimpse of his impressive list of notable musical performances.
Kenny Banks Jr. started to play the piano at age seven. Training one on one with his father, Kenny Banks Sr. (also a pianist), he learned the fundamentals of music theory, jazz and composition. Kenny has performed across the United States with a wide variety of world class artists such as Kurt Elling, Jennifer Holiday, Jazzmeia Horn, Kenny Latimore, Russell Gunn, Dionne Farris, Christian Howes, India Arie and Phife Dawg of A Tribe Called Quest. More recently, Kenny has become a frequent feature and guest artist at world renowned jazz clubs across the world, including The Blue Note and Dizzy's Coca-Cola jazz club in New York City, performing as a solo pianist and as a band leader with his trio. Kenny has been a part of several film and television productions including HBO's "Bessie" starring Queen Latifah, "Jacob's Ladder" with Michael Ealy, "Star" on Fox, "Married to Medicine," Genius "Aretha Franklin" series starring Cynthia Erivo and a Gil Evans documentary with executive music producer/Grammy award winner Terence Blanchard.
Friday Jazz at the High is hosted by WCLK's very own Rick Joyner. Click here for tickets!