Living Vertikal Radio and Music Cafe featuring Kenny Banks Jr.

Growing up in a household of musicians gave Kenny Banks Jr. license to make music of his own—using whatever he could find to make a beat.  Kenny graduated from playing cookware and 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. Under the guidance of his mother Esther Banks, music director at St. Paul AME Church in Columbus, Ohio, the church became his first musical outlet, and it would be the training ground for the growth of his musicality and professionalism.

Noted for his blended technique in mixing jazz and gospel styles. Downbeat Magazine describes his playing as “gospel and blues-infused” and calls his arrangements “thrilling, modern and surprising.”  From his base in Atlanta, Kenny has been a part of several films and television productions including HBO’s “Bessie” starring Queen Latifah, “Jacob’s Ladder” with Michael Ealy, “Star” on Fox, “Married to Medicine,” and a Gil Evans documentary for executive producer Terence Blanchard.

In 2019, Kenny was a finalist in the 2019 American Pianists Awards and performed to great acclaim in solo and trio formats, as well as with Grammy-winning vocalist Kurt Elling.

Join our conversation with Host C. Stene Duckworth, February 3rd at 6:00 PM MST - 8:00 PM EST.  http://tobtr.com/11884571