Jazz in July Spotlight: The Washingtons (Not Related)
Video: Bill Charlap, artistic director of Jazz in July at the Y, performs with his trio of Peter Washington (bass) and Kenny Washington (drums).
For two weeks this summer, Jazz in July at the 92nd Street Y will swing with the sounds of George Shearing, Billy Strayhorn, Leonard Bernstein and Brazilian jazz. You can witness the thrilling performances of the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, Dr. Billy Taylor, Kurt Elling, Freddy Cole, Fred Hersch and many others.
Meet drummer Kenny Washington and bassist Peter Washington, both members of the Bill Charlap Trio but no relation beyond New York City’s impressive “jazz family” of the best musicians in the world.
Kenny Washington was born in Brooklyn and attended the LaGuardia High School for Music & Art. He studied percussion with former Dizzy Gillespie drummer Rudy Collins, and in 1977, while still in his teens, he worked with Lee Konitz and his Nonet. Within the next few years Washington would perform and record with Betty Carter, Johnny Griffin, Kenny Burrell, Ron Carter and Frank Wess, and his freelance career would begin. He has now played with many other major artists, including Johnny Griffin, Milt Jackson, Tommy Flanagan, Jay McShann, the Mingus Dynasty, Benny Carter, Dizzy Gillespie, Arturo Sandoval and Benny Goodman, and he is a member of the Bill Charlap Trio. Washington has a discography of over 100 titles, and he has an interest in jazz history, writing liner notes and helping to prepare re-releases by Art Blakey, Count Basie and others. Catch his Jazz in July performances at Somewhere: The Songs of Leonard Bernstein (Jul 22) and The Shearing Sound: A Tribute to George Shearing (Jul 30).
Perhaps the most recorded bassist of his generation, Peter Washington has a discography of over 350 recordings, and it grows on a near-weekly basis. Born in Los Angeles, he majored in English Literature at Berkeley, and while in San Francisco, he was invited by Art Blakey to move to New York and join his Jazz Messengers. From there Washington became part of two of jazz’s most celebrated trios: the Tommy Flanagan Trio, and for the past ten years, the Bill Charlap Trio. Washington’s freelance work roster is a “Who’s Who” of jazz, including many Jazz in July artists. Among the instrumentalists are Dizzy Gillespie, Clark Terry, David Sanchez, David Hazeltine, Regina Carter and the Carnegie Hall Jazz Band. He has worked with vocalists like Chris Conner, Mark Murphy, Paula West, and Ernestine Anderson. Catch his Jazz in July performances at Somewhere: The Songs of Leonard Bernstein (Jul 22), Piano Jam (Jul 23) and Lush Life: Billy Strayhorn (Jul 31).
Kenny Washington was born in Brooklyn and attended the LaGuardia High School for Music & Art. He studied percussion with former Dizzy Gillespie drummer Rudy Collins, and in 1977, while still in his teens, he worked with Lee Konitz and his Nonet. Within the next few years Washington would perform and record with Betty Carter, Johnny Griffin, Kenny Burrell, Ron Carter and Frank Wess, and his freelance career would begin. He has now played with many other major artists, including Johnny Griffin, Milt Jackson, Tommy Flanagan, Jay McShann, the Mingus Dynasty, Benny Carter, Dizzy Gillespie, Arturo Sandoval and Benny Goodman, and he is a member of the Bill Charlap Trio. Washington has a discography of over 100 titles, and he has an interest in jazz history, writing liner notes and helping to prepare re-releases by Art Blakey, Count Basie and others. Catch his Jazz in July performances at Somewhere: The Songs of Leonard Bernstein (
Perhaps the most recorded bassist of his generation, Peter Washington has a discography of over 350 recordings, and it grows on a near-weekly basis. Born in Los Angeles, he majored in English Literature at Berkeley, and while in San Francisco, he was invited by Art Blakey to move to New York and join his Jazz Messengers. From there Washington became part of two of jazz’s most celebrated trios: the Tommy Flanagan Trio, and for the past ten years, the Bill Charlap Trio. Washington’s freelance work roster is a “Who’s Who” of jazz, including many Jazz in July artists. Among the instrumentalists are Dizzy Gillespie, Clark Terry, David Sanchez, David Hazeltine, Regina Carter and the Carnegie Hall Jazz Band. He has worked with vocalists like Chris Conner, Mark Murphy, Paula West, and Ernestine Anderson. Catch his Jazz in July performances at Somewhere: The Songs of Leonard Bernstein (
