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BIO
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Kenneth Gill is a trombonist, music educator, composer, and arranger. He was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan; that is where his musical career began.
Growing up, Kenneth’s father often told him about his early musical endeavors and exposed him to his favorite musicians. The first trombonist’s record that his father played for him was Wayne Henderson of the Jazz Crusaders. Wayne’s beautiful sound sparked an interest in his mind and created a strong desire of his pursuit on the trombone. As soon as the opportunity presented itself to join the school band, he took it. Soon thereafter, his father took him to purchase his first trombone at the Hewitt’s Music store and he joined the William Ruddiman Middle School band.
Kenneth later attended the Detroit School of Arts before earning a Bachelor of Music in Education degree from Howard University and a Master of Music degree from Kent State University. While at Howard University, he was exposed regularly to the lectures of Donald Byrd, Grady Tate and other legendary musicians and pedagogues. It was not uncommon for jazz experts and other in demand musicians to walk into the Howard University Jazz Ensemble rehearsals. Those formative years had an indelible impact on his love for jazz.
As an in-demand trombonist, Kenneth has recorded and performed with various artists and ensembles, releasing his own debut LP entitled The Good News in 2019. In addition to keeping a full schedule as a working musician, he serves as a certified music educator in the Detroit Public Schools Community District in Michigan. In Spring 2024, Kenneth was conferred the inaugural degree of Doctor of Musical Arts in Jazz and Contemporary Improvisation from the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor.
Some notable artists with whom Kenneth has graced the stage include: Terence Blanchard, Kurt Elling, Darius Rucker, Marcus Belgrave, Gerald Wilson, Grady Tate, Donald Byrd, Clark Terry, Yusef Lateef, Jimmy Heath, Frank Foster, Gladys Knight, El DeBarge, Boyz II Men, Tori Kelly, Martha Reeves, Ray Chew, Les Nubians, Jennifer Holiday, Mutiny, Mike Phillips, and more.