Blast from the Past: Marriott Jazz Quintet with Kenny Kirkland (1998)

Here's a blast from the past: back on September 20th, 1998, Benaroya Hall was just opening in Seattle and celebrated with a Day of Music -- tons of free concerts all day throughout the Benaroya Hall facility.  My brother Thomas and I were asked to bring our band, the Marriott Jazz Quintet, for a short set.  At the time, we didn't have a regular piano player or drummer, and it just so happened that Kenny Kirkland was in town with Branford Marsalis.  As the old saying goes, "It never hurts to ask," and getting the chance to play with the legendary Kenny Kirkland was, and still is, a high point in my musical life. Sadly, he passed away less than two months later -- I spent many hours thinking of "what might have been," as I'm sure so many did in the wake of his passing.  I came across these pictures at my folks' house a few weeks ago, and just had to scan them.  Hope you enjoy -- I know it brings back many fond memories for me.