Kenny Davern

Lore & Background

Kenny Davern was born in Huntington, Long Island, to a family of mixed Jewish and Irish-Catholic ancestry. His mother's family came from Vienna, Austria, where his great-grandfather Alfred Roth had been a colonel in the Austro-Hungarian cavalry. After hearing Pee Wee Russell, Davern decided to become a jazz musician and joined the musician's union at age 16, initially playing baritone saxophone. In 1954 he joined Jack Teagarden's Band and made his first jazz recordings within days. He later worked with Phil Napoleon, Pee Wee Erwin, and the Dukes of Dixieland before freelancing with Red Allen, Ralph Sutton, Yank Lawson, and Dick Wellstood.

In the late 1960s Davern took up the soprano saxophone. A spontaneous collaboration with Bob Wilber at Dick Gibson's Colorado Jazz Party led to the creation of Soprano Summit, a major jazz group of the 1970s. Co-led by Wilber and Davern, the group switched between clarinet and saxophones for five years before disbanding in 1979. Davern then focused solely on clarinet, preferring trio formats with piano and drums, including the Hot Three with vibraphonist Don DeMicheal and pianist Art Hodes. He revived his collaboration with Wilber in 1991 as Summit Reunion.

Davern led his own quartets from the 1990s, preferring guitar in the rhythm section with players like Bucky Pizzarelli, Howard Alden, and James Chirillo. He performed at the Colorado Springs Invitational Jazz Party and with international musicians. In 1997 he was inducted into the Jazz Hall of Fame at Rutgers University, and in 2001 he received an honorary doctorate of music from Hamilton College. He cited classical clarinetist David Weber as his most important teacher. Davern died of a heart attack at his Sandia Park, New Mexico home.

Reader's Guide

Kenny Davern's significance lies in his role as a leading traditional jazz and swing clarinetist who also explored broader styles. His co-founding of Soprano Summit with Bob Wilber created one of the most important jazz groups of the 1970s, showcasing his versatility on clarinet and soprano saxophone. After the group disbanded, Davern's exclusive focus on clarinet allowed him to develop a highly personal sound characterized by a full, rounded tone, especially in the lower chalumeau register, and the ability to play notes above the conventional range. His collaborations with avant-garde players Steve Lacy, Steve Swallow, and Paul Motian on the album 'Unexpected' demonstrated his willingness to step outside traditional jazz. Davern's legacy is further cemented by his induction into the Jazz Hall of Fame at Rutgers University and his honorary doctorate. His encyclopedic knowledge of classical music, particularly the work of conductor Wilhelm Furtwängler, informed his approach. The New York Times' recognition of him as 'the finest jazz clarinetist playing today' in the late 1980s underscores his lasting impact on the instrument.

Did You Know?

• Davern's great-grandfather Alfred Roth was a colonel in the Austro-Hungarian cavalry.
• He made his first jazz recordings only a few days after joining Jack Teagarden's Band in 1954.
• Davern received an honorary doctorate of music from Hamilton College in 2001.