Ken Rhodes

Pianist Ken Rhodes and his trio have long been a fixture in North Carolina, standing as proof that creative jazz exists outside of the main metropolitan areas. Rhodes had extensive classical training but was self-taught in jazz. He was raised in Chicago, started playing piano when he was six and became a professional at 17. Rhodes early on toured with a rock 'n' roll show band, Twist-O-Rama U.S.A. Switching to jazz, among the "local" players who Rhodes associated with were Wilbur Ware, Steve McCall, John Klemmer and Jack DeJohnette. He led a trio for a year at the Hungry Eye Bar and then, in 1967, Rhodes moved to Cincinnati, working as an educator. He lived in Europe during much of the 1970s, working for three years as a rehearsal pianist for the Augsburg Opera in Germany and for two years as a house musician for the Nuremberg Drama Theaters. In 1975 he recorded a trio album in Munich for the Amayana label. Rhodes also worked with the Bavarian Radio Big Band, Dusko Goykovich, Benny Bailey, Sal Nestico and the Al Porcino Big Band in addition to writing the music for two successful cabaret musicals. Ken Rhodes returned to Cincinnati in 1980, teaching plus working with many visiting players including Sonny Stitt and Mark Murphy. For five years he was a member of the house trio with singer April Aloisio at the Celestial Restaurant. In 1987 Rhodes moved to North Carolina, becoming the staff pianist-composer for the Drama and Dance Schools of the N.C. School of the Arts. In 1994 Ken Rhodes appeared on singer Chris Murrell's debut CD and that year he recorded a trio set (with bassist Andrew Valentine and drummer Jason Brashear) for his own Goodgig label.