Miguel Barclay appears on Jamie Oliver’s £1 Wonders
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United States Kevin Eubanks is a versatile jazz and fusion guitarist and composer, widely recognized for his roles as bandleader on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" and a prolific recording artist. His career spans decades, marked by numerous albums and collaborations with jazz legends.
Kevin Eubanks released several albums with Mack Avenue Records, including 'Zen Food' (2010), 'The Messenger' (2012), 'Duets' (2015) with Stanley Jordan, and 'East West Time Line' (2017).
Kevin Eubanks was the leader of The Tonight Show Band with host Jay Leno from 1995 to 2009, and briefly again from March to May 2010. He also composed the closing theme music for the show, 'Kevin's Country'.
Eubanks led the Primetime Band on the short-lived 'The Jay Leno Show' from September 2009 to February 2010, in between his tenures on 'The Tonight Show'.
In the fall of 2021, Eubanks returned to working with Jay Leno as a sidekick on a revival of the TV game show 'You Bet Your Life'.
Kevin Tyrone Eubanks was born on November 15, 1957, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, into a family deeply rooted in music. His early education included training in violin, trumpet, and piano at the Settlement Music School in Philadelphia, followed by studies at the Berklee College of Music in Boston. This foundational training prepared him for a career that would place him at the forefront of contemporary jazz.
Eubanks embarked on his professional journey in New York, performing with prominent jazz figures such as Art Blakey (1980–81), Roy Haynes, Slide Hampton, and Sam Rivers. In 1983, he established his own quartet, touring internationally in locations like Jordan, Pakistan, and India under the sponsorship of the U.S. State Department. His debut album as a leader, “Guitarist,” was released on Elektra in 1983, initiating a prolific recording career that includes seven albums with GRP and four with Blue Note. Throughout his career, Eubanks has appeared on over 100 albums and founded his own label, Insoul Music, in 2001, releasing six albums independently.
A significant turning point in Eubanks’ career came in 1992 when he joined “The Tonight Show Band” as a guitarist. By 1995, he ascended to the role of bandleader for “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno,” succeeding Branford Marsalis. He also led “the Primetime Band” on “The Jay Leno Show” from 2009 to 2010. Eubanks continued his tenure with “The Tonight Show” until 2010, after which he focused on his music career, touring and recording with his bandmates.
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