b. 30 April 1960, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. Raised in Miami, Florida, where his parents moved soon after his birth, Kendrick followed in his piano playing father’s footsteps after having first played drums. There was also a gospel singing tradition in the family and this stood him in good stead when, in the late 70s, his early professional engagements found him working with soul artists such as James Brown and George Clinton. In the early 80s, he moved to New York City where he studied with Barry Harris. Kendrick’s jazz gigs were in stellar company, including spells with George Benson, Freddie Hubbard and J.J. Johnson. In the early 90s Kendrick was a member of Abbey Lincoln’s trio and he also began leading his own small group. A stylish player with subtly understated skills, Kendrick’s steady growth as a performer mark him down as a talent to watch in the early years of the twenty-first century.