Connie Kay

Biography

For two a few months timid of 40 years (including seven years where the group was on “vacation”), Connie Kay was the drummer/percussionist with the present day Jazz Quartet. His simple contributions (displaying both restraint and golf swing) were a great asset towards the group. Self-taught in the drums, Kay performed within the middle-’40s with Sir Charles Thompson, Mls Davis, and Kitty Anderson. He was in Lester Young’s quintet on / off during 1949-1955, an interval where Kay also caused Beryl Booker, Stan Getz, Coleman Hawkins, and Charlie Parker, amongst others. In Feb 1955, he became a member of the MJQ, touring the world using the band until they known as it “quits” in 1974. Throughout that period, he also made an appearance as a visitor on small-group times by Chet Baker, Cannonball Adderley, Jimmy Heath, and Paul Desmond/Jim Hall. During 1975-1981, Kay caused Tommy Flanagan, Soprano Summit, Benny Goodman (including his 40th wedding anniversary Carnegie Hall concert), and was the home drummer at Eddie Condon’s golf club. He spent his last 13 years back again using the MJQ; Mickey Roker packed in when he was sick and Albert “Tootie” Heath overran the drum slot machine after Connie Kay’s loss of life.

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