Kevin Eubanks

As leader of the house band on 'The Tonight Show With Jay Leno' for 15 years, Kevin Eubanks became a household personality as well as a revered jazz guitarist, who has played on more than 100 albums. Growing up in a musical family in Philadelphia, he played in funk bands and studied at the Berklee School of Music, before cutting his teeth in New York in the early 1980s as part of Art Blakey, Roy Haynes and Sam Rivers' groups. His debut solo album 'Guitarist' showcased his virtuoso talents in 1983 and seven records for the jazz label GPR cemented his reputation for fusing modern styles from America, Europe and Africa. He was recruited by Branford Marsalis to join 'The Tonight Show' in 1992 and he made his mark by composing the closing theme 'Kevin's Country', before taking over as band leader three years later and striking up a popular on-screen side-kick relationship with Leno. It didn't prevent him from performing and recording, though, and his hard be-bop album 'Live at Bradley's' was seen as a high point, while 'World Trio' - his collaboration with bass player Dave Holland and percussionist Mino Cinelu - further explored a kaleidoscope of influences. He also set up his own label InSound and, after leaving the show in 2010, went on to release the Latin, smooth pop album 'Zen Food'. In 2015 he worked with another jazz guitar great Stanley Jordan on 'Duets'.

Please enable Javascript to view this page competely.