KonGruENT

Dr. Kenneth Gill is a talented trombonist, arranger, composer, educator, clinician, and arts advocate. Born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, he started his musical journey by playing trombone in Detroit Public Schools. He later earned a Bachelor of Music in Education from Howard University, a Master of Music from Kent State University, and a Doctor of Musical Arts in Jazz and Contemporary Improvisation from the University of Michigan.

KonGruENT, created by Dr. Gill, is a collective rooted and immersed in the jazz lineage and beyond. This group of exceptional musicians is united by a common goal: expressing freedom through straight-ahead and progressive jazz compositions and arrangements that highlight the bold, powerful sound of horns. Featuring a frontline of three horns, the ensemble has a style reminiscent of Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers and echoes the sound of The Jazz Crusaders. KonGruENT is known to swing hard, groove hard, and bring the funk!

Dr. Gill released a full studio album titled “The Good News” in 2019 and is currently working on his next album. He has performed with and shared the stage with many notable artists, including the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, The Four Tops, Terence Blanchard, Kurt Elling, Darius Rucker, Marcus Belgrave, Gerald Wilson, Grady Tate, Donald Byrd, Clark Terry, Yusef Lateef, Jimmy Heath, Frank Foster, Gladys Knight, El DeBarge, Boyz II Men, Tori Kelly, Victory, Martha Reeves, Ray Chew, Les Nubians, Jennifer Holiday, Mutiny, Mike Phillips, and others.