Lyrics | Artists | Dave McKenna

Dave McKenna

Dave McKenna, born May 30, 1930, in Woonsocket, Rhode Island, was an American jazz pianist known for his “three‑handed” swing style. At 15, he worked in the big bands of Charlie Ventura (1949) and Woody Herman (1950–51), then served in the Korean War before returning to Ventura in 1953–54. McKenna’s solo album, Solo Piano, was released in 1956. He recorded for ABC‑Paramount, Epic, Bethlehem, and Realm, and collaborated with swing and dixieland figures such as Al Cohn, Eddie Condon, Stan Getz, and Gene Krupa. McKenna performed a live recording at Maybeck Recital Hall in 1989 and r...