After attending the Berklee School of Music two years, he left in his junior year to go on tour with Gary Burton (the dean at the time). Rosenwinkel then moved to Brooklyn where he developed his jazz guitar skills performing with Human Feel and Paul Motian’s Electric Bebop Band. He began to use a Lavalier lapel microphone that was connected to his guitar amplifier. This blends his vocals with his guitar sound and has since become his signature sound, both live as well as in the studio. He was awarded the Composer’s Award by the National Endowment for the Arts in 1995 and signed to Verve Records. He has recorded and played as both a sideman and leader with fellow-alumni Brad Mehldau and Mark Turner, among others. Rosenwinkel worked with Q-Tip, A Tribe Called Quest’s drummer Jeff Ballard, bassist Ben Street and Mark Turner on his album Heartcore (2003). This was a departure in Rosenwinkel’s usual compositional style, which combines elements of jazz, rock and electronica. He would also collaborate with Q-Tip and play guitar on his albums The Renaissance (2008), Kamaal/The Abstract (2009). Rosenwinkel released a double album of live performances as the band leader. The Remedy-Live at the Village Vanguard (2008) is the album. It features Mark Turner and Aaron Goldberg as well as Joe Martin, Eric Harland, and Eric Harland. Rosenwinkel released a trio recording entitled Standards Trio: Reflections 2009 on November 10, 2009. It features Eric Revis as bassist and Eric Harland as drummers. Kurt Rosenwinkel, Rosenwinkel’s ninth album as a leader was released on September 7, 2010.
