By the time Detroit native, Kenny Garret was only 20 years old he had already cut his teeth playing with the Duke Ellington Orchestra. In 1984, the saxophonist made his first album as a leader, followed by a string of successful recordings, shifting easily from John Coltrane to pop and funk compositions. A disciple of Miles Davis, and saxophonist in the last version of the Miles Davis group, Garrett recorded a concert honouring the legendary trumpet player before a live audience in New York. Audiences were treated to a taste of material from that album, Sketches of MD, when Garret brought his Miles tribute concert to the Festival stage in 2009.