collaborated directly, Ellington called Burrell his "favorite guitar player," and Burrell has recorded a number of tributes to and interpretations of Ellington's works. Since 1996, Burrell has served as Director of Jazz Studies at UCLA, mentoring such notable alumni as Gretchen Parlato and Kamasi Washington. Awards and honors Burrell wrote, arranged, and performed on the 1998 Grammy Award-winning album Dear Ella by Dee Dee Bridgewater, received the 2004 Jazz Educator of the Year Award from Down Beat, and was named a 2005 NEA Jazz Master. Burrell was a Grammy Salute To Jazz Honoree in 2010. The Grammy website states that between "...1956 and 2006, Mr. Burrell has excelled as a leader, co-leader and sideman releasing recordings with stellar musicians in the world of jazz." Personal In 2019, concerns arose about Burrell's well-being and living circumstances as he became increasingly socially and physically isolated in his home and major frictions developed between his wife, Katherine Goodrich, 37 years his junior, and others living in their Westwood apartment building. A GoFundMe account was set up to pay medical bills and other putative expenses, which became controversial because he was covered by medical insurance through employment at UCLA and through Medicare. Subsequently, a letter from Burrell was published, providing a detailed explanation of the situation and justification for the GoFundMe campaign. Discography As leader Introducing Kenny Burrell (Blue Note, 1956) Kenny Burrell (Blue Note, 1957) – rec. 1956 All Night Long (Prestige, 1957) – rec. 1956 All Day Long (Prestige, 1957) Earthy (Prestige, 1957) Kenny Burrell (Prestige, 1957) 2 Guitars with Jimmy Raney (Prestige, 1957) Blue Lights Vol. 1 (Blue Note, 1958) On View at the Five Spot Cafe with Art Blakey (Blue Note, 1960) A Night at the Vanguard (Argo, 1960) Weaver of Dreams (Columbia, 1961) Blue Lights Vol. 2 (Blue Note, 1961) Kenny Burrell & John Coltrane (New Jazz, 1962) Blue Bash! with Jimmy Smith (Verve, 1963) Bluesy Burrell (Moodsville, 1963) Lotsa Bossa Nova! (Kapp, 1963) Midnight Blue (Blue Note, 1963) Crash! (Prestige, 1964) Soul Call (Prestige, 1964) Guitar Soul with Bill Jennings & Tiny Grimes (Status, 1965) Guitar Forms (Verve, 1965) The Tender Gender (Cadet, 1966) Have Yourself a Soulful Little Christmas (Cadet, 1966) Man at Work (Cadet, 1966) Ode to 52nd Street (Cadet, 1967) A Generation Ago Today (Verve, 1967) Blues – The Common Ground (Verve, 1968) Night Song (Verve, 1968) Asphalt Canyon Suite (Verve, 1969) Kenny Clarke Meets