Kevin Eubanks

Eubanks was born into a musical family. His older brother, Robin Eubanks, is a trombonist, and his younger brothers Duane Eubanks is a trumpeter and Shane Eubanks is a DJ. As an elementary school student, Eubanks was trained in violin, trumpet, and piano at the Settlement Music School (in Philadelphia). He later attended Berklee College of Music (in Boston, Massachusetts).

Eubanks grew up in Philadelphia in a notable jazz family. His mother, Vera, was a public-school music teacher and played the Hammond organ for their local church. His uncles were Ray Bryant and Tommy Bryant, both known musicians. Eubanks was exposed at a young age to gospel music. Eubanks is a pescetarian and maintains a diet of fresh fruits, vegetables, grains, egg whites, and fish.

After Eubanks moved to New York, he began performing with noted jazzmen such as Art Blakey (1980–81), Roy Haynes, Slide Hampton, and Sam Rivers. Like his brother Robin, Eubanks has played on record with double bassist Dave Holland. In 1983, while continuing to perform with others, he formed his own quartet, playing gigs in Jordan, Pakistan, and India on a tour sponsored by the U.S. State Department. In 2020, Eubanks appeared as a guest on the Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip marathon fundraiser episode of The George Lucas Talk Show. In the fall of 2021, Eubanks returned to working with Leno, as a sidekick on a revival of the TV game show You Bet Your Life.

In 1992, Eubanks moved to the West Coast to play guitar in The Tonight Show Band. He composed "Kevin's Country", the closing theme music for The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. In 1995, he replaced Branford Marsalis as leader of the band. When NBC moved Leno's show from late night to prime time, Eubanks moved with the band to continue conducting music for the short-lived The Jay Leno Show. Eubanks appeared on the new show as The Primetime Band. On April 12, 2010, Eubanks announced on the show that he would be leaving The Tonight Show following its 18th season. His last show was on May 30, 2010. He indicated in an interview with The Philadelphia Inquirer that he wanted to concentrate on music, adding that his leaving was not provoked by any problems with Leno or NBC. Following his departure, he began touring with bandmate Marvin "Smitty" Smith on drums, Bill Pierce on saxophone, and Rene Camacho on bass.

Guitarist (Elektra Musician, 1983) Sundance (GRP, 1984) Opening Night (GRP, 1985) Face to Face (GRP, 1986) The Heat of Heat (GRP, 1987) Shadow Prophets (GRP, 1988) The Searcher (GRP, 1989) Promise of Tomorrow (GRP, 1990) Turning Point (Blue Note, 1992) Spirit Talk (Blue Note, 1993) Live at Bradley's (Blue Note, 1994) Spirit Talk 2 – Revelations (Blue Note, 1995) Zen Food (Mack Avenue, 2010) The Messenger (Mack Avenue, 2012) Duets with Stanley Jordan (Mack Avenue, 2015) East West Time Line (Mack Avenue, 2017)

Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers, Live at Montreux and Northsea (Timeless, 1980) Steve Arrington, Steve Arrington's Hall Of Fame, Vol.1 (Atlantic, 1983) The Young Lions (Elektra Musician, 1983) Urszula Dudziak, Sorrow Is Not Forever... But Love Is (Keytone, 1983) James Williams, Alter Ego (Sunnyside, 1984) Oliver Lake, Expandable Language (Black Saint, 1985) Billy Hart, Oshumare (Gramavision, 1985) Meredith D'Ambrosio, It's Your Dance (Sunnyside, 1985) James Williams, Progress Report (Sunnyside, 1985) The Mike Gibbs Orchestra, Big Music (Venture, 1988) Billy Hart, Rah (Gramavision, 1988) Robin Eubanks, Different Perspectives (JMT, 1989) Dave Holland, Extensions (ECM, 1989) Greg Osby, Season of Renewal (JMT, 1990) Gary Thomas, While the Gate Is Open (JMT, 1990) Gary Thomas, The Kold Kage (JMT, 1991) Robin Eubanks, Karma (JMT, 1991) Kirk Lightsey, From Kirk to Nat (Criss Cross Jazz, 1991) Steve Coleman, Rhythm in Mind (Novus, 1992) Harold Mabern, The Leading Man (DIW, 1993) Ralph Moore, Round Trip (Reservoir, 1985 [1987]) Jean-Luc Ponty, No Absolute Time (Atlantic, 1993) Adam Rudolph's Moving Pictures, Skyway (Soul Note, 1994) Mino Cinelu, World Trio (1995) Dianne Reeves, That Day (Blue Note, 1997) Terri Lyne Carrington, Jazz Is a Spirit (ACT, 2002) Carmen Lundy, Moment to Moment (Afrasia, 2007) Dave Holland, Prism (Okeh/Dare2, 2013) Orrin Evans, #knowingishalfthebattle (Smoke Sessions, 2017) Dave Holland, Another Land (Edition, 2021)