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Sean J. Kennedy

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Sean J. Kennedy
Sean J. Kennedy (2018)
Background information
Born (1971-09-20) September 20, 1971 (age 53)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
GenresJazz, rock, classical
Occupation(s)Musician, percussionist, author, educator
Instrument(s)Drumset, percussion, piano
Years active1980s-present
Websiteseanjkennedy.com

Sean J. Kennedy (born September 20, 1971 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) is an American drum set player, percussionist, recording artist, author and educator.[1] Kennedy's drumset method book Camp Jam: Rock Solid Drums was nominated as Educational Drum Book of the Year in the 2011 Modern Drummer magazine reader's poll. Kennedy's release Sixty Second Solos won 2nd Runner Up[2] in the 2015 DRUMMIES,[3] DRUM! Magazine's an annual readers poll award.[4] Kennedy has been officially recognized by Guinness World Records for participating in "most people performing a drum roll online simultaneously", with Legacy 150 Celebrations Society, Vancouver, Canada.[5]

"Kaku, kupala| Fear in Neutral Buoyancy" an original orchestral composition by Sean J. Kennedy - premiered at Carnegie Hall, September 27, 2015, performed by Youth Philharmonic International Orchestra, conducted by Jose Luis Gomez.[6]

Since April 2016, Sean J. Kennedy has produced and hosted the music-industry podcast Backstage At The Enharmonic. Guests have included many musical innovators and legends including, Dame Evelyn Glennie, Hal Blaine, Gordon Goodwin, Harold Jones (drummer), Nitzan Haroz, Donald Nally, Richie Cannata, Jerry Weldon, Julian Bliss and many others.[7]

Kennedy's "Lux Contritum (Broken Light)" an original choral piece with orchestral accompaniment commissioned by the Archdiocese of Philadelphia had its debut performance on April 17, 2018, at the Kimmel Center's Verizon Hall, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and was conducted by Kennedy.[8]

September 2018, Kennedy presented a TedX Talk called Happy Accidents: Drumming Up Serendipity, which explores how serendipity, or happy accidents, can influence and change our lives. The talk was presented to a local audience at TEDxWilmington.[9]

In 2020 Kennedy founded The Rolling Buzzards Brigade, an American chamber ensemble that is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The ensemble creates virtual performances of arrangements of 18th Century military/patriotic music.[10]

The group has received widespread press coverage in Modern Drummer,[11] International Musician, the official journal of The American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada.,[12] Irish Philadelphia,[13] and Make Music Magazine.[13]

The group's recordings have also been premiered on US classical musical radio stations. Including WWFM, The Classical Network's show Cadenza with David Osenberg,[14] and on WLRH 89.3 FM/HD Huntsville's 2020 4 July celebration, "Benjamin Franklin's Favorite Protest Song of the Revolutionary War"[15]

Reception within the drumming community has been overwhelmingly positive, culminating in an online interview at DrummerNation.com,[16] hosted by Michael Vosbein, featuring Sean J. Kennedy, Bernie Dresel, Clayton Cameron and audio engineer Andrew Torre.

Members of The Rolling Buzzards Brigade include: Sean J. Kennedy, Bernie Dresel, Clayton Cameron, Chris Colaneri, Chris Coletti, David Earll, Evelyn Glennie, Neil Grover, Nitzan Haroz, Heather High-Kennedy, Tawnee Lynn, David Lu, Sherrie Maricle, Dave Nelson, Chihiro Shibayama, Gabriel Staznik, and John Wooton.

Sean J. Kennedy is a member of the Percussive Arts Society Drum Set Committee.[17]

Discography

[edit]

With The Sean J. Kennedy Quartet

With The KAV Trio

  • Outta' Here! (2011)[18]

With Ramblin' Ant & The Locust Street Band

  • Ramblin' Ant & The Locust Street Band (2010)

With Philadelphia Boys Choir & Chorale

  • Celebrate the Sounds of the Season (2009)[19]
  • Sing, Choir of Angels (DVD) (2011)
  • Celebrate the Sounds of the Season (with bonus disc) (2012)
  • Winter Wonderland (2016)

With Allentown Band

  • Our Band Heritage, Volume 17: Seasons Greetings (2002)[20]
  • Our Band Heritage, Volume 18: Band on Broadway (2003)
  • Our Band Heritage, Volume 19: Sesquicentennial: The Music of John Philip Sousa (2004)
  • Our Band Heritage, Volume 20: A World of Marches (2005)

With The Frank DiBussolo Quartet

  • Average White Cats (2010)[21]

With Olesia Gordynsky

  • You Remain (2012)[22]

With The Bob Wagner Quartet

  • Toot Suite (2018)[23]

With The Rolling Buzzards Brigade

  • The Downfall of Paris (2020)[24]
  • Connecticut Halftime and The Three Camps (2020)[25]

With Gardyn Jazz Orchestra

  • Gardyn (2022)[26]
  • Vinyl Brews (2024)[27]

Publications

[edit]

"Camp Jam: Rock Solid Drums" Carl Fischer Music co-author Liberty DeVitto[28]
"I Used to Play Drums" Carl Fischer Music co-author Liberty DeVitto[28]
"Improvising and Soloing In The Pocket" Carl Fischer Music co-author Richie Cannata[29]
"Sixty Second Solos" Alfred Music[30] [31]
"Help! I'm Not a Drummer!... but I have some in my ensemble" Carl Fischer Music[32]
June 2021 edition of Modern Drummer Magazine, featured article, "Mentor | Sean J. Kennedy Salutes Ray Deeley" [33]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Drummerszone - Artist Directory".
  2. ^ "2015 Drummies! Gear Award Winners". September 10, 2015.
  3. ^ "Neil Peart's Powerhouse Percussion Nabs Third Drummie". July 11, 2009.
  4. ^ "MD Readers Poll 2011 Results". July 2011.
  5. ^ "Most people performing a drum roll online simultaneously". Guinness World Records. July 2021. Retrieved August 4, 2021.
  6. ^ "Yphil International Philharmonic Orchestra - Sunday, September 27, 2015 | Carnegie Hall". www.carnegiehall.org. Archived from the original on August 10, 2015.
  7. ^ "Backstage at the Enharmonic". Spotify.
  8. ^ "Concert of Excellence wows music lovers at Kimmel Center".
  9. ^ "Happy Accidents: Drumming up Serendipity". February 11, 2019.
  10. ^ "Local Drummer on a Roll With a Pandemic-Inspired Musical Project". IrishPhiladelphia.com. Retrieved October 13, 2020.
  11. ^ "Top Drummers Pay Tribute to Revolutionary War Soldiers". October 28, 2020.
  12. ^ "The Downfall of Paris | International Musician".
  13. ^ a b "Downfall of Paris". irishphiladelphia.com.
  14. ^ "Cadenza with David Osenberg".
  15. ^ "Benjamin Franklin's Favorite Protest Song of the Revolutionary War | WLRH News". June 29, 2020.
  16. ^ "Login to your Podbean Account | Podbean".
  17. ^ "Drum Set". www.pas.org. Retrieved August 4, 2021.
  18. ^ a b c d "Sean J. Kennedy | Credits". AllMusic.
  19. ^ "The Philadelphia Boys Choir & Chorale". Phillyboyschoir.org. Retrieved January 29, 2023.
  20. ^ "Allentown Band Home". Allentownband.com. Retrieved January 29, 2023.
  21. ^ Lewis, Vince. "Frank DiBussolo's "Average White Cats"". guitarinternational.com. Guitar International Magazine. Archived from the original on June 11, 2023. Retrieved June 17, 2023.
  22. ^ Gordynsky, Olesia (February 1, 2012). "You Remain (EP)". Apple Music. Archived from the original on June 11, 2023. Retrieved June 17, 2023.
  23. ^ "Toot Suite - Bob Wagner | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic.
  24. ^ "The Rolling Buzzards Brigade | Spotify". Open.spotify.com. Retrieved February 3, 2023.
  25. ^ "Connecticut Halftime and the Three Camps". Spotify.
  26. ^ "Album. Gardyn Jazz Orchestra". Gardyn Jazz Orchestra. October 28, 2022. Retrieved August 24, 2023.
  27. ^ "Album. Gardyn Jazz Orchestra". Roots Music Report. August 18, 2024.
  28. ^ a b "Drums and Percussion". www.carlfischer.com. Archived from the original on November 14, 2014.
  29. ^ "Improv n Solo in Pocket "C"". www.carlfischer.com. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015.
  30. ^ "Sixty-Second Solos". Alfred Music.
  31. ^ "Sean J. Kennedy | Drummer Cafe". www.drummercafe.com. Archived from the original on February 15, 2015.
  32. ^ "Help! I'm Not a Drummer!". www.carlfischer.com. Archived from the original on April 3, 2017.
  33. ^ "Sean J. Kennedy Salutes Ray Deeley". Retrieved August 24, 2023.
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