Sean J. Kennedy Band

Sean J. Kennedy leads a greasy-groovin' horn band focusing on original compositions and new arrangements of time-honored standards.. His drumset playing has been described as, “…very soulful,” by renowned bassist Will Lee, and jazz legend Dave Brubeck stated that Sean’s drumming, “… sounds like it should-- it
swings!” To date, The Sean J. Kennedy Quartet has released three critically acclaimed CDs: Road to Wailea, Queen Anne's Revenge and Hey! Where's My Tux?!. Due to the success of these recordings the quartet has performed on NBC television and was invited to open for Wynton Marsalis and the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra at the Kimmel Center in Philadelphia. Because of his versatility, Kennedy has also been able to record and perform with some of the world’s top jazz, classical and rock musicians, including Will Lee, Bob Mintzer,  Warren Haynes, Liberty DeVitto, Richie Cannata, Ricky Byrd, Jerry Vivino, Donald Nally and the late Dr. Frederick Fennell.

When not recording and performing with his own group, Kennedy is a busy freelance drumset and percussion artist. He has been the principal drumset player with The Philadelphia Boys Choir and Chorale since 2005, and can be heard on their new CD Celebrate the Sounds of the Season and seen performing with them on Good Morning America. In the fall of 2009 Kennedy was invited to perform with the critically acclaimed Video Games Live Orchestra, making stops in Philadelphia at The Kimmel Center’s Verizon Hall and in New York City, on Broadway, at the legendary Beacon Street Theatre. And in the Spring of 2014 Kennedy made his debut performance on drumset and percussion with The Philly POPS Orchestra.  Other prestigious venues which Kennedy has performed at include The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington D.C, Avery Fischer Hall at Lincoln Center, in New York City, The Music Center at Strathmore in Bethesda, Maryland, World Café Live, Chris Jazz Café, and The Academy of Music in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  And since June 2011 one of Sean's side groups, The KAV Trio, has been the official band of The Philadelphia Phillies pre-game show "Behind the Pinstripes" with Scott Palmer, with frequent performances at Citizen's Bank Park.  (They always swing, even if the ball players don't!)

Kennedy’s pedagogical pursuits include writing two new drumset method books with rock drumming legend Liberty DeVitto entitled Rock Solid - Drums (Carl Fischer Music Publishing). This book is being used nationwide and has received glowing endorsements from Dame Evelyn Glennie, Bernard Purdie, and the Camp Jam and Little Kids Rock summer music programs. Modern Drummer Magazine awarded the book a coveted four star rating.  The second book is for former drummers who miss jamming on the kit, entitled I Used to Play Drums: An Innovative Method for Adults Returning to Play. Additionally, he has written a brand-new book series on jazz improvisation with famed saxophonist Richie Cannata, Improvising and Soloing in The Pocket. His latest release from Alfred Music is Sixty Second Solos an exciting introduction to solo percussion performance.

Kennedy has a B.S. in Music Education and an M.M. in Percussion Performance from West Chester University, and is an Artist Endorser for Zildjian Cymbals, Vic Firth Drumsticks, Casio Keyboards and Evans Drumheads.  He is also a member of the American Federation of Musicians, is a registered composer, songwriter, and publisher with Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI), and is a voting member of the Recording Academy (NARAS).