Born in Philadelphia in 1971, Seán J. Kennedy has fueled the effort behind his recent jazz releases, Queen Anne’s Revenge and Road to Wailea, with all the flavor one would presume of a diligent, innovative man from the City of Brotherly Love. Waldo the Squid of DRUM! Magazine commented on the savory temptation luring hard-core jazz enthusiasts to Kennedy’s versatile musicianship when he suggests, “There are a lot of onions on this young man’s cheesesteak…” Likewise, Seán’s varied and impressive career received another recent boost when Tirdad Derakhshani of The Philadelphia Inquirer recommended, “…his intense and sometimes far-out live performances…” as a top pick in its Best Bets section.

With the encouragement and discipline of his parents, Seán started playing the piano at the age of eight. Upon entering high school in 1985, he was drawn to the percussion instruments and received rudimental drumming instruction as a member of the marching band drumline. During this period, he started listening to the recordings of Gene Krupa, Joe Morello, Philly Joe Jones, Ed Shaugnessy, Buddy Rich, Steve Gadd, Liberty DeVitto, David Garibaldi, Neil Peart, Ringo Starr and Irv Cotler. Many hours were spent listening, absorbing, and learning the techniques and styles of these masters, with the help of Atlantic City drummers, Raymond Deeley and Roy Rakszawski. By 1987, Seán had successfully transferred from the piano to fulltime study of the drumset.

While still in high school, Seán found work as a sideman on drums and percussion to be abundant. Under the guidance of Philadelphia woodwind session player, Gary Zimmaro, Seán began playing in a variety of pit orchestras and stage bands throughout the Philadelphia region. This freefall approach to learning to sight-read, play all styles - especially swing and Latin - and ascertain how to contend with a wide range of musicians, proved invaluable throughout Seán’s career. 

In the early 1990s, Seán began playing with a variety of rock/funk groups in effort to expand his already broadening musical vocabulary. Community carnivals, dances and parties were all part of the routine for these bands. In 1994, Seán landed a full-time playing job in Allentown, Pennsylvania at Dorney Park and Wildwater Kingdom playing in a rock band 6 days a week. The group primarily played cover versions of 50’s and 60’s tunes. Richer than the first sweet taste of being paid as a fulltime professional musician, was the opportunity to meet other serious, young musicians from across the country, and share musical ideas and experiences both onstage and off. Among one of the many musicians whom Seán worked with was saxophonist, Erin Stroup, who would become a longtime collaborator.

Road to Wailea, Seán’s debut CD, has already received accolades from some of the leading jazz artists on the scene today, including Gerald Veasley, Joe Morello, and Tommy Campbell. Jazz saxophonist and contributor to Saxophone Journal Magazine, Tim Price, says, "Seán's playing has volumes of beauty in the sound of his creativity in jazz. Even at his wildest, whacked-out moment, you'll find intensity and grace in his playing that is stunning. His music has a universal vibe that speaks to all and is in a class of its own."

While still doing the occasional freelance date, Seán’s present focus is on building the audience for his quartet, The Seán J. Kennedy Quartet, which focuses on his original compositions and new arrangements of time-honored standards. With Seán on drums, the group regularly  features Erin Stroup on saxophones, and  John Stenger on piano. As stated in a recent review on Jazzreview.com, Kennedy’s quartet is “creatively new, but built on solid foundations of traditional jazz.” 

Lost World Music recently signed Seán’s quartet to their jazz/blues recording label, and produced the new, Queen Anne’s Revenge. The CD includes Seán and the guys along with Grammy winning artists, Bob Mintzer (The Yellowjackets and Buddy Rich Band) and Liberty DeVitto (from Billy Joel). 

Kennedy is a graduate of the West Chester University School of Music where he was awarded a B.S. in Music Education and an M.M. in Percussion Performance, and studied drumset with the late Ron DiStefano at Temple University. Kennedy's personal pedagogical pursuits consist of three drumset method books that are nearing completion.

When not teaching, writing, and performing Sean J. Kennedy and Erin Stroup conduct master classes and concerts at the secondary and collegiate level. This past year Kennedy and Stroup completed a series of highly succsessful clinics through-out the Mid Atlantic region and New England.   Sean is also on staff in the Upper Dublin School District, located in suburban Philadelphia, as an instrumental music teacher, specializing in Jazz performance.

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