|
"The Sean J. Kennedy Quartet is one of the outstanding groups on the scene today. Sean has managed to create a signature sound with four individual virtuosi. They are reminiscent of the MJQ in their interplay and exciting to watch and hear. Don't miss them."
-Frank DiBussolo
 Lost World Music recording artists, The Seán J. Kennedy Quartet, focus on original compositions and new arrangements of time-honored standards. With Sean on drums, the group features Erin Stroup on saxophones, John Stenger on piano, and Mark Amentt on bass.
As stated in a recent review on Jazzreview.com, the quartet is “creatively new, but built on solid foundations of traditional jazz.”
The new CD, Queen Anne’s Revenge includes Seán and the guys along with Grammy winning artists, Bob Mintzer (The Yellowjackets and Buddy Rich Band) and Liberty DeVitto (from Billy Joel). Road to Wailea, the group’s debut CD featuring Erin Stroup and Larry McKenna has received accolades from many leading jazz artists on the scene today. And most recently the quartet opened for Wynton Marsalis and the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra at the Kimmel Center in Philadelphia, PA
|
The musicians:
Erin Stroup
saxophones
“Saxist Erin Stroup, is a delight, creating moods with mellow ballad stylings, setting the pace with bop, or for whatever is the call of the moment. Stroup is a talent to watch!”
-Tim Price [Saxophone Journal Magazine]
Erin Stroup is a Philadelphia based Rico Reeds and Cannonball Saxophone Artist Endorser. Originally from Williamsport Pa, Erin has performed and recorded with some of today’s best musicians including Larry McKenna, Bob Mintzer, James Carter, Liberty DeVitto, Sid Simmons, Kevin Cotellese, Frank DiBussolo, Jerry Vivino, Mickey Roker, Mike Merritt, and Tim Price. Erin has also performed at the finest concert venues throughout the East Coast, including Chris' Jazz Cafe, Ortlieb's Jazz Haus, World Cafe Live, Allentown Symphony Hall, The House of Blues, and the finest casino-hotels in Atlantic City.
John Stenger
piano
John Stenger has been playing the piano for 21 years. He began playing professionally in his hometown of Louisville, KY, before moving to New York City in 1997. There he studied jazz at the renowned Mannes/New School Jazz and Contemporary Music program, and performed with many different jazz, Brazilian, and Cuban groups around the New York area. He graduated from the Aaron Copland School of Music at Queens College in 2001, receiving a degree in classical music. His teachers have included John Kamitsuka, Fred Hersch, John Corigliano and Reggie Workman, and he has performed in many different musical settings-from recording with Cuban percussion legend Mongo Santamaria to playing bossa nova in Rio de Janeiro. He currently lives and works in the Philadelphia area.
Mark Amentt
bass
A multi-instrumentalist, Mark has performed with a variety of local groups such as The Joe Lawler Group, Captain Jack & The Loveseekers, Philly Heat, Liz Wolfram, The City Rhythm Orchestra along with studio sessions (Lizanne Knott, Pamela Mering) in and around the tri-state area. In addition to club and recording session work, Mark doubles on upright bass and has performed and/or recorded with Jazz greats Richie Cole, The Philadelphia Clef Club, The Jazz Lobsters (NY), The Big Horn Cavaliers Big Band (Larry McKenna, Joe Cataldo), Sean Kennedy Quartet, Vance Camissa, arranger Larry Kirchner along with various National Acts coming through town (The Skyliners, Continentals, Joe Rathbone, to name a few.
Mark also actively performs with his own band Soul Purpose, while being the tri-state area's "first call" for fill in work on Electric and/or Upright Bass.
Sean J. Kennedy
drums
Sean J. Kennedy is equally at home on the concert stage or in the teaching studio. 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 two critically acclaimed CDs: Road to Wailea, and Queen Anne's Revenge. Due to his versatility, Kennedy has been able to record and perform with some of the world’s top jazz, classical and rock musicians, including Will Lee, Bob Mintzer, Liberty DeVitto, Ricky Byrd, Richie Cannata and the late Dr. Frederick Fennell, to name a few.
In addition to performing, Kennedy has been teaching drums and percussion for nearly two decades and maintains a busy private studio. He has presented master classes for students in elementary through the university level. Kennedy has recently completed work on a rock drumset method book with Liberty DeVitto for Carl Fischer Music Publishing; it is slated to hit music store shelves nationwide in May 2009. Kennedy holds a bachelor’s degree in music education and a master’s degree in percussion performance. Sean J. Kennedy is a Bosphorus Cymbals, Vic Firth Drumsticks and Evans Drumheads Performing Artist.
|
