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Will Kennedy

If you have met Will Kennedy or if you have seen Will Kennedy perform, you understand that inspiration and Will Kennedy are inseparable, if not synonymous. Whether it was during his many years as a member of the fourteen time Grammy nominated group Yellowjackets, or on one of the myriad other Artist’s records or tours, Will has always been credited for being the inspirational drive in the music. His musicality and finesse are legendary amongst the “who’s who” of the jazz world and beyond.

The last few years have been busy ones for Will. He has been the house drummer for The Wayne Brady Show on ABC and the Martin Short Show. He has been touring with Chaka Kahn, Lee Ritenour and Jonathan Butler. He continues to do sessions which includes recording and performing in the movies “Lady Killers” starring Tom Hanks and the academy award nominated “Sideways”, as well as recording with Mick Jagger/Dave Steward for the soundtrack theme for “Alfie” starring Jude Law. Will has conducted drum clinics around the country and released an educational video on Warner Bros. Will endorses some of the finest equipment manufacturers including Pearl, Zildjian, Promark, Evans, Shure, and XL Cases.

Will played percussion and traps throughout his school years and by age ten had his first private instructor, Bill Nawrocki, who taught Will the basics of drumming and was a great motivator. Will studied music in junior college under professor Bill Bell, who was not only an incredible instructor but also became like a second father to Will and ultimately invited Will to perform with him all around the San Francisco bay area. As his playing and performing evolved, Will quickly became a fixture in the Oakland, Bay Area scene. He started playing with a group called Rythmus 21 and it was through this association that Will was introduced to Andy Narell, who wasted no time snatching Will up. After learning and growing more confident in the studio and touring Andy, Will recognized his fasination with composing which lead him to a position in a music publishing company called Pure Delite Music with long time buddies Claytoven and Larry Batiste.

In 1986 Marc Russo, Saxophonists with Yellowjackets, asked Will if he would audition for the jazz group. “After meeting and sitting in with the Yellowjackets, I knew this was something I just had to do”. The next ten Yellowjackets records speak for themselves.

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Album Review

The Yellowjackets: Parallel Motion

Read "Parallel Motion" reviewed by Peter Jones


Of the original 1977 members of the Yellowjackets, all but keyboards man Russell Ferrante departed long ago. But saxophonist Bob Mintzer, who joined in 1991, is still there and, to a large extent, the idea also lingers on: we hear echoes of it in the work of Snarky Puppy, for example. That idea was/is Californian jazz-funk. But how do you keep it sounding fresh after 45 years and 26 albums (27 if you count the one with Bobby ...

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Interview

Will Kennedy: From East Bay Grease to the Yellowjacket Sound

Read "Will Kennedy: From East Bay Grease to the Yellowjacket Sound" reviewed by Ben Scholz


Among contemporary fusion musicians, drummer Will Kennedy stands out as a legend in both the creative and commercial scenes. Growing up in the Bay Area, Kennedy found music at the tender age of four. By his twenties, he was working in the jny: Los Angeles studio scene as the go-to guy for talk show TV orchestras and movie scores. In 1986, he joined the legendary jazz fusion group Yellowjackets, remaining a key figure in the band for nine years and ...

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Recording

Guitarist Jeff Richman Releases "Like That" Feat. Vinnie Colaiuta, Larry Goldings, Mitchel Forman, Will Kennedy, Et Al.

Guitarist Jeff Richman Releases "Like That" Feat. Vinnie Colaiuta, Larry Goldings,  Mitchel Forman, Will Kennedy, Et Al.

Source: Michael Bloom Media Relations

Like That (August 17 release/Nefer Records) is guitarist Jeff Richman's 15th solo release and delivers 10 hard-hitting, playful compositions with catchy melodies and a refreshingly modern sound. Richman continues to shine in his ability to write music with creative intricacy and sophistication, articulating his individual point of view. This time around, his guitar tone is deeper, more resonant, robust, and alive. Richman's style of playing complex changes fluidly over these infectious grooves will satisfy over many listenings. Like a musical ...

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Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Parabbean Tales

Blue Canoe Records
2022

buy

Parallel Motion

Mack Avenue Records
2022

buy

'Hub Art' Special...

Ubuntu Music
2020

buy

Parabbean Tales

From: Parabbean Tales
By Will Kennedy

Videos

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