DWF 2017 - Will Kennedy
There’s hardly a finer groove than his. That’s a fair statement about the irresistible swing of Will Kennedy. Since 1990, he has been, off and on, the drummer of the renowned American jazz fusion group The Yellowjackets and one of the kindest musicians we know. On September 10, he’ll appear at the Drumworld Festival, in an amazing lineup alongside Simon Phillips and Anika Nilles.
It’s been nearly twenty years since Will Kennedy was part of The World Drummers Ensemble during the Benelux-touring percussion festival The Big Bang. We remember him as a fantastic person, a driving force, and a drummer who left us speechless every time he laid down a groove. Whether it’s a shuffle feel, straight feel, ballad, or high-energy track, he plays it all with calmness and power—a contradiction, perhaps, but exactly what you experience when you hear and see Kennedy play.
Subtle beats, lots of space, a lightning-fast and precise ride cymbal, unexpected breaks, and a highly recognizable tone. These are just a few of the rich elements that Will Kennedy brings to the table—along with the unique ability to make even the softest notes reach every ear in the largest venues. Kennedy told Slagwerkkrant back in 1997: "Developing your own sound and style is really the only thing that can take your career to the next level. The bad news is there's no manual for it. There are no logical steps. You have to discover yourself behind your instrument, and you do that best when you're fully immersed. When you reach that point so many musicians get addicted to. The infection zone..."
Will Kennedy discovered that zone about thirty years ago. He has been the regular drummer of The Yellowjackets since 1990. He took a few years off in the early 2000s to focus more locally in L.A. and spend time with his family. But since 2011, he's been back at full force internationally with the Jackets. The recent two nights at the North Sea Jazz Club in Amsterdam were amazing. On the latest album Cohearence, Kennedy is in top form.
If you’d like to dive deeper into his playing: he has created magnificent educational material: the DVD Be a Drumhead and the online lesson series Will’s Practice Room. You can also hear him on countless records with artists like Lee Ritenour, Diane Schuur, and Herbie Hancock.
Will Kennedy plays Pearl drums, Zildjian cymbals, Evans drumheads, and Promark sticks.
