ROAD TO WAILEA

Collection Contents

#		Title	Length
1		Boogaloo Sub	8:40	Play
2		Aidan's Midnight Ride	6:33	Play
3		Ashley & Juliet	3:53	Play
4		Jim's Wall	3:52	Play
5		What Would Ed Do?	5:15	Play
6		Exit 29	6:55	Play
7		Maddie n' Chee Chee	7:23	Play
8		Candy Hearts (Heather Ann's Song)	6:37	Play
9		Road to Wailea	12:53	Play

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Description

"This self-produced disc by Sen Kennedy is an impressive collection of compositions that feature some solid players from the Philadelphia area. Kennedy composed all the songs and they present a well rounded musician who not only has command of the drums but has a thorough understanding of melody and style.

The first track is a funky blues piece 'Boogaloo Sub' that features some fine saxophone work by Gary Zimmaro on Alto, and Erin Stroup on tenor.

Larry McKenna on tenor makes 'Aidan's Midnight Ride' a soul-full and swinging track that is personally one of my favorites. McKenna's treatment of the melody is flawless, and it travels well flowing right over the rhythm section's solid groove. When McKenna delivers the solo you are drawn into song and from that point on it owns you. Jim Sullivan keeps you swinging throughout the piece. Overall a solid composition executed by a group of players who are very tight.

'Ashley and Juliet' another one of Kennedy's tribute-titled songs is sweet and simple. The simplicity allowing Kennedy to showcase yet another solid tenor player, Ed Mount. Mount is another player who treats the composition with the sensitivity that Kennedy had in mind when he wrote it.

'Jim's Wall' catches you by surprise after 'Ashley and Juliet'. The piece is a Brazilian beat swing piece that takes off with power right out of the first bar and keeps you moving the entire time. All three of the sax players come together to make this excellent composition a powerful piece.

'What Would Ed Do?' again features Zimmaro on alto and Stroup on Tenor. This piece is another example of Kennedy's good sense of melody and demonstrates that this group can swing. You are off and swinging again with this cut.

Kennedy shifts gears on 'Exit 29'. Here he delivers a modal treatment of a haunting melody. Zimmaro takes up the flute and Stroup the soprano sax for this cut. Visions of Coltrane dance in your head. Stroup opens it up for Zimmaro and Zimmaro takes it to another level, grooving through the solo with selected notes and perfect timing.

Kennedy follows 'Exit 29' with another flute and soprano song, 'Maddie n' Chee Chee'. This number is has an almost Cuban beat inspired groove to it. Zimmaro is again the man who delivers the goods on this composition.

'Candy Hearts (Heather Ann's Song)' takes the tempo down a notch or two and takes on an almost sunset, or evening's end mood. This song is interpreted soulfully by McKenna in the initial bars but just when you settle into that mood, it explodes into a swinging fully expressive mode. Kennedy holds a solid beat for the rhythm section while McKenna explores all the territory available in the changes.

The title piece 'Road to Wailea' is one of the most expressive and energetic cuts on the disc. Zimmaro on flute and Stroup on soprano again, along with Mount on tenor allow for a broad range of dynamic treatment of the changes in this composition. The underlying intensity surges up from the rhythms at points to reach critical mass and as quickly recedes back down to pulsing grooves in transition. All the soloist in this piece deliver solid and thoroughly impressive performances. Kennedy was fortunate to have been able to bring this talent together to express his compositions.

All in all, 'Road to Wailea' is an excellent compilation of some solid compositions executed flawlessly by some truly talented musicians. An enjoyable listening experience that has enough color in the palette to avoid boredom, and yet is solidly held together by good instrument choices and sensitive treatment of the themes.

I highly recommend this disc for the listener looking for something creatively new, but built on solid foundations of traditional jazz. Kennedy should be commended for his composing, and his playing skills but mostly for pulling together a killer ensemble to bring his songs to life.

-Reviewed by: Chuck Vecoli for Jazzreview.com


THE BUZZ:

"I enjoyed your CD and thought it was quite good...keep up the good work!"
-Joe Morello
Legendary drummer with the Dave Brubeck Quartet

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"I really enjoyed drummer and composer Sen Kennedy's new CD "Road to Wailea" His compositions are highly enjoyable! The compositions Sen wrote for members of his family I found most enjoyable and being a family man myself can identify with the sentiment found in each of the compositions. Whether it's a straight ahead rhythm, Latin beat or Funk groove, drummer and composer Sen Kennedy and the fine musicians on this CD take you on a great musical journey as they travel down the "Road to Wailea!"

-Eric Mintel
The Eric Mintel Quartet

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"Sean is emerging as a fine percussionist and composer. I expect to be hearing a lot of excellent music from him in the future."
-Larry McKenna
Saxophone - Arranger

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"...got the CD and it sounds great. Love the compositions, your playing and its always great to hear Larry. Some people say you are judged by the company you keep and you keep great company. Congrats on a great project!!"

-Denis DiBlasio
Jazz reedman
Jazz Studies Chairperson
Rowan Univeristy

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"...I enjoyed it...You really wrote some great tunes..."

-Mark Summer, cello
The Turtle Island String Quartet

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"Congratulations. You're doing something that is really enterprising, and that is: presenting your own music and vision of it, making it available not only to your audience but to potential colleagues, contacts, etc. I applaud the fact that you're writing your own material and producing your own work."

-Peter Erskine
Legendary jazz drummer

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"I thought it sounded real good!...you have a good feel!!!"

-Tony Miceli
Vibist w/ The Philly 5

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INTERNATIONAL APPEAL:

"I'm a strong believer in good chemistry, and Sen J. Kennedy's new CD Road to Wailea has a very strong chemistry. And the members (starting with Sen) have just that special blend. The well composed compositions work as a vehicle to bring out the talents of ALL the musicians as a unit.

-Tommy Campbell, Drummer
AzabuJuban, Tokyo, Japan



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Biographical info:

Sen J. Kennedy is a composer; performer; teacher; arranger; jazz drummer; and most importantly, an artist. He has spent most of his musical career as a freelance drummer and percussionist throughout the Philadelphia area. When not performing, he is a sought after clinician, teacher, and adjudicator.

"Sen's playing has volumes of beauty in the sound of his creativity in jazz"
-Tim Price
Sax Journal

Moving from freelance musician to bandleader gives Sen the ability to showcase his talents not only as a composer, but also as a musician. Exciting performances plus original music, and the pinnacle of musicianship equals, quite simply, entertainment.

Sen lives in suburban Philadelphia with his wife Heather, twin daughters Ashley and Juliet, and son Aidan. All of whom provide limitless inspiration.

"Road to Wailea", the debut album from Sen J. Kennedy, is a musical culmination of family, friends, and life experiences from the past ten years. As a composer, "his music has a universal vibe that speaks to all and is in a class of its own," Tim Price (Sax Journal) Nine original compositions use unique textures and forms to create autobiographical sketches of sound.

The "Road to Wailea" is traveled on by: Raymond Clemens (bass), Jim Sullivan (piano), Erin Stroup (sax), Gary Zimmaro (flute and sax), Ed Mount (sax), and legendary Philadelphia saxophonist Larry McKenna.