Tom Kennedy
For the past three decades, St. Louis' Tom Kennedy has been a consummate, first-call bassist in the world of instrumental-based music. Alongside his piano-playing brother, Ray, Kennedy started building his now prolific career around the St. Louis area at age nine on the acoustic upright bass by playing mainstream jazz music. By the time Kennedy graduated high school, he had already performed with veteran jazz artists such as Peter Erskine, David Sanborn, Eddie Harris, Nat Adderly, Freddie Hubbard, and Stan Kenton.
Ever since Kennedy was first introduced to the electric bass when he was seventeen, he has divided his time between both instruments. In the mid-1980's, Kennedy left St. Louis and relocated to New York where he became highly-regarded through performances in multiple groups on both instruments. Kennedy's exceptional bass skills were brought further accolades by recording with guitar great Bill Conners and touring with tenor saxophonist Michael Brecker in the world-renowned jazz group Steps Ahead. From then, Kennedy's performance and recording credits include Al Di Meola, Mike Stern, Herb Ellis, Frank Gambale, Ellis Marsalis, Vinnie Colaiuta, Lee Ritenour, Steve Gadd, Dizzy Gillespie, Tony MacAlpine, and Virgil Donati to name a few.
In 1997, Kennedy independently released Basses Loaded, his debut recording as a solo artist that was comprised of performances by his brother and Brazilian pianist Tania Maria on a collection of original compositions and standards from the jazz repertoire. He followed that showcase in 2002 with Bassics, his second project as a leader which featured an all-star group including Mundell Lowe on guitar and Joe Labarbera on drums.
While a teenager at band camp, Kennedy met fellow St. Louis resident, drummer Dave Weckl and forged a profound musical relationship which continues to this day. Kennedy has been a long-time, integral member of the Dave Weckl Band and has appeared on numerous projects with the virtuoso drummer including the latest Weckl Band recording, Multiplicity, which was released in July, 2005.
As a life-long component of the St. Louis music community, Kennedy has always returned to his roots regardless of where his musical endeavors have taken him abroad, and his most recent venture is a recording project titled Twice As Nice by the Tom Kennedy Quartet which performs a unique blend of classic jazz standards and contemporary jazz arrangements in and around the St. Louis vicinity.
Besides his busy performance schedule, Kennedy instructs beginner to advanced-level bassists in all styles of music both on the university level and through his international correspondence program which spans the globe from Europe to Asia and North to South America.
Being an active studio musician, Kennedy has firmly established himself as one of the most sought-after bass doublers in today's session scene. Utilizing his 96k digital, home recording studio along with his extensive recording expertise and experience, Kennedy produces customized bass tracks for "bass by mail" projects around the world.
Today, Kennedy plays and records extensively while maintaining a reputation amongst his colleagues as one of the truly finest bass players in contemporary instrumental music.
Ever since Kennedy was first introduced to the electric bass when he was seventeen, he has divided his time between both instruments. In the mid-1980's, Kennedy left St. Louis and relocated to New York where he became highly-regarded through performances in multiple groups on both instruments. Kennedy's exceptional bass skills were brought further accolades by recording with guitar great Bill Conners and touring with tenor saxophonist Michael Brecker in the world-renowned jazz group Steps Ahead. From then, Kennedy's performance and recording credits include Al Di Meola, Mike Stern, Herb Ellis, Frank Gambale, Ellis Marsalis, Vinnie Colaiuta, Lee Ritenour, Steve Gadd, Dizzy Gillespie, Tony MacAlpine, and Virgil Donati to name a few.
In 1997, Kennedy independently released Basses Loaded, his debut recording as a solo artist that was comprised of performances by his brother and Brazilian pianist Tania Maria on a collection of original compositions and standards from the jazz repertoire. He followed that showcase in 2002 with Bassics, his second project as a leader which featured an all-star group including Mundell Lowe on guitar and Joe Labarbera on drums.
While a teenager at band camp, Kennedy met fellow St. Louis resident, drummer Dave Weckl and forged a profound musical relationship which continues to this day. Kennedy has been a long-time, integral member of the Dave Weckl Band and has appeared on numerous projects with the virtuoso drummer including the latest Weckl Band recording, Multiplicity, which was released in July, 2005.
As a life-long component of the St. Louis music community, Kennedy has always returned to his roots regardless of where his musical endeavors have taken him abroad, and his most recent venture is a recording project titled Twice As Nice by the Tom Kennedy Quartet which performs a unique blend of classic jazz standards and contemporary jazz arrangements in and around the St. Louis vicinity.
Besides his busy performance schedule, Kennedy instructs beginner to advanced-level bassists in all styles of music both on the university level and through his international correspondence program which spans the globe from Europe to Asia and North to South America.
Being an active studio musician, Kennedy has firmly established himself as one of the most sought-after bass doublers in today's session scene. Utilizing his 96k digital, home recording studio along with his extensive recording expertise and experience, Kennedy produces customized bass tracks for "bass by mail" projects around the world.
Today, Kennedy plays and records extensively while maintaining a reputation amongst his colleagues as one of the truly finest bass players in contemporary instrumental music.
Selected Discography
Tom Kennedy - Bass
Mundell Lowe - Guitar
Joe Labarbera - Drums
Release Date - 2002
Record Label - TKM Records
Mundell Lowe - Guitar
Joe Labarbera - Drums
Release Date - 2002
Record Label - TKM Records
Tom Kennedy - Acoustic Upright & Electric Bass, Keys
Sammy Figueroa - Percussion; Keith Fiddmont - Saxophone; Ray Kennedy - Piano, Keys; Tania Maria - Vocals, Piano; Dave Weckl - Drums
Release Date - 1997
Record Label - TKM Records
Sammy Figueroa - Percussion; Keith Fiddmont - Saxophone; Ray Kennedy - Piano, Keys; Tania Maria - Vocals, Piano; Dave Weckl - Drums
Release Date - 1997
Record Label - TKM Records
