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Kenwood Dennard, born in Brooklyn, New York, March 1, 1956, is the son of professional singers. Kenwood began playing piano at age 3, and drums at age 8. He started private studies on the piano at age 5, and on the drums at age 9. He started his career at age 11 as drummer for the gospel-soul group "Listen My Brother" which also included Luther Vandross, Nat Adderly Jr. and Carlos Alomar, all teenager at the time. They appeared at The Apollo Theatre, Avery Fisher Hall and The Fillmore East. Kenwood attended Berklee, and after graduating he joined the Pat Martino Group, recording the album "Joyous Lake". One year later he performed world-wide and recorded the album "Livestock" with the British fusion group Brand-X. After leaving Brand-X, he performed with such artists as Dizzy Gillespie, Phyllis Hyman and Pharoah Sanders. During 1985-87 he was 1/3 of the power trio that included the late-great Jaco Pastorius on bass, and Hiram Bullock on guitar. He has toured and/or recorded with Harry Belafonte, Wayne Shorter, Bobby McFerrin, Stanley Jordan, Sting, Miles Davis, Gil Evans and Maceo Parker, to name but a few. He is considered to be the "drummer's drummer", teaching many of today's most popular drummers, and is currently a music professor at Berklee School of Music. Kenwood's Just Advance has been met by critical acclaim.
Musicians
Kenwood Dennard drums
Marcus Miller bass
Hiram Bullock guitar
Delmar Brown keyboards
Charles Blenzig keyboards
Tracks (audio)
01. Just Do It 4:41 
02. Just Desserts 7:21
03. Just Phrases 4:46
04. Just Blues 3:36
05. Just Drums
000Just Get Started
000Justice 7:07
06. Teen Town 6:52
07. A Full Heart Today 6:44
08. Just Duo 3:40
09. Just Advance 5:03
10. Purple Rain 6:13
Reviews
This album is the sound of five friends jamming and showing their influences: James Brown, Sly Stone, P-Funk, Jimi Hendrix, The Beatles, with a bit of Mandrill, Mahavishnu and post-Bitches Brew Miles thrown in. Bassist Marcus Miller anchors the session with a heavy thumb and nimble fingers. The power and fury of rock with plenty of room for extended soloing along the way. Once upon a time they called it fusion. -Downbeat
From Dizzy Gillespie to Brand-X, the Manhattan Transfer to Jaco Pastorius, Kenwood's versatile drumming has been an asset to a countless number of sessions. His debut as a leader is electric and funky fusion in the best sense of the word, in that it mixes the sound of rock with jazz improvising. Always danceable and full of passion, this session should satisfy a wide variety of listeners. -JazzTimes Magazine
Artist Website
wwww.justadvance.com
