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Kevin Brady
Kevin Brady - Drummer//Composer/Educator
About Me
KEVIN BRADY
“Brady, a leading light in Irish jazz... his drumming is a deft mix of sensitivity and power...” - London Jazz
News
“Brady is worth keeping an eye on” Downbeat
U.S.
“Brady is an impressive drummer with strong chops, impeccable taste, creative & most
notably, terrific tone” All About Jazz U.S.
Kevin Brady is a professional musician from Dublin, Ireland with over thirty years
experience performing and recording both nationally and Internationally. He started his musical studies
from an early age performing on both piano and trumpet. His interest in drum kit studies in Dublin and
later attended the Drummers Collective in New York, where his teachers included Kim Plainfield, Bobby
Sanabrias and Gene Jackson. Other
notable tutors have included Ralph Peterson, Keith Copeland, Jeff Ballard, Matt Wilson & Ben Perowsky.
Kevin received first class honours in his MA in Music from The Cork School of Music, CIT, Cork. He received
a Licentiate Diploma in Drumkit Performance the London Guildhall School of Music and Drama. Kevin has
researched and studied many different ethnic drumming styles and this has led to extensive study periods
in Havana, Cuba with World renowned percussionists Jose Eladio Amat & Luis Papine. He became a
founding member of the Hammond Organ trio Organics in 1997, thereafter they became the first
recipients of The Young Musicwide Award in Ireland. In Ireland, Kevin performs regularly with many of the
country’s leading jazz musicians.
Kevin has performed both at home and abroad with International artists such as: Lage Lund (Guitar), Jason
Rebello (Piano),Brian Charette (Hammond Organ), Peter Bernstein (Guitar), Seamus Blake (Sax), Norma
Winstone (Vocals), Pee Wee Ellis (Sax), Bill Carrothers (Piano), Larry Coryell (Guitar), Nir Felder (Guitar),
Perico Sambeat (Sax), Ian Shaw (Vocals), John Ruocco (Clarinet), Ronnie Cuber (Sax), Guy Barker
(Trumpet), Bobby Watson (Sax), Randy Ingram (Piano) Ulf Wakenius (Guitar) and Anders Bergcrantz
(Trumpet).
In Ireland, Kevin has performed and recorded with artists & groups such as Van Morrison, Luka Bloom,
Jimmy McCarthy, Grada, Louis Stewart, Dave Geraghty.He has recorded on numerous recording sessions
with established Irish and International artists, and has played on numerous TV & radio shows for
companies.
Kevin is The Head of the Jazz Department at the Newpark Academy of Music based at IADT, He also
lectures in advanced rhythm studies & ensemble techniques on the BA Degree in Jazz &
Contemporary Music at Dublin City University. He has conducted numerous workshops & masterclasses
worldwide. Kevin is an endorsed artist for Evans Drumheads and Zildjian Cymbals and Vic Firth
Drumsticks
Kevin has performed throughout the World at music festivals & venues such as: Copenhagen Jazz Festival,
Brecon Jazz Festival, London Jazz Festival, Kento – Shanghai, Euro Jazz Fest – Mexico, Angra Jazz Fest –
Azores, Dubai Jazz Festival, Jazz Utsav Festival in India, Splash Festival in South Africa, Glasgow Jazz Fest,
Mai Jazz & Silda Jazz Fests in Norway, Paris Jazz Festival & Cork International Jazz Festival. He has
performed at many of the World’s most prestigious venues such as The Sydney Opera House, London jazz
clubs Ronnie Scotts & Pizza Express.
He has also supported and performed on double-bill concerts with acts such as: Kurt Elling, Herbie
Hancock’s Headhunters, Andrew Hill, Swedish piano trio EST, Norwegian Composer Bugge Wesseltoft &
Soul legend Gil-Scott Heron.
In 2006 Kevin began to lead his own piano trio featuring the U.S. pianist/composer Bill Carrothers and
bassist Dave Redmond. Their aim was to create and produce compositions by all members of the trio.
The group have travelled widely and won the appreciation of discerning jazz audiences as far afield as the
USA, Europe, China and the Azores. To date they have released three critically acclaimed studio albums
entitled Common Ground & Zeitgeist. Their latest album features ECM recording artist Norma Winstone
and is entitled Ensam. This recording was made possible by funding from The Arts Council of Ireland and
The Music Network and features new compositions & arrangements penned by Brady.
His latest studio album ‘Plan B’ was released by London based Record Label Ubuntu Music and features
Brady's new original compositions performed by Saxophonist Seamus Blake, Bill Carrothers on Fender
Rhodes and Dave Redmond on Electric Bass. The album was critically acclaimed i ternationally and was
selected as one of the album releases of the year by the iconic U.S. jazz magazine ‘Downbeat’.
