Groove of the Month: Samsara

This month’s entry features Sean J. Kennedy’s groove on “Samsara,” which is featured in The Gardyn Jazz Orchestra’s debut release. In his video, Sean explains the evolution of the groove that he plays on the bridge and how Speed Racer even helped to inspire his final version!

Warm-up Exercise

The Full Groove

Video Cues (for study purposes)
0:00 Intro
1:42 Basic Groove
2:20 Bridge (Plans A, B, C, and D)
5:49 Speed Racer
8:16 Slow Funk and refined Bridge Groove
10:01 Sean J. Kennedy performs with recording 

Sean J. Kennedy is an American drum set and percussion artist. He is the drummer for The Doc Severinsen Tribute Band featuring Jay Webb, The Gardyn Jazz Orchestra, and has been principal percussionist with the Philadelphia Boys Choir & Chorale since 2004. He is a multi-faceted musician who is equally accomplished on the stage, in the recording studio, and in the classroom. He has performed on drum set and percussion, receiving standing ovations at sold-out venues such as Radio City Music Hall and Carnegie Hall with such world renowned acts as Il Volo, Roger Daltry and The Who, Evanescence, Lindsey Stirling, The Philly POPS! Orchestra, The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, The Jacksonville Symphony, The Strauss Symphony of America, The Allentown Band, The Allentown Symphony Orchestra, and The Lancaster Symphony Orchestra. Kennedy was appointed to the PAS Drum Set Committee in 2021, is the author of numerous drum set, percussion, and improv books, and in 2018 was invited to present a TEDx Talk about the history of the drumset, titled “Happy Accidents: Drumming Up Serendipity.” Jazz legend Dave Brubeck stated that Sean’s drumming “sounds like it should — it swings!” For more information, visit seanjkennedy.com.