Percussionist Kenny Phelps returns to downtown Columbus’ intimate Helen Haddad Hall for the finale of this season’s Jazz at Helen’s series on Friday.
If we cut to the chase on internationally known percussionist Kenny Phelps, here’s the all-star portion of a bio filled with superlatives and marquee memories: His 25 years of playing experience has involved performances with Wynton Marsalis, Eartha Kitt, Michael Brecker, Slide Hampton, Wycliffe Gordon, Chuchito Valdes, and the New York Voices.
He last performed locally at the Columbus Indiana Philharmonic’s Jazz at Helen’s series in October as Rob Dixon’s drummer.
The self-taught performer returns to the series as the featured performer at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Helen Haddad Hall, 315 Franklin St. in downtown Columbus.
In 2011, Phelps purchased Owl Music Group, an outgrowth of Owl Records, an Indianapolis jazz label. A year later, he became Owl’s CEO, turning the company into a humanitarian arts organization reaching out to young musicians and community organizations such as the Julian Center and the Wheeler Mission Ministries.
The Community Outreach arm brings music to these agencies and supplements the concerts with served meals.
“I am proud because we can use our music to help and heal,” Phelps said in an interview at youarecurrent.com. “How can we use music to help promote change? It’s more than just producing records. Anybody can do that. So, what are we going to do with that once we have that audience? How do we share artists and audience together to have that impact?”
The Night Owl Session is devoted to enriching the lives of youth through music education, engagement, and entertainment. In collaboration with public school systems, it provides mentoring and direction to aspiring instrumentalists and singers considering music as a career.
All facets of the music industry are explained to participants, while the core emphasis is motivational.
“We encourage them to jump into their passion for music,” Phelps said, “but also let them know that struggle and sacrifice are needed.”
Since 2016, Phelps has been an adjunct jazz percussion instructor at Butler University in Indianapolis. His wife, Valerie, is a well-known vocalist.
