Photo provided Kenny Phelps, a member of the Indianapolis-based Kenny Phelps Quartet will perform in downtown Columbus July 10 for the JazzIN Columbus series.
Editor’s note: This story has been correct to reflect the correct time of the concert.
The JazzIN Columbus series will continue this summer with the Indianapolis-based Kenny Phelps Quartet at 6 p.m. July 10. This free concert will welcome back self-taught percussionist Kenny Phelps alongside other successful musicians.
Having grown up playing gospel music, Phelps later switched to playing R&B and then jazz. Throughout his career, he has performed in multiple bands in multiple styles, as well as playing for television and commercials. He said he has been fortunate enough to have toured across the world performing with award-winning artists including Dee Dee Bridgewater and El DeBarge.
“I’ve had several things that really stick out, but playing with Dee Dee Bridgewater I think has been probably one of the highlights,” Phelps said. “I still do play for the American Pianist Association as a percussionist for them and Dee Dee saw me there and probably six months later I did seven years with her touring literally around the world, so that was a great highlight,” he said.
Outside of his musical career, Phelps’ entrepreneurial career has seen just as many accomplishments. In 2011, he purchased Owl Music Group and became its CEO a year later. He also created a motivational program that encouraged students to follow their dreams and passions titled “Dream It, Acknowledge It and Do It.”
His upcoming JazzIN Columbus performance with the Kenny Phelps Quartet, or rather quintet this time, will see Phelps on percussion, his wife Valerie Phelps on vocals, Sean Imboden on saxophone, Jonathan Wood on bass and Shawn McGowan on piano. They plan to perform original jazz compositions similar in style to Yellow Jackets and Spyro Gyra.
“So I have a record with my family called Hananeel, and we’ve, I’ll say de-arranged these songs and we’re going to play these originals along with a few favorites that I know they would enjoy with (Valerie),” Phelps said. “So they’re going to be some original compositions that we’re going to perform as instrumentals and then Valerie will probably come on stage and wow the audience and they’ll forget about us and love her as well.”
Phelps said he has performed in Columbus before in the Jazz at Helen’s series with fellow musicians Rob Dixon and the Blue Side.
“Well, you can sit at home and watch TV or you can come and hear some live entertainment, some live engagement, a chance to meet some friends, meet some new friends and get out,” Phelps said. “Art is something that allows people to come together, music brings people together as well and what better way to come to a free concert right in the center of town. I think it’s exciting what they’re doing, we’re glad to be a part of it and I guarantee these people are going to have a great time.”
