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The Rolling Buzzards Brigade
Chris Coletti - Trumpet
Tawnee Lynn - Horn
Nitzan Haroz - Trombone
David Earll - Tuba
Sean J. Kennedy - Snare Drum, Arranger
Clayton Cameron - Snare Drum
Bernie Dresel - Snare Drum
David Lu - Snare Drum
Dave Nelson - Bass Drum, Cymbals
Chihiro Shibayama - Cymbals
Andrew Torre - Sound Engineer
Rob Simmons - Video Editor
Aidan Kennedy - Logo Design
Sean J. Kennedy - Producer
Megan Selinger, Gary Hite, Eddie Luisi - Consultants
4 July 2020 (PHILADELPHIA, PA) Philadelphia-based drummer, producer, and arranger, Sean J. Kennedy (Philadelphia Boys Choir & Chorale, Doc Severinsen Tribute Band featuring Jay Webb, Freelance Drumset & Percussion, TEDx Presenter), spent the national lockdown working on his virtual arrangement of the percussion classic, The Downfall of Paris, with an eclectic mix of notable musicians from around the world, including himself, Chris Coletti (Ithaca College Trumpet Professor, former Canadian Brass), Nitzan Haroz (Philadelphia Orchestra, Principal Trombone), Clayton Cameron (‘The Brush Master’, Sammy Davis, Jr., Tony Bennett), Bernie Dresel (Studio Musician, The BBB Featuring Bernie Dresel, Brian Setzer Orchestra), David Earll (Ithaca College Assistant Professor of Tuba/Euphonium, Northern Lights Duo), Tawnee Lynn (LA Freelancer, Horn), David Lu (Shanghai Philharmonic Orchestra, Associate Principal Timpani and Percussion), Dave Nelson (Philly Pops, Principal Timpani), and Chihiro Shibayama (NYC Freelancer, Percussion). Together known as The Rolling Buzzards Brigade!
While enduring the quarantine, Sean J. Kennedy spent countless hours revisiting the fundamentals of his craft by practicing the standard snare drum repertoire of his youth, in particular the 1700’s fife and drum tune, The Downfall of Paris. And it so happens that another notable Philadelphian, Benjamin Franklin, loved the tune and encouraged folks to use it as a rallying cry for the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War.
Longing to collaborate with his musical compatriots from across the country on a meaningful virtual project, Kennedy was inspired to revamp his own arrangement of The Downfall of Paris, and expand it to a full blown percussion section feature with brass quintet
Sean started the process after talking to his friend Chris Coletti. Kennedy mentioned his Downfall of Paris arrangement and Coletti immediately agreed to not only play trumpet, but said he’d perform both Trumpets I and II.
With Coletti onboard, and the project becoming a reality, Kennedy reached out to trombonist Nitzan Haroz; percussion legends and technical masters, Clayton Cameron and Bernie Dresel were then enlisted, as well. Upon Coletti’s recommendation, Kennedy approached tubist David Earll about the project, and Dresel corroborated Kennedy’s idea to recruit LA based freelance horn player Tawnee Lynn. The final three percussion spots were filled with longtime collaborators and friends, snare drum, David Lu, bass drum Dave Nelson and cymbals, Chihiro Shibayama.
Over a two week period, beginning in late May 2020, the musicians began submitting their audio and video performances to Kennedy, who in turn passed them onto the experts: sound engineer, Andrew Torre (Philadelphia, PA) and broadcast video director Rob Simmons (Chicago, IL).
