About Saxophonist Shannon Kennedy

Creating an accomplished reputation across jazz, smooth jazz, pop, R&B, and contemporary instrumental music, Shannon Kennedy is widely recognized as a Southern California saxophonist, vocalist, composer, producer, and recording artist. Known as a “powerhouse saxophonist” throughout the region, she delivers dynamic live performances, studio recordings, and international touring appearances that span multiple genres and audiences.

Kennedy made her international debut on The Smooth Jazz Cruise in 2007, performing alongside leading smooth jazz artists including Brian Culbertson, Craig Chaquico, Boney James, Nick Colionne, Candy Dulfer, and Michael Lington.

Since, she has toured and performed with 10,000 Maniacs and Peter White, and has appeared on national television programs including America's Got Talent and Jimmy Kimmel Live!. She can also be heard on Peter White’s albums Good Day and Light of Day, further establishing her presence in the contemporary jazz recording space.

As a solo artist, Kennedy has released multiple albums that showcase her versatility as both a smooth jazz saxophonist and contemporary vocalist, including Back 2 Back (2020) and A Few Ways Back (2023). Her earlier vocal-focused release, Behind Your Eyes (2012), highlighted both original compositions and stylistic interpretations such as “Falling Slowly,” “Dead Man’s Party,” and her French-lyric original, “N’Importe Quoi.” She continues to feature her vocals prominently in recent recordings, expanding her brand beyond instrumental performance.

In addition to her performance career, Kennedy is active in composition, scoring, and production. Through her project Unfinished Compositions, she has created original music for film scoring and video game soundtracks, including L’Automne, L’Hiver, Le Printemps, and L’Été—demonstrating her capabilities in cinematic and media music production.

Her global reach extends beyond touring. Kennedy has collaborated with Roland Corporation as an Aerophone artist and product demonstrator, touring throughout the United States and Asia. She is also an endorsed artist with Antigua Winds and D'Addario, with additional endorsements from Beechler, BG France, KenKase Reed Cases, Brancher Mouthpieces, and Vibrato Saxophones.

Selected Career Highlights & Collaborations

  • International debut on The Smooth Jazz Cruise with leading smooth jazz artists
  • Touring saxophonist with Peter White, including appearances at the Canadian Smooth Jazz Awards (2008, 2010) and recordings on Good Day
  • Touring member of 10,000 Maniacs, including performances opening for The B-52's
  • Television appearances on America's Got Talent and Jimmy Kimmel Live!, including a performance with Danish artist Mø
  • Featured artist at the World Youth Jazz Festival 2014 in Putrajaya, Malaysia
  • Performer at the Rock Against Trafficking 2015 Grammy After-Party with Andy Fraser’s All-Star Band
  • Longtime collaborator with French guitarist U-Nam, appearing on albums including Future Love (2019), Surface Level (2016), C’est Le Funk (2014), Weekend in L.A. (2018), and the live DVD U-Nam: Live at Anthology (2010)
  • Kennedy’s debut album, Angel Eyes (2005), was released while she was still in high school, establishing her early presence as a professional recording artist. Subsequent projects—including Steppin’ Up, Never My Love, and later releases—have featured collaborations with respected artists such as Kirk Whalum, Greg Adams, and Chieli Minucci.

Today, Shannon Kennedy continues to write, record, produce, and perform primarily in Southern California, offering high-level live entertainment for concerts, festivals, corporate events, private functions, and studio sessions. As a multi-genre saxophonist and vocalist, she remains committed to building a dynamic, internationally recognized career in contemporary jazz and beyond.

Shannon Kennedy FAQ

What Instruments Does Shannon Play? 

Shannon plays flute, saxophone, acoustic guitar, clarinet, oboe, keyboards and she sings. She also collects and plays exotic flutes/woodwinds including the shakuhachi, duduk, and dizi. 

Accomplishments

Academic 

  • B.M. in Music Performance, Cal State University Long Beach, Minor in Marketing 
  • 2009 Who’s Who at CSULB 
  • M.A. in Music, Queen’s University Belfast (graduated with Distinction) with additional certifications in French, German and Italian 
  • Billboard Charting Artist 
  • Speaks 16+ languages

Publications 

Teen Jazz and Teen Jazz Radio 

Shannon hosted, designed, maintained, and regularly contributed to Teen Jazz, a website and community for up-and-coming musicians for more than a decade. The site features interviews with aspiring performers, music reviews, and music business advice articles. Teen Jazz Radio is the site’s podcast where Shannon features the music of Teen Jazz Artists and answers reader questions. 

As part of Teen Jazz, Shannon has published the following eBooks: 

Kenkase Music 

In 2004, Shannon and her father Dave Kennedy founded Kenkase Reed Cases and Music Accessories, a saxophone reed case and guitar pick case company. Kenkase creates handcrafted, wood reed cases and guitar pick cases with a variety of customizable options.