Joe Kenney Band

The music involves a piano-led soulful jazz-fusion instrumentation, with additional horn sounds. The singer’s honeyed vocals complements the heartwarming and uplifting composition. The therapeutic lyrics is a reminder to keep hope and always hold the belief that there’s some light at the end of whichever long dark tunnel you find yourself in. - Aipate Magazine

Joe Kenney is an American pianist who has come to our attention with his thoughtful, mature piano piece entitled ''Before The Storm''.


While the title of the song may suggest that the music might carry within itself a warning of some sort, what you hear is one the most peaceful, easy-listening composition on the market. Perhaps it is the infamous 'quiet' before the storm, that the composer is capturing? If that be the case, then this piece hits the nail right on its head - its jazzy licks gently caressing the ear, all the while long, elongated chords bring your heart-beat below resting point, making you forget about any possible oncoming trouble.


Jazz piano at it's finest and available at the link below: - Music Dances When You Sleep

'All’s Not Lost' truly succeeds as a collaboration between a gifted instrumentalist and vocalist. Kenney’s piano and Lizcano’s voice complement each other well, neither aspect overshadowing the other, and backing instrumentation by bassist Warren Mobley and drummer Lenny Mobley subtly intertwine Kenney and Lizcano even further. The song itself is a quiet mediation on loss and human connection, both ephemeral and eternal, a point enforced by the music and lyrics alike. 'All’s not lost, as we find our souls / Moving on, traveling different roads,' Lizcano sings in the chorus, and Kenney’s solo in the bridge is at once optimistic and melancholy, further reinforcing the bittersweet theme.​ - Melannie Jay

Life will inevitably be a series of ups, downs, highs, lows, lefts and rights. Music, for many, is the solace at the very bottom of the low and the excitement at the peak of the high. One listens for the shared encounter; the relatable mood. The experiences Mr. Kenney shares with his audience on Afflictions & Remedies are commonplace and relatable for so many. Heartache. Suffering. Love. Hate. While the experiences themselves may be brutal, blunt, and bare, the music on Afflictions & Remedies is just the opposite. There’s something calm, gentle, and adorning in the melodies Mr. Kenney creates. Pain and triumph linger in the ear, anxiously awaiting the next story to be told. The album’s journey is not complete without the blues and ragtime feel of “Critical Departure”. The vibe of this song is a true departure from the sweet, clean tones found in the music up to this point. It’s clever with just the right amount of edge. Afflictions & Remedies is a beautiful painting of a piano at work. - WJSU, Radio, Jackson State, MS

I'll admit, I'm a pretty harsh judge when it comes to covers but when an artist is able to completely re-imagine a song, in a totally different format....you have my attention. Joe Kenney has my attention - Wendy Rollins/I Heart Radio

Philly singer-songwriter Joy Ike has long been a voice of encouragement and hope amid struggles with self-doubt. In an interview last year with Harrisburg NPR affiliate WITF, she said “I used to spend probably about seven or eight years telling myself that I shouldn’t be playing out because there are people who are better at it than I am.” Her single at the time, “Say Goodbye,” was written to “remind myself to stop doubting myself all the time. I wanted to kind of turn my back to that voice and to that person or that version of myself.”

Joy Ike’s latest comes from a similar place of self-love and empowerment. A collaboration with Philly pianist Joe Kenney — who made a splash several years back by releasing solo piano covers of modern rock and pop songs by Cold War Kids, Drake, and Tove Lo — “Another Side” is a release for Mental Health Awareness Month that speaks candidly of the fog we can often find ourselves in (“Some days it’s enough, to get up, and make it to the door”) while offering reassurance that there’s a way through.

Ike repeats “Live another day, fight another day” like a mantra throughout the song to graceful, emotive playing by Kenny and stirring band accents. She acknowledges the lingering feeling of hopelessness, but assures us that there is something beyond.

Right now, it’s hard, but you must believe
If you give up now, you’ll never see,
The life waiting for you, i implore
if you can just endure:

There is another side, if you let yourself get there

Listen below; proceeds from Bandcamp sales of the song will support the National Alliance on Mental Illness. The song will also be included on Kenney’s fourth album, due out in October, which will include collabs with six Philly-area vocalists including Laura Lizcano, Chill Moody, and Aaron Parnell Brown. - WXPN/THE KEY: John Vettese

Rooted in R&B but basically carving out something extraordinary to become its own thing, everything about “If It Lasts” feels smooth, rich, and soulful. With Joe Kenney at the helm as an award-winning recording, pianist, and composer, there’s no surprise here that he’s fulfilled his vision. - We Write About Music

We appreciate the depth of the piece and can imagine that fans of The Roots would be able to connect with the soundscape and authenticity, although it is clear that Joe Kenney and his collaborators are creating a universe of their own....The message of the song is tangible and relatable, we love the cohesive tapestry that the award-winning recording artist and pianist from Philadelphia creates with his collaborators. - KIMU

Pop-soul/R&B at its best, the intricate canvas is weaved with an elegant hand - Joe Kenney – If It Lasts

Neo soul meets hip-hop in this amazing piece! Just wow. - TJPL News

A truly masterful bit of songwriting. Saying that I enjoyed ‘Go’ would be doing this beautiful piece of music a disservice. ‘Go’ is musically tight enough to be compelling and immersive, yet serene enough to be mesmerizing. A wonderful piece of work from the duo. - Sistra Magazine