Originally from New York, Tim Keenan stopped in Washington, DC before bringing his drums to Chicago in 1991.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0His stylistic concentration is on Jazz, West African and Afro-Cuban music.\u00a0 When playing, his concentration is on the intention and spirit behind the music.<\/p>\n
While recognizing his is an instrument of undefined pitch, he wishes to continuously play the melody, to tell a story true to the framework provided by the composition. To provide the music just what it needs and no more is the principle guiding his playing, no matter the situation, from tumultuous free-jazz improvisations to sweet lullabies and ballads to the ritual music of Santeria.<\/p>\n
“A musician has to be willing to expose himself, to be incredibly vulnerable to convey an honest emotion.\u00a0 And strong to be able to lay that out bare without regard to the world’s reaction.\u00a0 The music has to mean something to you and you have to make it yours.”<\/p>\n
“When I was in DC, there was a DJ on WPFW, Jimmy Gray.\u00a0 One of his tags was ‘Every composition is a journey.’\u00a0 I really took that to heart.\u00a0 It reminds you to take the song somewhere, and take the audience along.\u00a0 The journey should be different every time.\u00a0 The path should remain true to the starting point and be observant of every detail along the way.”<\/p>\n
It’s this dedication to this art of the story, art of the melody which distinguishes the playing of Bonbonfera Tim Keenan.<\/p>\n
While in DC, he studied drum set with Paul\u00a0 Edgar and the multi-directional\u00a0Nasar Abadey<\/a>.\u00a0 Studying with Mr. Abadey was a key development .\u00a0 Crucial rhythmic and musical concepts were laid down during lessons and the many gigs Tim spent listening to Nasar.\u00a0 Through Nasar, Tim\u00a0 became part of Brazilian guitarist Ney Mello’s world jazz trio and appears on Ney’s well received “Voyages of Fire” album.<\/p>\n Since arriving in Chicago, Tim has received the\u00a0Chicago Reader’s Critic’s Choice<\/a>\u00a0(23 February 1996) for his work with Composer & Tenor Saxophonist Dave Maddox\u00a0 in\u00a0\u00a0Lineage Duets<\/a>, was the original drummer in Ken Vandermark’s Steam, has performed with Fred Anderson, Bill Brimfield, Fareed Haque, Jim Baker and was a founding member of the\u00a0Socratic Dialogue<\/a>.\u00a0He drummed for the Afro-Caribbean ensemble Pum Pum Sin Manteca, which was featured on “Artbeat Chicago”\u00a0 WTTW-TV, Chicago Channel 11 (4 October 2001) and makes important contributions toTrapeze<\/a>,Bruce Mak<\/a>‘s Trios and Quartets, and the Afro-Cuban folkloric drum ensemble\u00a0Manteca O Folk Ensemble (MOFOE)<\/a>.\u00a0 He has appeared on the stages of clubs all over Chicago, including the Jazz Showcase, the Hot House,\u00a0 Fred Anderson’s Velvet Lounge, the Bop Shop and internationally at the Spirit Club in Conakry, Guinea, West Africa.<\/p>\n In\u00a0 February 2001 Tim realized a life long dream by\u00a0journeying to Africa<\/a>. Studying in Guinea with Master Drummers M’Bembe Bangoura, Gbanworo Keita, Laurent Camara and dancers from the Djoliba Ballet was a life altering experience and expanded his consciousness\u00a0 beyond expectations.<\/p>\n He has also studied with Hamid Drake,\u00a0\u00a0Taylor<\/a>,\u00a0John Yost<\/a>\u00a0and at the\u00a0Bloom School of Jazz<\/a>, and has taken classes with Babatunde Olatunji, Mark Johnson, Mamady Keita, Madou Dembele,Michael Markus<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0 Frankie Malabe.\u00a0 Tim credits David Bloom for giving him a system to work on previously abstract musical concepts and making him swing harder and play softer.<\/p>\n 2004 saw the beginning of another realization of a life long goal.\u00a0 He began studying chekere with\u00a0Juma Santos<\/a>, a master drummer and scholar of\u00a0 the African Diaspora and drum culture.\u00a0 December 2004 was another step in his development – a lesson with Rakalam Bob Moses.<\/p>\n Tim loves his Custom Rosewood Gretsch drum set (special thanks to c.e.c.<\/em>) ,\u00a0 Montinieri & Craviotto snares, old Istanbul K’s & Spizzichino cymbals, calf skin heads he tucks himself, and Guinean djembes and dunduns by Moongum and Juan respectively.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Originally from New York, Tim Keenan stopped in Washington, DC before bringing his drums to Chicago in 1991.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0His stylistic concentration is on Jazz, West African and Afro-Cuban music.\u00a0 When playing, his concentration is on the intention and spirit behind the music. While recognizing his is an instrument of undefined pitch, he wishes to continuously play … Continue reading Biography<\/span>