An original composition written in the style of Chick Corea and inspired by his modern approach to Brazilian samba and other Latin musical styles. 

Alex Brown, piano
Marty Quinn, bass
Zander Ambrose, drums
Bryan Kennard, flute and composition

Recorded live on April 19, 2018.
Engineered by Hanako Henty
Audio Production by Bryan Kennard

Sci-Fi Elf

A single movement from a multi-movement work-in-progress. This movement is a reflection of the years I spent living in Miami, FL. It was written for and premiered by my quartet, the Austin Flute Project, for the 2018 National Flute Association Convention. 

Audio production and all parts performed by myself.

La Reunion for Flute Quartet

A big band composition inspired by the style of Thad Jones. Recorded by the Frost Concert Jazz Band in the Spring of 2018. 

Audio production by myself.

                              

Thad Be the Day

An original composition written in a gospel style arranged for flute sextet/flute choir.

Fl/Picc, 3 C Flutes, Alto Flute, Bass Flute

When In Doubt for Flute Choir

Meu Amado

One year ago, I experienced my first hurricane. Hurricane Irma ripped its way through the Caribbean and Florida, and I lived through it while hunkering down with my relatives in St. Petersburg, FL after deciding to leave Miami. I remember watching the cars line the roads as people dispersed across the country to avoid Irma. This song is a reflection on how nature can displace us in an instant and how powerless we are when up against these forces. 

Alex Brown, piano
Marty Quinn, bass
Zander Ambrose, drums
Bryan Kennard, flute and composition

Recorded live on April 19, 2018.
Engineered by Hanako Henty
Audio Production by Bryan Kennard

Floridiaspora

An arrangement I wrote in the style of Gil Evans for my Arraging III class last year. Features Frost Concert Jazz Band and myself on alto flute as soloist.

Soul Eyes

Good quality headphones or speakers recommended for listening.

I completed this piece in the fifth semester of my DMA at the Frost School of Music. The school year began in August, a month that saw three high-profile mass shootings in two states that I have called home: one in El Paso, TX, another in Dayton, OH less than a day later, and the third in Midland-Odessa, TX. In total, 40 lives were taken.

Concurrent to these shootings, the Democratic presidential hopefuls were in the middle of campaigning to secure the party’s nomination to run for the office of president. One of the candidates was Robert “Beto” O’Rourke, a former Texas congressman from El Paso. O’Rourke made several comments on the shootings and about improving gun control laws in the following weeks, including at the September 12, 2019 Democratic debate. At the debate, after being asked about his proposal in which he suggested a mandatory buy-back program for military-style weapons, he now famously said, “Hell, yes, we’re going to take your AR-15…” referring to the kind of gun used in the Midland-Odessa shooting.  O’Rourke’s quote resonated with me and I felt moved to write a reflection on these events. This piece deals with the complex emotions (loss, loneliness, anger, etc.) surrounding the seemingly stagnant gun debate in the United States, so I made O'Rourke's statement the core aspect to my piece "Take."

Take (fixed media)

Bryan is a flutist and composer based in Cleveland, OH. Primarily writing original music and arrangements for jazz ensembles and chamber groups.

Bryan Kennard

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