Kevin Dorn has been one of the busiest drummers in traditional jazz for many years, ever since as a teenager he first heard a recording of Gene Krupa. Kevin is influenced by classic swinging drummers like Cliff Leeman, George Wettling, Morey Feld, Buzzy Drootin, Dave Tough, and Sam Woodyard. He apprenticed under master musicians like Jake Hanna, Tony DeNicola, and Chuck Riggs. Although known for playing in an older style, his playing is completely in the moment. Kevin’s commitment and intensity, as well as his unique approach, have brought him steady work with such stellar musicians including Ken Peplowski, Rossano Sportiello, Warren Vaché, Harry Allen, Catherine Russell, Ed Polcer, Allan Vaché, Bob Wilber, Dan Barrett, Johnny Varro, Dick Hyman, and Randy Reinhart. For two years, Kevin appeared with the Jim Cullum Jazz Band on their weekly public radio show, Riverwalk: Live From The Landing. Today he performs with the Seneca Serenaders, the Early Bird Jazz Band, the Brain Cloud, the Grand St. Stompers, the Baby Soda Jazz Band, and the Dream Shadows, among others. Kevin is also the drummer for Woody Allen’s New Orleans Jazz Band and recently toured Europe with the group. Kevin has played at numerous jazz festivals, including the JVC Jazz Festival, Jazz at Chautauqua, the Atlanta Jazz Party, the North Carolina Jazz Festival, the Colorado Springs Jazz Party, JazzFest At Sea, the Bix Beiderbecke Memorial Jazz Festival, the Sacramento Jazz Jubilee, the Los Angeles Sweet and Hot Festival, the San Diego Jazz Festival, the Arizona Classic Jazz Festival, the Orange County Jazz Festival, the Nairn Jazz Festival in Scotland, Marians JazzRoom in Bern, Switzerland, and the Jeju Swing Festival in South Korea. He is fortunate to have performed throughout North and South America, Europe, and Asia, and at venues such as Carnegie Hall, The Kennedy Center, The Rainbow Room, Lincoln Center, Birdland, Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola, Symphony Space, The 92nd Street Y, Mezzrow, Smalls, Fat Cat, The Iridium, and Joe’s Pub. Kevin has recorded music for movies and television, most recently for the HBO miniseries The Plot Against America. Always willing to share his knowledge, Kevin has taught at the United Nations International School, the Manhattan School of Music, the Stanford Summer Jazz Workshop, and the New York Hot Jazz Camp, as well as privately.
