Join us at Pickathon here in Portland, OR at the Pendarvis Farm in Happy Valley.
We play Friday, July 31 at 11am and Sunday, August 2 at 4pm
Join us at Pickathon here in Portland, OR at the Pendarvis Farm in Happy Valley.
We play Friday, July 31 at 11am and Sunday, August 2 at 4pm
Rhythm and Hues is a creative collaboration between musicians and visual artists with autism and intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). The project invites composers and performers to respond to original artworks through newly created music, creating a dynamic exchange between visual and sonic expression.
For this presentation, visual artist Adam Richards is paired with composer/performer John Niekrasz, visual artist Davis Wohlford with composer/performer Maria E. Olaya, and visual artist Joni Smith with composer/performer Kennedy Verrett. Together, these collaborations highlight interpretation, shared authorship, and the creative voices of artists across disciplines.
Subsidence is an original work commissioned by Friends After Good Sound (F.A.G.S.) in Portland, Oregon. Subsidence is the result of a sudden drop in the earth’s surface. This can be observed at the Cascadia subduction off the coast of Oregon.
Friends After Good Sound is a queer new music collective focused exclusively on bringing new works by local PDX composers to life. We seek to be a vehicle that overcomes the many trepidations posed to artists when it comes to creating new work. New work is the pulse of any good music scene, it's exciting, it’s overrated, it doesn't work, it changes things and people. Without new work concerts can be boring, predictable and prescribable. (F)-(A)-(G)-(S) isn't that.
Please join me Thursday, September 17, 2026 12pm in the Zellerbach Garden at San Francisco Botanical Gardens for the 11th Flower Piano Festival.
Thursday, April 30 – Sunday, May 3, 2026
A Supercharged Musical Ride through Right Now
70+ concerts throughout Brooklyn, New York
“Long Play…is already the most important classical music festival in New York City.”
—The New York Times
The Cosmic Tones Research Trio • Sunday May 3, 2026• Public Records, Brooklyn, New York
By James Ijames
Directed by Charles Grant
A week after Juicy’s father dies, he finds himself at a backyard barbecue celebrating the marriage of his mother and uncle—sound familiar? James Ijames’s Pulitzer Prize-winning reimagining of Shakespeare's Hamlet casts the sweet prince of Denmark as a queer, Black boy from the South. In this comedy born from tragedy, Juicy must choose between seeking vengeance for his father’s death or staying true to his own heart—a story of identity, family, and liberation as we become our truest selves.
Experience a refreshing musical dialogue designed to engage and enrich. Sound Canvas weaves together the comfort of familiar melodies you know and love with the intriguing textures of contemporary sounds, creating a unique auditory experience.
This isn't just a concert; it's a sonic discussion that explores the fundamental properties of sound—how different instruments produce variations in pitch, timbre, and rhythm. Most importantly, we'll delve into music's powerful affect on our mental well-being. Through interactive listening and performance, we'll explore how sound can shift moods, stimulate memory, and foster a sense of calm and connection.
Come celebrate “Joni Smith: Markmaker” opening at @pccparagonarts on Thursday Oct 2, 4-7pm with a special musical performance by @madcomposerlab Kennedy Verrett at 5pm. Kennedy will share a song composed in response to Joni’s artwork, bringing her expressive marks to life with sound.
Joni’s prolific and entirely self-taught practice is finally being showcased in a solo exhibit, sharing a glimpse of the breadth of her life-long practice to the public for the first time. You don’t want to miss this!
Congrats to Joni on this incredible achievement and thank you to PCC Paragon Gallery for presenting this monumental exhibit.
Kennedy exploring Joni’s Process
In this photo Kennedy is using a contact mic to listen to Joni’s rhythm on the wood as she creates.
The Results
This is the result of Joni’s work that day.
Join us for our NYC Album Release
Presented by Mississippi Records and Qobuz
Please join me for a 60 minute set of piano music inspired by Mother Nature and the forces that govern our existence. Saturday, September 13, 2025 at 12 pm. I’ll be in the Ancient Plant Garden at the San Francisco Botanical Garden. Excited to see you there!
Please join us Friday August 15th at Revolution Hall as we create an opening offering for Femi Kuti and The Positive Force
A gathering of artists sharing their work and general good vibes. This iteration we will be sharing ideas regarding Anti-Art and conventional vs new ways of creating and sharing “art”. All creatives are encouraged to share prepared or improvised works. To attend RSVP required. Submissions and RSVP here.
Albina Music Trust
Universal Love Revival Service
Roman Norfleet & Be Present Art Group
Interstate Firehouse Cultural Center
June 1 • 8pm doors / 9pm Show
Come witness the ritual with
The Cosmic Tones Research Trio and to other beings Jasmine Wood and Britton Judd.
8pm • May 19, 2024
Leaven Community Center
Door open at 7:00pm
$15 Advanced
$20 Door
Composer Hovia Edwards, composer Matt Boehlerthe late composer Loren Linnard, and composer Kennedy Verrett
New works from fiction to stranger-than-fiction...
Composer Kennedy Verrett and librettist George Kopp
Madame Theremin
based on the true story of Black ballet dancer Lavinia Williams, who was married to the Russian electronic music pioneer Leon Theremin.
Composer Matt Boehler and librettist Tony Asaro
The Road to Wellville
based on T. C. Boyle's novel, a Dickensian cast of characters persue the magic pill of longevity—and the profit to be had from manufacturing it.
Co-composers Hovia Edwards and Justin Ralls
Libretto by Sacajawea’s great-great-grand-niece Rose Anne Abrahamson
Nu Nah-Hup: Sacajawea's Story
the extraordinary Agai-Dika/Lemhi-Shoshone woman of the historic 1804-1806 Lewis and Clark Expedition, from the oral history of her familial descendants.
Late composer Loren Linnard and late librettist Donald Brigg
unearthed by Linnard's son, Dean Linnard.
Least of my Children
the first documented musical work about the AIDS crisis - written here in San Francisco - exploring a catholic family's confrontation with a new disease in 1989, and the miracle of 'Our Lady of Guadalupe' in 1531.
March 2nd and 3rd, 2024
Tickets on sale Mid-January
Casting to be announced in November
West Edge Opera Music Director Jonathan Khuner:
'The creators of our four scenes have a unifying concern with the dignity and transcendence of individual experience within the constraints of American social history. Within this unifying theme, our four scenes cover a wide range of musical/theatric styles, from Sacajawea’s embroidery on Native American folk art, to Madame Theremin’s spin-off on jazz, reggae and hip-hop elements, then Least of My Children’s classical orientation with modern non-linear stagecraft and The Road to Wellville’s farcical pop-style tilt.'
Plankton Wat band with James Shaver (Abronia) on bass, Dustin Dybvig (Rose City Band) on drums!
The Cosmic Tones Trio is the latest project by Portland Spiritual Jazz musician Roman Norfleet!
Epic Strange is an awesome new Portland Surf Psych instrumental combo led by
I will be didgeridoo as part of the Cosmic Tones Research Trio. Come see us and get blessed! The experimental offering takes place Saturday, December 9, 2023 at Turn Turn Turn PDX
Come witness the transcending ritual of Roman Norfleet and The Cosmic Tones Research Trio
Mississippi Records in Portland, Oregon.
December 2, 2023 @ 8pm
This trio features Roman Norfleet, Harlan Silverman, and Kennedy Realness
Looking for a fall outing? Come witness the magic of the Stars and Moon Art Park. This event is a weekend situation. I will be playing a little night music for you under the stars with vibes from the moon.
October 13-15, 2023. I play Saturday night on the 14th.
Info: StarsandMoonArtPark.org
Tickets: Sfiop.eventbrite.com
Come witness the amazing Flower Piano event at the San Francisco Botanical Garden, September 8-12. I will be there along with some of the Bay Area’s finest musicians on Sunday, September 10, 2023 @ 1:00pm in the Zellerbach Gardens.
Imposter/Switch a Quarterly Interdisciplinary Arts Showcase
Portland, OR
Contact:
Marissa Rae Niederhauser
503.758.6914
What: Celebrating the imposter syndrome living in each of us by poking a little fun at the idea that mastery is necessary for creative viability and inviting artists to courageously switch disciplines with another artist.
Co-curators Marissa Rae Niederhauser (Dance, video, performance art) and Kennedy Verrett (Music) each select 3 artists working in various disciplines. The artists’ names will go in one hat and their disciplines in another. In a publicly shared video drawing artists will be randomly assigned a medium outside of their usual practice to share for public exhibition. Artists are than given two weeks to gather supplies and prepare to show the result of their experimentations.
This is the third event of a quarterly showcase!
Submissions are ongoing on a rolling basis, a diversity of disciplines and demographic identities is encouraged.
When: Saturday, June 24, 2023
Show at 8, Doors with outdoor bar at 7:30
Where: Performance Works Northwest, 4625 SE 67th Ave, Portland, OR 97206
To View the Drawing: Instragram @josiesecho and @madcomposerlab
More info: https://pwnw-pdx.org/2023/05/15/june-24-imposter-switch-3/
Tickets: $5-$15 sliding scale At door, cash or Venmo. All ticket proceeds split between artists.
Who:
Curators: Marissa Rae Niederhauser and Kenendy Verrett
Participating artists: Ciela, Fernanda D’Agostino, Erin Boberg Doughton, Annika Mossberg, Daysmel Muniz (aka Dice) and Paul Susi
Swapping out the following disciplines: Acting, Video Art, Performance Art, Dancer of Erotic Art, Movement Art, Experimental Music
Including a special video performance by Imposter/switch #2 artist, painter Linnea Solveig (who got Covid a day before the show) will share a video of her musical composition.
Join me, Kennedy Verrett, and sonic Wizard Todd Barton, for a sonic offering.
Place: Harrison House Music Art & Ecology, Joshua Tree, CA
Time: 8:00pm
March 25, 2023
This is going to be pure magic. Mark your calendars!
Celebrating the imposter syndrome living in each of us by poking a little
fun at the idea that mastery is necessary for creative viability and inviting artists
to courageously switch disciplines with another artist.
Co-curators Kennedy Verrett (Music) and Marissa Rae Niederhauser (Dance,
Video, performance art) each select 3 artists working in various disciplines. The
artists’ names will go in one hat and their disciplines in another. In a publicly
shared video drawing artists will be randomly assigned a medium outside of their
usual practice to share for public exhibition. Artists are than given two weeks to
gather supplies and prepare to show the result of their masquerade.
This is the inaugural event of a quarterly showcase!
Fittingly, our event premiers Halloween Weekend and costumes are lovingly
encouraged!
Submissions are ongoing on a rolling basis a diversity of disciplines and
demographic identities is encouraged.
Sliding Scale Donation …Cash or Venmo
In the Winter, our roots grow deep. Come Spring, we thrive, bearing witness to the present.
This iteration of the Burnside Sessions is an exhibition of Winter Magic. Artists expressing their truths with projections, sounds, dance, paint, spoken word and more. Please join us Friday, January 27, 2023. Doors open at 7:30pm. Password and Location will be sent a fews day prior to the experience. The form below is for audience and supporters to RSVP. Artists please contact Darian to get information on showcasing your work.
Burnside is produced by the Mad Composer Lab, free to those with passwords (safe space situation). All artists are donating time for the sake of inspiration, unity, and art. If you would like to donate the production of Burnside Sessions, please do so. Money is split between production costs and among the artists who participate. You can also donate directly to the artists. Their Venmo will be provided night of.
RSVP for Burnside Sessions: Winter Magic
Play! A musical moment featuring music for piano and presented by the students of Kennedy Verrett and Nickalus Lindale.
5:00pm-6:30pm
Hallowed Halls
4420 SE 64th Ave
Portland, OR
The Joshuas is a funky formal celebration honoring excellence in the Music, Art, and Ecology of the Morongo Basin. I am truly honored to have been nominated in the category of Outstanding World Musician/Group for SoundCheckEarth. SoundCheckEarth is an immersive sonic experience which led listeners on an interactive sound walk designed to challenge and enhance or way of listening. SoundCheckEarth was produced by the Harrison House Music Art and Ecology, and premiered inside Joshua Tree National Park at Cap Rock. Gratitude to the musicians, supporters, organizers, crew and volunteers.
Voting is now open, please be sure to vote for Kennedy Verrett, and Harrison House Trailblazer Category.
Click here to go to the voting page.
Original Compositions for prepared piano and various instruments
Kennedy Verrett will be a guest at UC Santa Cruz. Topics of discussion will include contemporary performance practices and new approaches to creating and experiencing art. Projects likely to be discussed, modern street performance practices, soundscape and spatial composition.
For more details, please contact the Mad Composer Lab.
Come witness the Realness of PDX artists and friends. Burnside Sessions VII: PDX Realness.
Experience the power of dreamtime.
AN IMMERSIVE SONIC EXPERIENCE INSIDE JOSHUA TREE NATIONAL PARK
A Harrison House Music, Arts & Ecology Production
In association with Joshua Tree National Park
April 22 & 23, 2022, Times TBA
Cap Rock inside Joshua Tree National Park
FREE ADMISSION
Bring offerings for the muses. Give thanks for the realness.
This iteration of the Burnside Sessions is likely going to be one of the most radical yet!
It’s a Fucking Circus, is an invitation to all the Geeks, Freaks, and Company to fellowship.
Step right up! Let the show begin!
TIME IS PST
