Dan Kennedy describes his music as “New Age steeled with jazz and rock.”

Originally a classically trained composer, Dan, shown right, got his start in jazz playing evenings of improvised piano music while a student at Oberlin College.  Dan’s current release, intuition, hit number eight on the ZMR Top 100 New Age Chart for the month of May.  On July 12, Dan will bring his unique sound to Lopez Center stage for one performance only on his tour of western states.

A commissioned composer, Dan’s music has been performed by the Cleveland Chamber Symphony, Essex Chamber Music Players, at the Summer Institute for Contemporary Piano Performance, and at the Aspen Music Festival.

His first recording, Lantern (2007), produced by Windham Hill founder and Grammy Award winner Will Ackerman, launched him into the world of New Age music.

He is regularly featured on Sirius XM Satellite (“Spa”). Selections from both albums can also be heard on his website at www.dankennedy.com. Dan, who is the son of well-known poet X.J. Kennedy, currently resides with his family in Amherst, Mass.

Dana Wright, of MuzikReviews.com says, “Dan Kennedy has crafted a magnificent album with intuition. I highly recommend it to those who want a peaceful interlude that brings warmth to the soul.”

Kathy Parsons, of MainlyPiano, writes, “Intuition should go a long way to bringing Dan Kennedy’s music the attention it deserves.”  Dan’s summer 2013 tour includes performances in Montana, Washington, Oregon and California.

He will be playing at Lopez Center for Community and the Arts at 7:30 p.m. on July 12. Admission is by donation. Local teenage pianist, Lia Pryce, will also open the evening with a performance of “Graceful Ghost Rag” by William Bolcom.