Ken Loomer hails from Hartford,
Connecticut and has been playing drums
for over 40 years. His first
professional drumming job was working
with the great trumpet artist Clark
Terry. Ken has performed on
many of the theatre shows in New Haven
Connecticut, before they moved onto
Broadway in New York. Ken moved down to
Florida in the mid 70’s and attended HCC
and USF to get his
degree in business. He was also the
first drummer to receive the outstanding
soloist award at the NATIONAL
ASSOCIATION OF JAZZ EDUCATORS JAZZ
FESTIVAL for college division
players.
Ken has
performed with many of the top jazz and
variety bands in the state of Florida.
Some of the jazz artists that Ken has
worked with include the Tommy
Dorsey Big Band with leader Warren
Covington, Connie Haines, Ira
Sullivan, Mose Allison, Richie Cole,
Don Menza, Nick Brignola, and
Leon Merian. Ken was also the
house drummer for 8 years at the Jazz
Cellar in Ybor City backing
up many of the top jazz artists who
played this club. Currently, Ken is
working with many of the top local jazz
and show bands in the Tampa Bay area as
well as touring with national acts all
over this country.
After years of professional
musicianship, primary in a "sideman"
role, Ken has decided to step out front
and become the leader of his own band:
The Ken Loomer Big Band
The Ken
Loomer Big Band is a concert only hard
swinging group of fifteen great
musicians. You can feel the exuberance
and energy of this drummer as he drives
this Big Band to it`s highest level of
musicianship which makes this Big Band
so exciting to hear. The idea behind
this band as Ken states is to “first
keep jazz alive, which is America’s
greatest art form,”
and having the music performed by the
best jazz musicians in the country. The
music played by this Big Band will
consist of original arrangements written
just for his band, and also the music
from the Great American Songbook
including charts from jazz icons such as
Woody Herman, Buddy Rich, Count
Basie, and Maynard
Ferguson. The Ken Loomer Big Band has
performed all over Florida, including
the Clearwater Jazz Holiday Festival,
The Straz Center For the Performing
Arts in Tampa,The Neel Jazz Series at
the Florida State College in
Bradenton, Hillsborough Community
College Jazz Concert Series, the
Ringling Museum Concert Series,
Glenridge Performing Arts Center,and
for the Sarasota Jazz Club. The Ken
Loomer Big Band is a YOUTUBE
sensation,with only positive comments
from people all over the world raving
about this Big Band and the drumming
of its leader.
