Clarence Penn

“Clarence is a charismatic player, with great dynamic range and drama and musicality. He’s an intricate and heady drummer who thinks compositionally, but uses his gut and instincts towards the end result of making something exciting, that feels alive, and is full of energy and passion. He doesn’t have a limited conception of what the drummer is. Of course, he drives the band and pushes the time, but he also knows how to stop and allow things to happen—to be a colorist.”—Maria Schneider

“I think Clarence is a natural leader. He listens like a producer. He has clarity and vision. He hears everything—the bass, the high voices, the middle. He understands harmony. He understands lyrics. He has the will to solve problems and figure them out. He doesn’t stay traditional, but makes the music free and colorful. He understands that music is play. I’d play with him every day if I could.”—Luciana Souza

Clarence Penn is one of the busiest jazz drummers in the world, a leader of multiple bands, a composer, a prolific producer, and an educator.

Clarence Penn, an accomplished jazz drummer, is highly regarded for his impressive skills in music composition, production, and education. Since his arrival in New York City in 1991, Penn has worked with an extensive list of renowned musicians, including Ellis and Wynton Marsalis, Betty Carter, and Michael Brecker, among others. He has also toured extensively and recorded a myriad of studio albums, covering a wide range of jazz expressions. Furthermore, he has produced tracks for singers in pop and alternative genres, composed music for films and commercials, and earned accolades for his first leader recording, Penn’s Landing, which was released in 1997. As an educator, Penn has taught and been featured clinician at several institutions, including Carnegie Hall, the Banff International Workshop in Jazz and Creative Music, the Stanford Jazz Workshop, and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Intensive Jazz Institute. He currently leads his own band and has released multiple recordings, the latest being arrangements of Thelonious Monk’s music titled “Monk the lost files” His latest project do to be released soon is project that features songs written by commercial drummers such as Phil Collins, Dave Grohl of the “Foo Fighters” and Levon Helm of the “Mamas and the Papas. Penn’s exceptional versatility, professionalism, and dedication to warm and organic music have earned him a reputation as one of the best in the business. His goal is to leave a lasting impression on audiences, who can expect nothing but good and musical performances whenever they hear his name.