Joseph Sheehan is a pianist, composer, and educator whose work lies at the intersections of jazz, global folk, and classical traditions. His music and performances seek to express wisdom, humility, openness, and joy.

 

At the heart of his work is the ensemble Kinetic, a music collective he founded whose performances blend global folk traditions with modern jazz. The group has released two albums (Dances of Lake Volta and Songs of Lake Volta) interweaving Ghanaian folk song with original music composed by Sheehan. The recordings draw “magnificent connecting threads from classical music and contemporary jazz to the music of West Africa… buoyed by soaring melodies and infectious rhythms” (Textura.org) and “make a fascinating, in-depth, approach to a creative universe… a real treasure” (Sonagrama Magazine). Informing this work were three in-depth research trips to Ghana to study traditional music with local masters (2008-09, 2013, 2014). Sheehan has continued his research of folk music in Uganda (2022) and China (2024). 

 

Open to many paths of musical activity, Sheehan has performed with jazz masters in Pittsburgh and NYC; folk music experts from China, Cuba, Ghana, and Uganda; classical performers and ensembles; rappers; and pop/R&B musicians. His piano playing is rooted in Pittsburgh’s historic jazz scene, and his compositions are often informed by immersive field research of folk music, as well as university studies in classical composition.

 

Sheehan’s music and performances have been heard at:

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