Upcoming Events
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Thu27Mar2025
John Penny is at The Midtown Global Market
Noon - 2:00PMMIdtown Global Market 920 E Lake St, Minneapolis, MN 55407 • 612-872-4041
John Penny performs original World Jazz and introduces Cinematic Jazz. As Penny performs solo, the arrangements behind him come from a range of virtual ensembles, or backing tracks. From the vibes of Blues and Ragtime, the audience also experiences Penny’s modern Jazz with persuasions of African, South American, and European music. From his background in creating soundtracks for advertising, films, and theater, Penny found his groove for making backing tracks. That is, he developed a method for tailor-making virtual accompaniments that that further illuminate the messages in his songs. Over the course of the show, virtual ensembles with colorful Instruments deliver an immersive mix of textures. From the intimacy of the singer songwriter, to the swagger of the Jazz combo, or the elegance of the chamber orchestra, Penny's eclectic music palette breathes with music of the World. With this format, Penny can share more than ever, the musical messages the universe continues to offer him. Penny loves performing with live musicians with the organic interactivity and comradery it brings. This project however , allows a composer, guitarist, music technologist, and producer, the opportunity to combine art forms into a new experience with expressions of emotion at molecular levels.
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Thu08May2025
John Penny is at The Midtown Global Market
Noon - 2:00PMMIdtown global Market 920 E Lake St, Minneapolis, MN 55407 • 612-872-4041
John Penny performs original World Jazz and introduces Cinematic Jazz. As Penny performs solo, the arrangements behind him come from a range of virtual ensembles, or backing tracks. From the vibes of Blues and Ragtime, the audience also experiences Penny’s modern Jazz with persuasions of African, South American, and European music. From his background in creating soundtracks for advertising, films, and theater, Penny found his groove for making backing tracks. That is, he developed a method for tailor-making virtual accompaniments that that further illuminate the messages in his songs. Over the course of the show, virtual ensembles with colorful Instruments deliver an immersive mix of textures. From the intimacy of the singer songwriter, to the swagger of the Jazz combo, or the elegance of the chamber orchestra, Penny's eclectic music palette breathes with music of the World. With this format, Penny can share more than ever, the musical messages the universe continues to offer him. Penny loves performing with live musicians with the organic interactivity and comradery it brings. This project however , allows a composer, guitarist, music technologist, and producer, the opportunity to combine art forms into a new experience with expressions of emotion at molecular levels.
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Tue17Jun2025
John Penny Performs at Father Hennepin Bluffs Park Minneapolis
7:00 - 8:30PMFather Hennepin Bluffs Park • 420 SE Main St, Minneapolis, MN 55414
Composer and guitarist John Penny feels something mystical in the air as he walks the Mississippi river paths. It may be the reminiscing on generations of humans that were drawn to it for food, passage, and overall survival. His great grandfather escaped from slavery on its waters 175 years ago. Four generations later, Penny plays his guitar on the Mississippi from riverboats, and from its shores. At Father Hennepin Bluffs Park on the Mississippi, Penny presents a solo singer-songwriter-guitarist show of original World music. While performing solo on stage, Penny's guitar and voice will be accompanied by his custom backing tracks of interactive virtual instruments. Audiences will hear this guitarist led virtual band with sounds of drums, basses, horns, strings, and more. Penny's original World Jazz is infused with persuasions of African, South American, European Classical, and modern cinematic music. Along with thousands of stage appearances, Penny has a background in composing and producing music and soundscapes for TV commercials, films, and theater productions. This skill set provides him the tools to translate his musical ideas into unique listening experiences. His show journeys from early Jazz and Blues, to a modern fusing of Jazz and World Folk. It moves further to music of the cinema fused with other genres. Penny plans on preparing a river music piece or two especially fitting for passing time at the river.
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Sat30Aug2025
John Penny Performs at Water Works Park Minneapolis
7:00 - 8:30PMWater Works Park 425 West River Road Parkway Mpls, MN 55401
Water Works Park by the Mississippi river in Minneapolis is host to another John Penny "Down By The Riverside" concert. Here John Penny presents his solo singer-songwriter-guitarist show with original World Jazz instrumentals and vocals. While technically performing solo, he has designed and recorded interactive backing tracks with ensembles that are heard performing with him. Audiences will hear a guitar led ”virtual band” with drums, basses, horns, strings, and more. Among other influences, Penny's' original Jazz is infused by African, South American Folk, Euro-Classic, and Blues persuasions.
Along with thousands of stage appearances, Penny has a background in creating soundtracks for TV commercials, films, and theater productions. This provides him the tools to translate his musical ideas into a unique sphere of soundscapes. The soundscapes are sounds and dream combinations of musicians not always found playing together. While the “virtual musicians” that he creates music for are unseen, they are clearly heard as an integral part of the performance. Waterworks Park is a City of Minneapolis project featuring green-space with native foliage and a two-story pavilion that includes outdoor plazas, visitor amenities, and the award-winning Owamni restaurant overlooking the river.