Roots, Jazz, and American Music

Learn Roots, Jazz, and American Music from our fabulous Pre-College Faculty.

Terrence Brewer, guitar

In addition to being a first-call and in-demand bandleader, record producer,
concert performer and studio musician, Terrence Brewer has established himself as one of the San Francisco Bay area’s foremost music educators. For 20 years Brewer has been a private lesson instructor, master class instructor, clinician, lecturer, music workshop facilitator, and presenter to students of all ages, skill levels, and musical styles.

A Multiple-Award Winner, in addition to being a music educator, Brewer is a first-
call and in-demand bandleader, record producer, concert performer, studio musician. Brewer has produced and released 11 nationally acclaimed albums
(including the latest in 2019, "Don't Worry 'Bout Me; A Tribute to Ella Fitagerald
and Joe Pass") on his own record label (Strong Brew Music) he started in
2006. Those albums have had several top 15 and top 10 appearances on the
national jazz charts.

Brewer has performed to multiple sold-out crowds at the Monterey Jazz Festival, Yoshi’s, and the SFJAZZ Jazz Festival. When he's not touring regionally and nationally, he finds time to instruct/facilitate music history courses, master classes, clinics, workshops, and lecture for the likes of Stanford Jazz Workshop, SFJAZZ, The Jazz School, Jazz Camp West, Blue Bear School of Music, Lafayette Summer Music Workshop, CMEA (California Music Educators Association), and presenting at colleges, high schools, and middles schools throughout California including Los Medanos College, Chabot College, Santa Rosa Jr College, San Francisco University High School, Edna Brewer Middle School, the Nueva School, and many others.

“One of the most important aspects, of all music traditions, is the passing on of
that tradition – educating – teaching – spreading the knowledge – its essential to
the continued growth of all musical styles. For me, educating, presenting, sharing what I’ve learned and observed, continues to be an important part of my journey. I was blessed to have amazingly passionate teachers who helped shape me into the musician/educator I am today and I want to give that same love of music to as many others as I can." tbrewer@sfcm.edu

Ken French, keyboard

Pianist Ken French has been performing jazz piano professionally for nearly two decades on the San Francisco scene and as far a field as Japan and the Atlantic seaboard. A wide variety of contexts and venues has allowed Ken to develop as soloist, accompanist, ensemble leader, and arranger.

In the new millennium, Ken began collaborating as accompanist, arranger and musical director with Clairdee, an internationally rising singer. With three nationally released CDs on their ”Declare Music” label, they are gaining international recognition for the quality, passion and creativity of their recordings and live appearances.

With an extensive background in classical piano, music composition, arranging, theory, and a love of philosophy, Ken has a natural affinity and great passion for teaching. Between performance engagements, Ken may be found teaching aspiring singers at Diablo Valley College in tandem with Clairdee, teaching piano privately, or conducting vocal, piano, and improvisation workshops across the nation. kfrench@sfcm.edu

Lorca Hart, drums

Lorca Hart’s vision is to provide deepening creative musical experiences for himself and others. His career as both a performer and a teacher has been dedicated to the craft of drumming, Jazz tradition and history, and ensemble collaboration. Mr. Hart received his BFA from California Institute of the Arts in 1996. He was deeply inspired by teacher/mentors including Albert “Tootie” Heath, Joe La Barbera, Charlie Haden, Wadada Leo Smith, and many others. Lorca continues to be inspired by music education now as a faculty member for numerous musical education venues including Stanford Jazz Workshop, Mt. San Antonio College, SF Jazz and many other musical clinics and workshops. Additionally, Lorca teaches privately at his drum studio.

Lorca has performed in a vast array of musical situations, working with many of the West Coast’s (and beyond) finest artists including : Bobby Hutcherson, Ralph Moore, Carmen Lundy, Freddie Hubbard, Stanley Jordan, Craig Handy, Bennie Maupin, Azar Lawrence, Julian Lage, Hugh Masekela, Meklit, actor/musicians Jeff Goldblum and Peter Weller, Kyle Eastwood, Red Holloway, Plas Johnson, John Heard, Danny Grissett, Justo Almario, Phil Ranelin, Dave Pike, Don Menza, the Clayton Brothers, Anthony Wilson, Calvin Keys, storyteller/radio personality Joe Frank, Ronald Muldrow, Anton Schwartz, Kenny Washington, Nicolas Bearde and the Cross Hart Jazz Experience. He also leads his own trio featuring Josh Nelson on piano and Edwin Livingston on bass. lhart@sfcm.edu

Tommy Kesecker, vibes/drums

B.M. San Francisco Conservatory of Music; studied with Barry Jekowsky, Rick Kvistad and Johnny Rae; faculty member, Jazz School in Berkeley; performances with Zakir Hussain and the Rhythm Experience; performances and recordings with Larry Vuckovich; performances with Michael Feinstein at Davies Symphony Hall. tkesecker@sfcm.edu