Joseph Sheehan

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 reflect a commitment to curiosity, cultural exchange, humility and joy.

At the heart of his work is Kinetic, a music collective he founded whose performances blend global folk traditions with modern jazz. Kinetic has released three acclaimed albums of original music composed by Sheehan (two on Ansonica Records), often interwoven with folk songs from Ghana, Uganda, and beyond. This music has been praised for drawing “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 for exploring “a fascinating, in-depth, approach to a creative universe… a real treasure” (Sonagrama Magazine). Kinetic’s aesthetic is shaped by studies with esteemed traditional musicians during research trips to Ghana (2008-09, 2013, 2014), Uganda (2022), and China (2024). The ensemble’s music has been performed at festivals and cultural venues in Pittsburgh, as well as in Canada, Ghana, Hong Kong, Italy, and Uganda.

Beyond Kinetic, Sheehan is active as a pianist and composer across many musical communities. He is active as a performer, often joining leading jazz masters in Pittsburgh; folk musicians from China, Cuba, Ghana, Senegal, and Uganda; classical musicians and ensembles; and rappers, R&B vocalists, and poets. His piano playing is rooted in Pittsburgh’s historic jazz tradition, while his compositions are informed by immersive field research in folk music and formal studies in classical composition.

Sheehan’s music and performances have been heard at:

• Music Festivals (Clazz International Music Festival [Italy], Pittsburgh International Jazz Festival, Rubber City Jazz Festival [Akron], Three Rivers Arts Festival);
• Music Series (BNY JazzLive Series, Chamber Music Pittsburgh, Highland Park Reservoir of Jazz, Horowitz Center for Visual & Performing Arts Series [Maryland], Monadnock Music Emerging Artist Series [Vermont], Stars of Riverview Park);
• Music Venues (Alphabet City, the Benedum Theater, Chez Trente [Hong Kong], Con Alma, Fontana’s [NYC], Gallery 345 [Toronto], Jamestown Boutique [Ghana], the Kelly Strayhorn Theater, Mr. Smalls);
• Universities (Carnegie Mellon, Colorado State, Colorado Mesa, Duquesne, Kyambogo [Uganda], Makerere [Uganda], Slippery Rock, UNC-Pembroke, West Virginia);
• Museums (the Andy Warhol, the Frick Museum, the Carnegie Museum, Westmoreland Museum of Art).

Dr. Sheehan is an Associate Professor at Duquesne University, where he serves as Chair of the Open Music Department. He teaches courses in general music studies, musicianship, songwriting, and African music, and has led five study abroad programs to Ghana, Ireland, and Italy. He is also a frequent faculty member at the Clazz International Music Festival in Tuscany, Italy.

• D.M., Indiana University
• M.M., Indiana University
• B.M., Duquesne University

• Music Composition
• Songwriting
• Jazz Piano
• Collaborative Music Performance
• General Music Studies