Bio
Kenneth (Kenny) Bentley Jr. is a New York City–based performer on tuba, sousaphone, and electric bass.
Education
Originally from Round Rock, Texas, Kenny began playing tuba at age 11. He studied with Steve Bryant at The University of Texas at Austin, where he earned a Bachelor of Music degree in Orchestral Performance in 1999. He later studied with Toby Hanks at the Manhattan School of Music, earning a Master of Music degree in Classical Music in 2001.
Performance Career
Kenny has performed throughout the United States and internationally with brass bands, jazz ensembles, orchestras, theater productions, and touring artists. His work includes performances with the Radio City Music Hall Orchestra, Slavic Soul Party, Red Baraat, Brass Against, Hazmat Modine, Howard Fishman and the Biting Fish Brass Band, and YoungBlood Brass Band.
Earlier in his career, Kenny worked for the Walt Disney Company at theme parks in California, Paris, and Tokyo, and toured extensively throughout the United States and Europe with YoungBlood Brass Band.
Recording & Production
Kenny is a founding member of Sugartone Brass Band and has performed on and produced several of the band's recordings, including Live in Brooklyn, Fourth Man Down, Things are not the Same, and Live at Vegetable Buddies.
Current Work
Kenny joined the Radio City Music Hall Orchestra in 2023. He has also appeared in theatrical productions including Monsoon Wedding the Musical at St. Ann's Warehouse and Jelly's Last Jam at New York City Center.
He currently performs with Hazmat Modine, Slavic Soul Party, Red Baraat, Brass Against, and Howard Fishman and the Biting Fish Brass Band.