Upcoming Events

• Thu

  03

  Jul

  2025

  John Penny is at The Midtown Global Market

  Noon - 2:00PM

  MIdtown global Market 920 E Lake St, Minneapolis, MN 55407 • 612-872-4041
  

  John Penny performs original World Jazz and introduces "Cinematic Jazz" as a soloist. With performing Jazz, Penny has renaissance backgrounds in film scoring, sound design, audio engineering, and computer technologies. This background facilitates the creation of backing tracks, or virtual music tracks, of accompaniments for his songs. Over the course of the show, the virtual bands, made up of 2 to more than 50 instrumentalists, surround Penny's guitar and lyrics with a mix of exotic atmospheres. Instruments from across the globe make up the ensembles. From the vibe of the singer songwriter, to that of the Jazz combo and chamber orchestra, a diverse palette of music textures for Penny's songs are experienced. The backing tracks are custom crafted by Penny to give his compositions the utmost in live energy and interactivity among the virtual players. With this format, Penny can share more than ever, the multi-threaded musical messages that the universe has presented him with. Penny will always perform with live musicians for the organic interactivity/comradery it brings, however this project allows one that composes, performs, produces, and mixes their own music, the opportunity to combine these art forms into a new immersive experience of emotion at molecular levels.

• Sat

  30

  Aug

  2025

  John Penny Performs at Water Works Park Minneapolis

  7:00 - 8:30PM

  Water 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.