Foundation Founders/Officers
Joe Kennedy
President, Founder, Piano
Joe Kennedy is a New Orleans pianist, bandleader, and educator who has spent his career doing one thing: playing jazz the way it was meant to be played — live, spontaneous, and in front of people who can feel it.
He grew up in the Midwest, started playing piano at eight, and by fifteen was sitting in on blues jams across Milwaukee and Chicago. That early immersion in informal, professional music-making shaped everything that followed. After earning a graduate degree in performance in Las Vegas, he moved to New Orleans in 2009 — not just to study the tradition, but to live inside it.
From 2013 to 2022, Kennedy served as pianist for the Dukes of Dixieland. Today he performs at Mahogany Jazz Hall, The New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park, and The Carousel Lounge, and more. He has shared the stage with Leroy Jones, Delfeayo Marsalis, Charlie Gabriel, Wendell Brunious, and others who carry the tradition forward.
In 2022, he published Spread the Jam — an instructional book demystifying the jam session for young musicians. That work led directly to the founding of Spread The Jam Foundation in 2025, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that pairs professional jazz performances with student masterclasses, bringing working musicians directly into schools and communities.
Kennedy holds Louisiana K–12 Instrumental Music licensure and has led workshops with high school jazz ensembles aligned with NAfME educational standards. The Foundation is how the work he's been doing his whole career travels further — beyond the gig, into schools and communities.
Roderick Paulin
Secretary, Co-Founder, Saxophone/woodwinds
Roderick Paulin is one of the most soulful, versatile and accomplished saxophonists in New Orleans. As a native of the Crescent City, Roderick has amassed credits as a musical arranger, soloist, conductor on over 60 studio and live recordings that extends more than 35 years with iconic entertainers Allen Toussaint, Neville Brothers, Jimmy Buffet, Hot 8 Brass Band, Davell Crawford, Kermit Ruffins, Shane Theriot, Jon Cleary, John Boutte’, and Delfeayo Marsalis to name a few. National and International acts such as Maceo Parker, The Afghan Whigs, Dr. John, The Twilight Singers, John Legend, Raphael Saadiq, Fred Wesley, Maria Muldaur, The Temptations, The Dells, Aretha Franklin, Tony Toni Tone, and Branford Marsalis have benefited from that ‘special something’ that Roderick Paulin brings to music that pays homage to the musical masters of the past; yet Paulin makes his own indelible mark on any project he’s affiliated within any capacity he’s functioning in.
Roderick’s family musical legacy is well-known as his father ERNEST ‘DOC’ PAULIN served as a catalyst introducing young aspiring musicians to learn and continue the rich traditions of New Orleans Brass Band music with musicians such as clarinetist Dr. Michael White, trumpeter Greg Stafford, be-bop saxophonist Donald Harrison, and sousaphonist/vocalist Alton Carsaon (Big Al), and many others that performed with Doc Paulin in their formative years. Roderick began to ‘branch out’ as he was recruited to join The ReBirth Brass Band back in 1989. Roderick was able to experiment and reshape the sound of brass band music with new harmonies and feels. Roderick’s composition and arranging skills captured the spirit and sounds of modern day music to draw the youth of the day to reignite interest in brass band music. As ReBirth toured relentlessly year-round, Roderick’s writing and arranging skills provided many opportunities to be an arranger, conductor, studio session soloist with various artists. His professionalism and resume stand as a testament to his vision, caliber, and expertise of being an asset to students, a consummate performer at any event, and a man that understands that service to his community is the key to truly helping others obtain any level of success. Paulin’s body of work as an educator, musician, author, speaker, and businessman are undeniable making Roderick Paulin the embodiment of the spirit New Orleans artists is known for.
Zach Lange
Vice President, Co-Founder, Trumpet/Brass
Zach Lange is a New Orleans-based trumpet player known for his deep passion for improvised music and his love for traditional jazz. Originally from the Midwest, Zach spent 11 years in the Seacoast region of New Hampshire and Southern Maine. Now, he has become a prominent figure in New Orleans' vibrant music scene, performing regularly at top clubs and venues.
In addition to his performance career, Zach is an experienced educator who has taught private lessons, directed high school and middle school ensembles, and served as a full-time school teacher. His commitment to music education is rooted in the same creativity and passion that define his playing, inspiring students of all ages to connect deeply with music.
Zach has taken his distinct sound across the U.S. and internationally, captivating audiences on stages worldwide. His performances are defined by spontaneity and emotional depth, drawing on New Orleans' rich musical heritage while expanding the boundaries of jazz. A skilled improviser, Zach blends technical mastery with a creative spirit that pushes the traditional limits of the genre.
Musicians
MARK BROOKS
BASS
Mark Brooks is one of New Orleans most talented, versatile, and sought after bassists. He is also a protégée of the great Jazz Master, Alvin Batiste.
Mark attended Southern University in Baton Rouge, where he pursued a music degree along with one of his close friends, Branford Marsalis, who later as well as Mark moved on to further his professional career.
Mark has toured with an array of artist ranging from Jazz, Blues, R&B, to Gospel. Just to name a few, Mark has worked with Dr. John, The Neville Brothers, Henry Butler, Charles and Aaron Neville, The Preservation Hall Jazz Band, and the Fats Domino Band.
Mark has to his credit numerous recordings and appearances on local television shows, but his most highlighted musical moments were the opportunities to appear on screen and sound track of Clint Eastwood Film "The Bridges of Madison County," "The Regis and Kathy Lee Show" and his appearance in the Ray Charles life story movie "Ray".
Mark was featured in an episode in the HBO Special "Treme" and the trailer, and several episodes in the TNT special "Memphis Beats." Mark exemplifies both team and leadership skills which keep him in demand. You can be sure there are more exciting musical credits to come.
Mark also proudly uses and endorses GHS Bass Strings, Fender Instruments and David Eden line of Bass Amplifiers for all his professional endeavors.
Kyle Sharamitaro
Drums
Kyle Sharamitaro is an accomplished and sought-after professional drummer, singer, and educator, who is deeply embedded in the New Orleans music scene. With a commanding presence behind the kit and a captivating vocal delivery, Kyle blends the rhythmic complexities of funk and New Orleans brass band music with the infectious appeal of pop and the improvisational essence of jazz.
Kyle's musical path began in St. Louis, Missouri, where blues, jazz, and old-school rock-n-roll first shaped his sound. Long before his official move to the Deep South, the distinct sounds of New Orleans called to him. He answered, honing his craft at Loyola University under the mentorship of drumming legend John Vidacovich. It was through his entry into New Orleans in 2002 that he began performing and teaching professionally, and over the multiple decades since has graced the stage with the likes of Clyde Kerr, Tony Dagradi, Willie T, George Porter Jr, Germain Bazzle, among countless others.
A driving force for Sharamitaro has always been music's power to connect, and that has fueled Kyle. His sound and style, a direct reflection of Kyle's passion for funk, jazz, pop, rock, and the city's own musical heritage, has resonated across stages and classrooms from New Orleans to the Gulf Coast, and around the world.
With over two decades of experience navigating the intricate rhythms of the New Orleans musical community, Kyle Sharamitaro is consistently a first call for artists seeking a drummer. His reputation is built on his unwavering professionalism, his positive presence, and that undeniable "pocket" that anchors any groove. He possesses a rare sensitivity to the needs of every artist and client he works with. And, whether he's leading a masterclass or when he's leading The Kyle Sharamitaro Band, he channels every bit of his deep experience gained from twenty-plus years immersed in New Orleans' musical fabric to make every performance unforgettable.