A young jazz fusion trio influenced by the giants of '70s fusion
Named after the prominent jazz fusion tune of the 1970s, Teen Town is a DownBeat Award-winning powerhouse group that brings their own creative voice to the genre. Led by the multiple award-winning 17-year-old bass phenom Gabriel Severn, with Connor Rohrer on keys and Logan Bedard on drums, the trio has taken audiences by storm with their energy, talent, and undeniable chemistry. They were recognized by the Central Pennsylvania Music Hall of Fame with the “2020 Best Jazz Artist” award. Performing original compositions as well as covers, they weave jazz, funk, rock, and world rhythms into tunes by luminaries such as the Average White Band, Weather Report, and the Yellowjackets.
Bands from the golden era of fusion influenced Severn’s earliest musical sensibilities. Before forming Teen Town, it was challenging for Severn to find other musicians around his age (12) who wanted to experiment with jazz fusion. After meeting the then 16-year-old Rohrer and 14-year-old Bedard at a jazz camp, the three were immediately on board with the idea.
Teen Town has been together for just over five years, but if you close your eyes, you’d think it’s been decades. They cut their teeth on tunes by the bands they admire, such as “Havona” and their namesake tune “Teen Town”, both by Weather Report. They’ve matured over time, finding their own voice and compositional style, and A Month of Sundays is their long-awaited debut album which consists of six originals and two covers. The album will be released in May 2022.
Teen Town has supported headliners including Sheila E., the Victor Wooten Trio, and the Tierney Sutton Band, and appeared at multiple festivals including the Berks Jazz Fest, the Dauphin County Wine & Jazz Festival, and the Elkhart Jazz Festival. They’ve appeared on ABC TV and NPR radio and led music education clinics.
The trio has been described as "a tribute to the golden era of fusion hitting the improvisational buffet at a dance party".
For more info, visit: https://www.gabrielsevern.com/teen-town
