Swing Collective

Ken Campbell began his musical career playing surf music with his junior-high buddies in the 1960s and later  touring the club scene with rock bands through the 1970s.

As big-city ballrooms began to shut down, the nation’s jazz greats toured college campuses to make ends meet. Ken was privileged to have witnessed the last years of the Basie and Ellington era, as well as the early careers of Pat Metheny, Herbie Hancock and Chick Corea. 

As a member of the Colorado State University jazz ensemble Ken attended master classes by top musicians including Joe Pass, Johnny Smith and Bill Watrous.

Since moving to the Sacramento area Ken has studied jazz theory and improvisation with pianist Dr. Joe Gilman and has performed with the jazz ensembles of American River College and Sierra College. Ken is also a founding member of the jazz quintet The Templetons.