A prolific Washington musician passed away this week after a years-long battle with esophageal cancer, leaving legions of bandmates and fans both in southeast Iowa and the east coast.

John Kessell began drumming in bands at the age of 14 and gave his final performance on December 28th at the Washington Performing Arts and Events Center with The Big Band Theory, a large collective of jazz musicians from near and far that he co-founded with local guitarist Randy Swift in 2012. Of his career, Kessell performed in the Washington High School jazz band at the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland in 1972, and performed in several bands while he resided in Baltimore, Maryland from the 1980s up until relocating back to Washington upon his diagnosis a few years ago.

The Big Band Theory got together in December knowing it would likely be Kessell’s last opportunity to perform. He shared with KCII his excitement and gratitude for drumming in the group, “The energy that you get from playing, it’s like the first take on a recording session. Every song in the concert is going to be a first take for us. There’s all kinds of extra energy that goes into that first take because you want to nail it. You want to get it right and you got everybody pulling together as a team. All of a sudden you’re in the moment and in the experience of it. There’s nothing like it.”

Celebrations for Kessell’s life are to be held at a later date in Washington and Maryland. His passion for music will carry on through the creation of the “John Kessell Legacy Music Scholarship” created by his family. This foundation will continue his legacy in Washington or wherever kids need help exploring the arts. Donations can be sent to Federation Bank.