Kai Eckhardt's "Area 61" Comes to the Capoiera Arts Cafe

Last weekend at San Jose's Jazz Festival, I saw the amazing bassists, Marcus Miller and the legendary Abraham Laboriel take the stage. This Saturday night, during Berkeley's Downtown Jazz Festival at the Capoiera Arts Cafe, I will see another one of those extraordinary bass players, the phenomenal Kai Eckhardt and his new "Area 61" ensemble. Eckhardt is widely considered to be one of the most influential electric bassists alive today, and is best known for his work with the John Mc Laughlin Trio, Indian percussion sensation Trilok Gurtu, and the band Garaj Mahal. Unbelievably, Eckhardt's musical career spans almost 3 decades.

Eckhardt has performed an average of 100 shows a year internationally since he graduated Berklee College of Music in 1987. Highlights include engagements with: Billy Cobham, Stanley Clarke, Wayne Shorter, Patrice Rushen, Dewey Redman and Donald Byrd. Locally Eckhardt was a member of San Franciscos's Alphabet Soup, appeared with singer Rhiannon and recently recorded with the Meter's Zigaboo Modeliste.

Eckhardt was born on June 15, 1961 in Mainz, Germany. Being the son of a German mother and a Liberian father, he was raised in Germany and West Africa. He began to study the bass guitar at age 15 and went on to establish himself as a well known and respected musician. Eckhardt left Germany in 1983 to attend Berklee College of Music in Boston. While still in school, he became a member of the Bob Moses Group and Tiger's Baku. At the same time, Boston served as a home base for the launching of various international tours. It was during this period that his special talent first received international recognition. Eckhardt was the bassist for Steve Smith's Vital Information, Alphonse Mouzon, Randy Brecker, and Stanley Clarke.

Eckhardt graduated from Berklee in 1987 with honors and was offered a teaching position at the college. In the same year, Gary Burton recommended him to guitarist John McLaughlin. Eckhardt joined the John McLaughlin Trio, which featured percussionist Trilok Gurtu, in December 1988. The Trio toured extensively throughout the world and recorded two albums. The acclaimed 'Live at the Royal Festival Hall', recorded in London during 1989, documented a new direction in McLaughlin's music. This recording has been described by many as historic for its outstanding musicianship and unique stylistic blend. Between 1990 and 1993, Eckhardt's focus shifted towards composition. After a period of study, he began to write for a variety of different musical settings. Some of his work as a composer and arranger has been performed by the vocal ensemble, SoVoSo, formerly known as Bobby McFerrin's Voicestra. In 1994, the government of the United States granted Kai the status of a US resident, based on his extraordinary abilities as an artist. He then went on to work with Billy Cobham's International Quartet, touring the US and Canada.

Meanwhile, Eckhardt's career as a recording artist and live performer continued to develop in a multicultural direction. The Aziza Mustafa Zadeh recording project brought together the folk music of Eastern Europe and jazz. This 1995 release for Sony Germany features Eckhardt, along with Al Di Meola, Bill Evans, and Omar Hakim. The production was followed by a successful tour and the album reached number one on the German jazz charts.

In the summer of 1995, Eckhardt performed in Europe with the New York based band Steps Ahead and received a jazz award from Sony records. 1996 began with the Vibe Tribe tour of Germany, which included Patrice Rushen, Larry Williams, and Teri Lynne Carrington. In the same year, Eckhardt recorded 'Native Dreamer' with Brazilian percussionist Dudu Tucci. Eckhardt is also featured on Maria Joao's album entitled 'Fabula', with the help of Ralph Towner, Mario Laginha, and Manu Katche. Another 1996 project combined Spanish, Indian, and North American music when the Colorado based band Curandero recorded their second album with Eckhardt and Bela Fleck.

A year later Eckhardt conducted a series of master classes at Berklee College of Music in Boston, the Bass Collective in New York City, and the Anton Bruckner Conservatory in Austria. He also held a master class with Journey drummer Steve Smith at the Musician's Institute of Technology in Los Angeles. Shortly after he joined the band Glimpse, led by percussionist and three-time Downbeat poll winner Trilok Gurtu. Over a period of two years he performed with this ensemble worldwide. This formation produced two albums, one in 1998 and one in 1999. Eckhardt's first solo project, 'Honour Simplicity, Respect the Flow', was released in the U.S. in early 2001 and features Courtney Pine, Zakir Hussain, Aydin Esen, and Sean Rickman.

Eckhardt also teaches music in schools and conservatories worldwide. Notable engagements incude: The Anton Bruckner Conservatory in Austria, Victor Wooten's Bass and Nature camp, the Amsterdam Conservatory in Holland, Berklee College of Music in Boston and the Indian Institute of Technology in Chennai, India. Currently, Eckhardt tours with Garaj Mahal and the permier Indian Jazz band Summit (featuring George Brooks, Steve Smith and Zakir Hussain) as well as the European based Timucin Sahin Trio. His "Kaizone" was founded in January 2006 and represents a fresh vehicle for Eckhardt's new music.

"Area 61"

Vocalsist Daria Nile began training in the arts at age five studying ballet, tap and ja dance. Her main areas of artistic expression are in vocals, dancing and painting. She is a graduate from the School of the Arts in San Francisco where she specialized in dance. She also trained with the San Francisco Ballet and danced in several productions of that company. As a singer she had training in vocals for two years with ACT in Tucson Arizona. She has performed professionally as a singer for the last six years and has had the opportunity of performing in some of the most popular and prestigious clubs in the Bay Area including Kimbles West, Café Du Nord, Plush Room, Heart and soul and others. She has recorded with the popular Bay Area group "Midnight Voices" as well as two CD's with the Idris Ackamoor Ensemble.

Gail Muldrow on vocals and guitar, is known for her work with Sly and the Family Stone and Graham Central Station. She is currently touring internationally with the band "Family Stone" BORN November 23, 1955 San Francisco, California “ Gail is a multi talented entertainer, singer guitar player. Her vocal versatility is amazing, reminding us of the time when singers all had a distinct difference to one another. Gladys, Aretha, Etta are obvious influences in her vocal style. Gail grew up at a time when rock and roll was forming. Artist such as Ray Charles, Magalia Jackson, Duke Ellington, Nancy Wilson and many more were the background sounds of her youth. Her parents encouraged her to play music at a young age. Participating in church choir, honor choir, band, and theater throughout school. At age 17 Sly took her in and put her on a hit record “I Get High On YOU” “My parents played the music that influences me to this day. ”“A ONE HUNDRED PERCENT PURE SAN FRANCISCO BORN SENSATION”

Tennessee native Darian Gray has already made quite a name for himself in the Bay Area and is currently performing regularly with the world-renowned Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir and several other Bay Area ensembles. Darian Gray is a gifted young drummer with an incredibly natural and funky feel. No matter what kind of tune and no matter how complicated the rhythm, Gray always find a way to make it funky and tight. Darian is also a very talented hip hop artist who leads his own band, fluently integrating the spoken word with his drumming.

Kit Walker is a keyboardist and composer best known for his two Windham Hill Jazz releases, “Dancing on the Edge of the World”, and “Fire in the Lake”, which both received international top ten airplay, and critical acclaim. He has also toured the world and recorded with Kitaro, and has recorded and composed music for Steve Smith’s Vital Information, as well as on Journey guitarist Neal Schon”s album “Electric World”. He is the keyboardist with Jai Uttal and the Pagan Love Orchestra, appearing on their latest two albums, “Shiva Station”, and the Grammy-nominated “Mondo Rama”. Kit was the original keyboardist in the band Garaj Mahal, for years and member of "Three of Worlds" with Kai and Paul Mc Candless.

More recently, Kit has turned to producing, including the two best-selling albums of the devotional singer Deva Premal, “Love is Space” and “Embrace”, as well as his own world/jazz release “Freehouse”. He also currently works with the Brazilian world jazz percussion master Airto Moreira and his wife, vocalist Flora Purim.

I have seen many of the greatest electric bass players up close and personal, spanning the last 30 years; Stanley Clarke, Alphonso Johnson, the late Jaco Pastorius and Victor Wooten. Kai Eckhardt also belongs in that rarified company, and deservedly so. So if you want to see one of the best, both locally or globally, now would be a very good time indeed.

Kai Eckhart's Area 61
Downtown Berkeley Jazz Festival
Capoeira Arts Cafe
2026 Addison Street Berkeley, CA 94704
School phone:(510) 666-1255
Cafe phone: (510) 666-1349
www.capoeiraarts.com

The 17th Annual San Jose Jazz Festival

This weekend, I'll be among the thousands of fans at the 2006 San Jose Jazz Festival, which opened last night on Santana Row, and runs through August 20th. The Festival promises to pay respect to the genre’s deep roots in New Orleans with a full line-up of superstars, including the Neville Brothers, Dr. John, Sonny Landreth, and more. Some of my personal favorites, reknown bassist Marcus Miller, and drummer Will Kennedy of the Yellowjackets fame, will also appear. The Festival will take place on nine stages, each dedicated to a flavor of jazz: Blues, Latin, Salsa, Big Band, Youth and Straight Ahead.

“The Jazz Festival is our biggest fundraiser of the year, which helps serve more than 8,000 school children through our music and education programs,” said Geoff Roach, executive director of the San Jose Jazz Society. “So many jazz fans live in the Bay Area and nostalgia for New Orleans is particularly strong this year, given the turmoil experienced in the region. We want to pay respect and homage to the birthplace of Jazz with this year’s lively lineup and we expect this year’s event to draw an enthusiastic crowd.”

This year’s artists range from world-famous jazz legends to up-and-coming stars. Additional headline artists include the Spanish Harlem Orchestra, Bud Shank, pianist Eldar, and Dr. Lonnie Smith. Other artists performing at the festival include pianist Bill Mays, Hiroshi Kamekura from Japan, Anton Schwartz, and Roger Smith and Tom Politzer of “Tower of Power.”

Festival Gala and Concert at Santana Row
The Festival kicked off with a bang Thursday Night at Santana Row with a Marti Gras themed Gala event and concert. The opening night Gala has been a sold-out event the past four years, helping to raise funds for the San Jose Jazz Society’s year-round education and performance programming. Details of this event will be announced at a later date.

Cool Creole, Cajun and lots of Concerts
Friday through Sunday brings the Festival back to downtown San Jose with three days of non-stop jazz events. From Friday night’s high octane opening at the Plaza de Cesar Chavez to the much-anticipated appearance by Festival headliners the Neville Brothers on Sunday evening, the San Jose Jazz Festival has something for everyone. Saturday and Sunday performances begin at noon and continue after hours with the Festival’s newest stage “Jazz Beyond.” Arts and crafts, photography exhibitions, jazz films, and even a Silicon Valley CEO jazz jamsession will be featured during this year’s Festival.

Performer highlights include:

Saturday, August 19
• Eldar Main Stage
Hailing Eldar as a "remarkably advanced jazz artist," JAZZIZ magazine wrote, "The pianist's incredible hands already have him sounding like a young Art Tatum." When he was nine years old, Eldar began to explore and pursue jazz seriously. One can hear in Eldar's music influences from the classic, the inspired drive of Art Tatum and Oscar Peterson, the exuberance of Dave Brubeck, and the intensity and introspection of Bill Evans.

• Dr. John – Main Stage
Dr. John is universally celebrated as the living embodiment of the rich musical heritage exclusive to New Orleans. Adorned with voodoo charms and regalia, a legend was born with his breakthrough 1968 album Gris-gris, which established his unique blend of voodoo mysticism, funk, rhythm & blues, psychedelic rock and Creole roots.

• Dr. Lonnie Smith – Main Stage
Dr. Lonnie Smith is internationally known as one of the premier jazz keyboardists in the history of the idiom. A dominant talent and pace-setting proponent of the Hammond B3 Organ and widely recognized and gifted pianist, Lonnie has been at the forefront of the jazz scene since 1969 when Downbeat Magazine named him Top Organist

• Bill Mays -- Smith Dobson Stage
The artistry of Bill Mays is beyond category. With deep roots in jazz, gospel, pop and classical music his eclectic, prolific career as pianist, composer and arranger spans four decades.

• Anton Schwartz – The Rep Stage
Jazz saxophonist Anton Schwartz has been drawing listeners in with the power, spirit and subtle complexity of his music since he bounded onto the San Francisco jazz scene in 1995. San Francisco Chronicle described him has having a "warm, generous tone, impeccably developed solos and infectious performance energy."

• Roger Smith and Tom Politzer from Tower of Power – Blues Stage
Roger's talents are something recording artists have known for years. From his early days on the Austin, Texas music scene, Roger has been a sought after musician and music producer. Tom Politzer joined Tower of Power on Lead Tenor Sax in March on 2002. Tom is well known in the Bay Area for his work in several bands, most notably Spang-A-Lang.

Sunday, August 20

• Spanish Harlem Orchestra – Main Stage
Two trumpets, two trombones and a baritone sax make up the bracing brass sound of this band dedicated conga, bongo and timbale players round out the percussion and the upright bass and acoustic piano are the icing on this salsa flavored cake. With a sound both modern and historic and a swing that could revive the dead, Spanish Harlem Orchestra is the signature sound of 21st century Latin music.

• Bud Shank – Main Stage
Bud Shank has been an integral member of the international jazz scene for 60 years. A respected saxophonist, composer, and arranger, his soaring dynamic performances have enlivened countless concerts, festivals, nightclubs and recording sessions.

• Sonny Landreth – Blues Stage
Considered one of the more unique slide guitarists, Landreth’s marriage of blues and zydeco has morphed into the “king of slydeco.” Landreth has been working steadily for decades, amassing a devoted following among his fans and peers. Eric Clapton said he is “probably the most underestimated musician on the planet and also probably one of the most advanced.”

• Neville Brothers-- Main Stage
The essence of New Orleans, the 4 Neville Brothers, Art, Charles, Aaron and Cyril are convocation of each of their unique souls. Each breathes their own personalities into a union funk, soul, fusion and blues.

See you there!

Bill Bruford's "Rock Goes To College" Now on DVD

My first trip to London was in 1977, during the Queen's "Silver Jubilee". During that visit, I was able to catch many of my favorite European musicians of the day, Genesis, Gong, Jean Luc Ponty, and the incredible drummer Bill Bruford. In those days, the BBC also produced the critically acclaimed "Rock Goes to College" series, at Oxford's Polytechnic Institute. Now, some 30 years later, comes the release of one of the best of those concerts, a Special Edition copy of the brand-new Winterfold Records DVD, "Bruford : Rock Goes To College."

This classic 42 minute all-regions concert DVD was filmed at Oxford Polytechnic March 7th 1979. The band only made two appearances in its short life, both on national UK TV shows, with this being the second of the two. It was a groundbreaking electric rock group four of whose members- Allan Holdsworth, Jeff Berlin, Annette Peacock and Bill Bruford- already possessed or went on to develop, individual voices within jazz. Keyboardist Dave Stewart subsequently achieved substantial success in the pop singles world with Barbara Gaskin.

This DVD is released initially as a Special Edition, limited to 500 copies, and only purchaseable by mail-order at www.brufordrockgoestocollege.co.uk , before reverting to general release. Special Edition copies only will be numbered, autographed by all five members of the group, and come in Special Edition artwork. "Bruford organically fuses jazz's harmonic and melodic breadth with the rhythmic impetuosity and electric bite of rock. Bruford's concepts take a backseat to no-one; not Weather Report, Gary Burton, Terje Rypdal or John McLaughlin...", wrote Downbeat Magazine, Sounds UK called it "...brimming with some of the most creative talent in contemporary improvisational music..."

"For ten years, through sojourns with King Crimson, Yes, Genesis and other bands, Bruford has steadily increased his reputation as one of the world's most intelligent and accomplishes percussionists," wrote the Sunday Times UK back in 1979.

Bruford and his group first came to the United States in 1978, in it's first incarnation, called "U.K.", with guitarist Holdsworth of the Soft Machine, bassist John Wetton of King Crimson and keyboard/violinist Eddie Jobson, who replaced Brian Eno in Roxy Music. Recording on Robert Fripp's E.G. label, Wetton and Jobson ultimately parted ways with the jazz oriented Bruford and Holdsworth, who didn't want to continue in a rock vein.

In a compromise, Fripp gave Bruford the green light to continue under his own name, and the group with Stewart, Berlin and Peacock was born. Holdsworth recorded only two albums with the band, "Feels Good to Me", and the amazing "One of a Kind". With Holdsworth's fame spreading, and tours with Jean Luc Ponty and the late, great drummer Tony Williams looming, Holdsworth departed for good. When the band finally arrived in the U.S. for the 1980 tour, Holdsworth had been replaced by the guitarist jokingly referred to as, the "unknown" John Clark. A live album, "The Bruford Tapes", and their final studio album, "Gradually Going Tornado" would follow, and signal the end of one of jazz rock's greatest ensembles.

I was fortunate to see the original "U.K.", (which opened for jazz guitarist Al DiMeola), at the old Painter's Mill in Maryland in 1978, the "Bruford" band in 1980 at the now defunct Bayou in D.C., and one of the first to own a signed, limited edition copy of this quite unique band in concert, (after years of seeing all the horrible copies and bootlegs floating around on ebay), however more unsigned copies will be available. For clips from the DVD, more information and purchase details go to www.brufordrockgoestocollege.co.uk.