Fall 2021- more Soul/Jazz Party shows

Happy Fall Y'all.

FLASH gig alert: This Thursday Nov 4 6-8:30pm at Grapes and Hops Ventura, CA

Thanks, Art Good, for inviting me to play at the Catalina Jazztrax Festival in October. We had a blast, with Michael Paulo, Michael O'Neill, Ernest Tibbs and Joel Taylor; and enjoyed a few extra days of perfect weather, hanging out on the island and boating around the coves with friends. Got to check in and listen to Tom Scott, Spyro Gyra, Rick Braun (w/ surprise guest: Dave Koz) and our co-bill closer, the great Jeffrey Osborne. Great crowds! That was my 20th time (I think) playing the Festival......since the very first one in 1987 with The Rippingtons.

My Halloween quiz was fun for the kids that came by last night: "What is my cat Jazzmine's favorite candy?" Answer correctly and get...............?

Here is a quick update of some fun gigs coming up. We had a Thanksgiving week family trip to the Big Island/Kona planned a while ago, then, on a whim, I got in contact with the people at "Gertrude's Jazz Bar" and worked out a GK Soul/Jazz Party show on our last night there. I "convinced" Michael O'Neill (George Benson, Barbra Streisand, Stevie Wonder) to fly over to play and enjoy a few days there..... I had played the Dolphin Days benefit Concerts at The Waikoloa Hilton for 3 years back a decade ago, so this will be fun to return to the same area. Yes, there is an organ on the island, thanks to my friends Jocelyn Raquepau and drummer Russ McKinnon (Tower of Power, Barry Manilow), so we will be grooving.

Then, as I was riding my bike in Ventura last Thursday, I came across some cool jazz at the sidewalk cafe of Grapes and Hops restaurant on Main St. (not to be confused with Squashed Grapes/The Grape, also in Ventura). I stopped to eat and listen to my old friend, sax player Doug Webb. Next thing I know, drummer Davey Miller is asking me if I could play "next Thursday".... "OK!", as close to home as I can get.

So, I'll be working on more classic material for the GK Soul/Jazz (Hammond organ) Party shows next Spring, and also figuring out which of my original songs can lend themselves to the new instrumentation. This is a separate show from my -mostly original- piano centered show, although I'll hope to incorporate the Hammond in that show when there is one available. I will NOT be travelling with, or moving an organ around. I also may do a couple of solo piano "house" concerts in the new year....another challenge I took up during Covid.

Sad news for all the Soul/Jazz organ fans, as we lost one of the last of the OG's: Dr. Lonnie Smith in September. It was always a treat to see Doc at the Hammond Booth at the annual NAMM convention. He had continued in the tradition of the departed masters Jimmy Smith, Don Patterson, Jimmy McGriff, Groove Holmes, Jack Mc Duff and was known for his work with George Benson (before Ronnie Foster) and Lou Donaldson. He just released a new CD on Blue Note Records.

Just as I write this, I am seeing Joey DeFrancesco's post on the passing of Philly's guitar great Pat Martino. Pat had quite a life, played with all the great organists as a young phenom, and was "reborn" after suffering a brain aneurysm at age 37 and losing his memory and the ability to play. He was a humble hero to most every jazz/fusion guitarist (especially the late Chuck Loeb) and has a great memoir out. “Here And Now!” Our fusion band, East Coast Offering, opened up for Pat's Joyous Lake group for a couple of nights at the Cellar Door in 1978, and it was nice to see his 2008 return to the Java Jazz Festival in Jakarta along with Tony Monaco and Harvey Mason.

Upcoming dates for the GK Soul/Jazz Party

This Thursday November 4, 6pm-8:30pm @ Grapes and Hops 454 E. Main St. Ventura, CA w/ Davey Miller-drums, Pat Kelley-guitar

Saturday November 27 7&9pm Kona/Kailua, HI @ Gertrude's Jazz Bar and Bistro w/ Michael O'Neill - guitar, Russ McKinnon - drums

Friday Dec 10 8-11pm 1881 Bar 1881 E. Washington Bl. Pasadena, CA w/ Joel Taylor - drums, Tony Pulizzi - guitar, Keith McKelly - sax

2022 Dates (so far):

Jan 6-9 Gregg guests with Peter White @ Jazz Alley Seattle

Jan 15 Honolulu, HI tent. GK with Michael Paulo, Peter White

Feb 3-6 Pizza Express Soho London UK GK w/ Paul Brown

March 12 Grooves at the Westin Palm Desert Gregg guests with Peter White

April - GK East Coast Tour (more dates TBA):

April 2 Berks Jazz Festival Reading, PA GK Soul/Jazz Party w/ Brad Collins, Deren Blessman, guest guitarist and the Berks Horns

May 5-8 Portugal Algarve Smooth Jazz Festival

Grammy Winner Gregg Karukas on Hammond organ "GK Soul/Jazz Party"

Appearing Saturday Nov. 27 at Gertrude's Jazz Bar and Bistro 7 & 9 PM

Gregg Karukas (Boney James, Larry Carlton, Sergio Mendes) - organ, featuring Michael O'Neill (George Benson, Barbra Streisand, Stevie Wonder)-guitar, Russ McKinnon (Tower of Power, Barry Manilow)-drums.

Grammy winning keyboardist/composer Gregg Karukas returns to Kona and his musical roots for a unique evening with longtime collaborator (and George Benson's 2nd guitarist and producer) Michael O'Neill. They'll be featuring some new/old sounds for Gregg, as he has been developing material based on the classic Hammond organ group format. Soul Jazz for the 21st century with a rotating cast of all-stars. Fans of Seawind star Pauline Wilson will recognize Gregg as co-writer of a few songs on her Intuition CD. This is Gregg's first return to the Big Island since performing for 3 years at the Dolphin Days All-Star Concerts at Waikoloa Hilton with Michael Paulo, Jeffrey Osbourne, Pauline Wilson, Kenny Rankin, Brenda Russell, Rick Braun, Peter White and Oleta Adams.

Gregg Karukas

Serenata Review by Kathy Parsons Mainlypiano.com

With Serenata, his first solo piano album in a long and illustrious career, Gregg Karukas dazzles, not with piano pyrotechnics, but with subtle nuance and a deep love for this music.

A mix of new and re-imagined original compositions along with “piano impressions” of Brazilian artists Milton Nacimento, Clube da Esquina and Dori Caymmi, Karukas clearly demonstrates that, in the right hands, great music (and great musicianship!) defies genres and categories to enrich the ears and hearts of anyone willing to take some time to listen. Calling the project “a labor of love that came out of the isolation of the last few months,” the album was initially inspired by a rediscovered cassette tape of his live performances from the 1990’s with Dori Caymmi and Ricardo Silveira at Le Cafe in Los Angeles. One evening, Karukas sat down at the piano and played some of the pieces from memory - a deeply emotional experience that set him off on a new adventure to create this wonderful collection of 15 solo piano gems.

A Grammy Award winner, Gregg Karukas’ 30+ year career as a keyboardist/ composer/ producer has included twelve solo albums, many #1 radio hits, touring with a variety of artists that include Sergio Mendes and Melissa Manchester, being a founding member of The Rippingtons, contributing to more than 100 albums, and sessions for many films and television shows. He has recorded and played on the world’s biggest stages with many of his Brazilian musical heroes, including Montreux Jazz with Caymmi, and multiple shows at the Hollywood Bowl with Ivan Lins, Oscar Castro Neves, Tom Jobim, Toots Thielemans, Mendes and Caymmi. Serenata brings this musical "love affair" full circle - “a crossover treat from the heart, for the heart” (Karukas’ words).

The album begins with “Travessia” by Fernando Brant and Milton Nascimento - a beautifully wistful and dreamy piece that sets the tone of the album. “Ponta de Areia,” also composed by Brant and Nascimento, conveys a warm, soothing energy in a relaxed and understated style. The title track, a Karukas original, has a sweet, simple melody that floats on the flowing left hand broken chords - a favorite! “Tudo O Que Você Podia Ser” by Lô Borges and Marcio Borges combines a jazzier, more rhythmic style with a beautifully poignant melody. Karukas’ “Better Days” is another favorite - simple, direct and from the heart. “Sound of Emotion,” (Karukas) feels like an intimate conversation without words - I love it! “Paisagem da Janela” by Fernando Brant and Lô Borges is a light and breezy bit of musical sunshine. Karukas’ tender, loving “Dori’s Song” is a heartfelt tribute to a dear friend. He also composed "Para Sempre (Until Forever)," a reflective and deeply emotional soul searching at the piano, perhaps late at night by the light of a candle - my favorite piece on the album. The last two tracks were also penned by Karukas. “Lament (Final Embrace)” is a heartbreaking goodbye that goes far beyond any words to describe it, and “Long Ago” brings the album to a very peaceful, serene close.

I sincerely hope that Serenata is just the first in a long series of solo piano albums by Gregg Karukas and predict it will be one of the best and most honored albums of 2021!

Album Links Amazon(referral)Apple/iTunes/Spotify

Contemporary Fusion Reviews - Dick Metcalf

Melodic solo keyboard magic Gregg Karukas – SERENATA:   I’ve spent a lot of time with the piano; playing it (both live and in-studio) as well as reviewing 100’s of other players, so I can tell you that solo pianist Gregg Karukas’ melodic solo keyboard is pure, unadulterated, magic!  Get an intimate look at his preview trailer for the album first…

When you SUBSCRIBE to Gregg’s YouTube channel, you will experience his magic on many other instruments as well (this is his first solo piano album ever).

The thing that truly sets Gregg’s piano apart from other pianists is his sensitivity for what the listener will need to hear; nowhere is that more evident than on his original composition, “Better Days“… his “pacing” is perfect, and every note is formed with the utmost care… DJ’s of all stripes will be plugging this into their playlists for days (and months & years) to come!

Another original composition that really impressed me is Gregg’s “Para Sempre” (Until Forever)… in his own words, “For me, the best music comes out of an inner feeling of either intense happiness or sadness”, and both moods are reflected in this emotional song.

Of the fifteen fascinating songs Gregg offers up for our piano pleasure, I found one of the shorter performances (2:59), “Lament” (Final Embrace) was my choice for personal favorite… he reaches down inside his own heart to touch yours with passion and intensity… I just LOVED this song!

I give Gregg a MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED rating, with an “EQ” (energy quotient) score of 4.99.  

 

JW Vibe by Jonathan Widran

“A thoughtful, reflective and ultimately joyful work. After so many years of in-the-pocket Smooth jazz hit-making, it’s wonderful to experience Karukas’ truest heart on display. To quote one of those earlier titles, that’s truly the sound of emotion coming through loud and clear.”

 Gregg Karukas’ extraordinary success over the past 30-plus years as a #1 charting smooth jazz artist and one of the genre’s busiest sidemen make it easy to overlook the deeper elements of versatile composer/keyboardist’s expansive resume – including winning a Grammy in 2013 for his work with new age pianist Omar Akram and his many years of touring with Brazilian greats Sergio Mendes, Dori Caymmi and Ricardo Silvera in the 90’s.

 Both of those extracurriculars come into play on Serenata, a thoughtful, reflective and ultimately joyful work that marks Karukas’ first-ever solo piano album, his first release in over six years and first since losing his wife Yvonne to cancer. The unique concept – captured in the album subtitle “Piano Impressions of Milton Nascimento Clube Da Esquina and Dori Caymmi “ – grew out of a recent discovery of old cassettes of some of those Brazilian shows. Listening most attentively to his shows with Caymmi at the small L.A. club Le Café, where the singer often introduced Karukas as “my orchestra,” sparked a powerful emotional reaction.

The keyboardist also re-discovered the video of his 1992 wedding where Caymmi sang “O Cantador” – a gently wistful piece that is one of the emotional centerpieces on the generous 15 track collection. Karukas also thought back to memories of his early days driving to gigs in his hometown of Washington, DC, listening to Nascimento imports. Combining all of these inspirations with the isolation of the COVID-19 lockdown created an ideal palette for him to explore his deeper piano artistry and find the kind of healing and hope that only the music of the heart can bring. That’s the sparkling magic Karukas shares throughout from the elegant, seductive Nascimento-penned opening tracks “Travessia” and “Ponta de Aeria” to the equally subtle graces of “Club da Esquina” and Caymmi’s “Historia Antga” and the playful hypnotic romp “Paisagem de Janela.”

 In a good way, Serenata’s subtitle mentioning the Brazilian influences isn’t quite accurate because nearly half the tracks are delightful ultra-melodic Karukas originals that fit in perfectly among the works of the masters. These include solo piano reworkings of two gems from his mid-90’s smooth jazz classic Sound of Emotion (including, naturally, the soulful, tender-hearted tribute “Dori’s Song”) and moody originals whose titles (“Better Days,” “Lament (Final Embrace),” “Long Ago”) capture his process of acknowledging and letting go of the sorrows of the past and embracing the grand possibilities of the road ahead.

 After so many years of in the pocket smooth jazz hit making, it’s wonderful to experience Karukas’ truest heart on display. To quote one of those earlier titles, that’s truly the sound of emotion coming through loud and clear “A thoughtful, reflective and ultimately joyful work. After so many years of in-the-pocket Smooth jazz hit-making, it’s wonderful to experience Karukas’ truest heart on display. To quote one of those earlier titles, that’s truly the sound of emotion coming through loud and clear.”  Jonathan Widran. JW Vibe https://www.jwvibe.com/single-post/gregg-karukas-serenata

Serenata By Gregg Karukas

Written by Steve Sheppard

 There are moments in time when you really need to be lifted into a better frame of mind and sometimes, just sometimes, it will be music that will help you get there, this was the case for me this sombre Monday morning in March, when the refrains of the quite tranquil, yet deeply pleasing album entitled Serenata by Gregg Karukas lifted my mood and raised my spirits.

Gregg’s slice of piano heaven is a jam packed 15 track album of beautiful layered and textured offerings, that are all undeniably lush and beautiful. The opening piece is a fine example of that charm, as we can enjoy the first footsteps of the album with the warm and all-embracing opener Travessia.

My personal favourite from the release would be the title track Serenata, the lightness of performance and the melody together for me was a touch of magic from beyond the supposed limits of brilliance, and reminded me greatly of classic David Lanz at times.

With emotive and thoughtful offerings like Better Days or the colourful refrains of pieces like O Cantador, this album was always going to be a hit from start to finish; those who love to sit and bathe within the realms of a collection of a solo piano master class will love tracks like the touching and classy Historia Antiga, or perhaps the gentle and serene offering known as Lament (Final Embrace), a piece with a sombre, but reflective and emotional composition, one that will touch the musical heart with ease.

Serenata by Gregg Karukas is a fine collection of wondrous solo piano compositions, it is a musical tale told by one, to be felt, touched and listened to by many.

No less than 15 opportunities lay within the dimension of piano heaven, and each one of them can be sampled willingly many times over, this timeless manifestation of heartfelt moments of solo piano genius, have raised the bar in the ranks of this genre by a mile, and as such should be a huge hit for the artist should there be any justice left in this musical world of ours.

Serenata
By Gregg Karukas
Buy on Amazon

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You can also order from Amazon, but no autograph.

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