DAVE KIKOSKI TRIO FEATURING TED POOR (NYC/SEA) (7PM)

Dave Kikoski (NYC), Piano
Alexander Claffy (NYC), Bass
Ted Poor (SEA), Drums

ABOUT THE ARTISTS
Dave Kikoski
“The brilliant playing of David Kikoski just smokes. His playing is sparkling.” —Chick Corea

Born in 1961, Dave was part of a musical family and given his first piano lessons at the age of six by his father. In his early teens he began working with jazz and rock groups and won “The New Jersey Allstate Jazz Competition “. After high school, Kikoski would head to the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston where he earned a bachelor’s degree in piano. While at school he had a steady trio gig and met Pat Metheny who sat in with the band. A few years later they would record a CD together with Roy Haynes. In 1984, the pianist decided to try his hand in New York where it didn’t take long for him to establish himself. Drummer Roy Haynes would be the first to give Kikoski a break, leading to a productive association that lasts to this day. During his first few years on the New York scene, the pianist took advantage of the Haynes gig to network with other musicians leading to a wealth of recording opportunities and touring with Randy Brecker, Joe Henderson, Ron Carter, Al Foster, Buster Williams and Bob Berg among others.

By 1989, Dave was ready to cut his first record as a leader. “Presage” featured a high-octane trio with bassist Eddie Gomez and drummer Al Foster. His second outing “Persistant Dreams” was produced by Walter Becker of Steely Dan fame featured a larger ensemble including Randy Brecker and Billy Hart. During the early 90s, Kikoski not only kept busy playing frequent gigs with Roy Haynes, Randy Brecker and others but was also featured as a regular in the group of saxophonist Bob Berg and produced and arranged his CD “Another Standard” for Chick Corea’s Stretch label. He freelanced and led his own groups at home and abroad. In 1994, a contract with the short-lived Sony Epicure label produced the self-titled Dave Kikoski, a trio set that found the pianist in the company of bassist Essiet Essiet and drummer Al Foster. Over the next few years, Kikoski would perform and record as a sideman with an enviable cast of jazz luminaries including John Scofield, Brian Lynch, Peter Erskine, Red Rodney, Ravi Coltrane, Chris Potter, Christian McBride, Joe Henderson, Joey Baron, Dave Holland, Mike Stern, Chick Corea, Toots Thielemans, Pat Metheny, Victor Lewis, Tom Harrell, Gary Thomas, Marcus Miller, the Mingus Big Band and Michael Brecker.

Since 1997, Kikoski has had a chance to further document his artistic growth in a series of releases for the Dutch Criss Cross label. ” Inner Trust” from 1997, spotlighted the work of fellow Roy Haynes bandmate bassist Ed Howard (also on “Persistant Dreams”) and drummer Leon Parker. “The Maze” reunited Dave with drummer Jeff “Tain” Watts as well as ” Mingus Big Band ” partner saxophonist Shamus Blake and Scott Colley on Bass. His next release “Almost Twilight” offered the musical benefits that come with a working band, as Kikoski joined forces with bassist John Patitucci and drummer Jeff “Tain” Watts for a week at “Sweet Basils” before cutting the CD. In 2001 Roy Haynes invited Dave to join his new all-star lineup including Dave Hollland, Roy Hardgrove and Kenny Garrett to record and tour. The CD received a Grammy nomination. They are still performing and the live shows often feature Nicholas Payton and Christian McBride as well.

Another project of Dave’s with percussionist Brian Melvin entitled “BeatleJazz” topping the Gavin radio charts with both volumes. Among tours to Japan and Russia with his own trios, during the summer of 2001, Dave spent time touring with the Brecker Brothers’ Acoustic Band. The fall of 2001 Kikoski celebrated the release of his fourth set as a leader for Criss Cross. “Surf’s Up ” gives him space to romp through a diverse set of tunes covering everything from Brazilian sambas to pop classics by Frank Zappa and Brian Wilson. In 2002 Dave toured Japan and recorded two CDs for the DIW label and another for Criss Cross entitled “Combinations”. The summer festivals of 2003 were spent with the “Randy Brecker, Bill Evans Soul Bop Band with special guest Ronny Cuber”. In August Kikoski played the Mt.Fuji Jazz Festival with the “Brecker Brothers Band”. He continues to perform with a variety of different bands as well as his own projects. The latest “BeatleJazz” (2004) “With a little help from our friends” includes guests Michael Brecker, Randy Brecker and John Scofield with electric keyboards and tablas. David’s 2004 release ” Details” features Bill Stewart on drums and Larry Grenadier on bass.

David Kikoski continues to foster his individualistic voice while exploring a wide variety of opportunities both as a leader and sideman. He especially wants to emphasize his compositions, further develop opportunities to perform with his own groups, and write for films. An affecting modernist, Kikoski distills the best in jazz and popular music and infuses every song with attention-getting brilliance.

Alexander Claffy
From birth, Alexander Claffy was raised in a musical household (his father is a pianist, his mother, a vocalist), and had many of his earliest lessons on bandstands in the heart of Philadelphia. As a teenager, Claffy was fortunate enough to find a mentor in many Philly natives, and has continued his study of the double bass with some of the world’s finest musicians, including Ron Carter, Dwayne Burno and Orin O’Brien. Since moving to New York City in 2011, he has had the honor of working with many of his living heroes, including Jimmy Cobb, Louis Hayes, Harold Mabern, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Christian Scott, Joey Alexander, Wallace Roney and many more.  In the past 3 years he has recorded for the Verve, HighNote, Positone, RopeADope and LaReserve record labels

Ted Poor
Ted Poor is a New York-born, Seattle-based drummer and composer whose adventurous, soulful playing has vaulted him to the stages of some of today’s most vital artists. Modern Drummer describes his playing as “adventurous, truly dynamic, and forward-thinking.” A graduate of the Eastman School of Music, Ted has toured and recorded with such renowned artists as Paul
Simon, Bill Frisell, Pat Metheny, Blake Mills, Madison Cunningham, Chris Thile, Aaron Parks, Cuong Vu, My Brightest Diamond, Kurt Rosenwinkel, and Gabriel Kahane.

Having signed with Verve Records (UMG), his debut album, You Already Know, was released in February of 2020 to critical acclaim. The album, which is co-produced with Blake Mills, features Andrew D’Angelo, Andrew Bird, and Rob Moose. JazzTimes calls the album “profound and moving” and states, “intimate, involving, and lasting, You Already Know balms the senses, wakes them up, slaps them around, and offers positive affirmations.”

Ted is a member of Los Angeles based singer/song-writer Andrew Bird’s band; appearing on and touring the Grammy-nominated albums Are You Serious and My Finest Work Yet (Loma Vista/Concord). He also performed regularly in the house band on the live radio broadcast of Live From Here with Chris Thile (formerly A Prairie Home Companion). Ted is currently an Associate Professor of Jazz Studies at the University of Washington in Seattle.