The Sounds of VTech

It was show day at the Luckman Theatre and February 22nd, 2009 marked our second concert of the Timeless series, Suite for Ma Dukes. As the Orchestra assembled, Karriem Riggins and Steve “Thundercat” Bruner sat in the back chatting and sharing jazz stories. Karriem and Thundercat, both jazz veterans despite their youthfulness, were having a good time. Then in a flash Thundercat broke out his iPhone and asked Karriem about Tony Williams. Tony Williams had been a jazz prodigy who at 17 had played drums with the famous Miles Davis Quartet with Ron Carter, and Wayne Shorter and Herbie Hancock in the mid-sixties. In the seventies his band Lifetime were an amazing fusion combo making some just incredible records.

Thundercat played Williams’, “Proto-Cosmos,” and Karriem knew the song straight away. Immediately they began to play. B+ happened to be standing there with camera in hand, and was fortunate enough to capture this joyful moment. Here it is, free, happy, improvised and spectacular. Just what music is about.

Get ready for the 3 DVD Limited Edition Timeless Box Set coming 03-30-10..

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The Sounds of VTech / Proto Cosmos

The song that inspired the moment…

From our friends at MOCHILLA, VTech is proud to bring you a new exclusive video from the Karriem Riggins’ Virtuoso Experience.

Tergiversation is a song by Gene Perla. Perla was a bass player who performed with legendary drummer Elvin Jones for many years. Tergiversation is a term that describes an evasion of straightforward action or clear-cut statement. Perla dedicated the song to jazz legend Miles Davis, a tergiversationist if there ever was one, who often turned his back towards the audience as he played.

Karriem Riggins’ Virtuoso Experience bring these internal jazz dedications and conversations to a new audience.

We’ll let the music and the video explain the rest.

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The Sounds of VTech / Tergiversation: Karriem Riggins' Virtuoso Experience

Last month, VTech was proud to bring you the acclaimed and sold out Karriem Riggins Virtuoso Experience with shows in Seattle, Oakland and Minnesota. The quartet featuring Karriem Riggins on drums, Mulgrew Miller on piano and rhodes, Warren Wolf on vibes and Joe Sanders on bass presented their audiences with shows filled with talent and energy, performing music from diverse musical sources.

On June 25^th, a few hours before Karriem’s show in Oakland, CA at Yoshi’s, news broke that the King of Pop, Michael Jackson had passed.When surprise guest and bay area songstress Goapele showed up to join Karriem and the band on stage, she asked to do a short song dedication in memory of Michael Jackson.

Here is a dedication snippet to MJ on the day of his passing from the Karriem Riggins’ Quartet and Goapele with their version of “Can’t help it”.

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The Sounds of VTech / Karriem Riggins Quartet and Goapele

The Triple Door in Seattle was the first stop for the Karriem Riggins’ Virtuoso Experience brought to you by VTech, and the crowd eagerly awaited his arrival. Karriem, not new to Seattle having traveled there several times with Diana Krall and Madlib, happily greeted the audience.

With Karriem on drums, Mulgrew Miller on piano and rhodes, Warren Wolf on vibes and Joe Sanders on bass, this band is a wealth of talent, bursting with energy and filled with music. Karriem’s endless rhythms encouraged big playing and was met by an intricate and soulful set of tunes. With music from sources as diverse as Tony Williams, Cesar Camargo Mariano and Burt Bachrach, all which received the virtuoso treatment,  jazz fans will not be left wanting by this ambitious quartet.

The guest set with Dj Dummy paid tribute to J Dilla with a re-interpretation of some of his lesser known tunes. It was an emotional moment for Riggins who was very close to Dilla and even finished his last record the Shining when his untimely death prevented him from doing so himself.

The finale of the show was with the entire group doing a beautiful up-tempo rendition of Mulgrew Miller’s Eleventh Hour. Miller, the elder of the group, played incredibly throughout the evening. He brings a powerful and wise feeling to the energetic music. The satisfaction on the faces of the group having pulled off such a fantastic and deeply satisfying song was palpable.

The audience which included members of Maxwell’s band (Piano virtuoso Robert Glasper and drum magician Chris Dave) as well as many local hiphop literati was left filled with the spirtual sustenance which great African American music can bring.

KARRIEM RIGGINS VIRTUOUSO EXPERIENCE TOUR

Pete Rock (Wed/24) and DJ Dummy (Thurs/25); 8 and 10 p.m., $20

Yoshi’s

510 Embarcadero West, Oakland, CA (510) 238-9200

Understanding music through the kaleidoscopic lens of jazz is daunting. But it’s a challenge made for virtuoso drummer, multiinstrumentalist, rapper, and arranger Karriem Riggins.

Riggins allows jazz’s free-flowing aesthetic to guide his quest to study genres, explore amorphous coagulations of sound, and synthesize diverse sonic influences and life experiences. His muse opens an expansive universe of musical possibilities….Whether playing drums for powerhouses like Ray Brown and Herbie Hancock or producing and rhyming with Madlib, Riggins shows a rare adeptness at either transcending or crossing skillfully between musical traditions.

-San Francisco Bay Guardian

VTech is proud to present Karriem Riggins’ Virtuoso Experience

Karriem Riggins (photo by B+)

 The Virtuoso Experience:

In one night, those who have never even heard of Karriem Riggins will be converted. With the Virtuoso Experience, you’re up front and center to the full force of his musical talent. Opening with an explosive drum showcase alongside a special guest DJ on the turntables, Karriem with transition between a variety of soul, hip-hop, and jazz-fusion throughout the evening. He’ll perform a myriad of newly introduced music; giving fans, new and old, an exclusive sneak peek into his new work, the Karriem Riggins Quartet featuring Mulgrew Miller on keys and more. Karriem’s ability to effortlessly move between genres has caught the attention of music lovers worldwide and his popularity continues to grow.

Come experience this musical phenomenon for yourself.

Karriem Riggins:

The dictionary defines virtuoso as one who excels in the technique of art; a highly skilled musical performer. Karriem Riggins is that performer. He has taken his talent, passion and love of music and molded it a career. At the age of 19, he moved from Detroit to New York City where he performed with his mentor, the great Betty Carter. From there, his career-to-date has been spent playing with Jazz legends and some of the most influential voices of Hip-Hop. Karriem has produced songs for such greats as Erykah Badu, The Roots and Talib Kweli, and played drums behind Bobby Hutchinson, Donald Byrd, Diana Krall and Herbie Hancock. From recording with Oscar Peterson and Ray Brown to touring with Kanye West, Common and more, Karriem’s talent is one that blurs the lines of genre. 

DATES:

June 22nd - SEATTLE at the TRIPLE DOOR with DJ Dummy

June 24th and 25th -OAKLAND at YOSHI’S with PETE ROCK

June 28th - MINNESOTA at DAKOTA JAZZ with DJ Dummy

Be sure to buy tickets online to see the first show in the Karriem Riggins’ Virtuoso Experience on Monday, June 22nd at the TRIPLE DOOR in Seattle, WA with DJ Dummy (Common).