Kareem Kandi

Music:

Member Since: 28/09/2006
Band Website: www.myspace.com/kareemkandi
Band Members: Kareem Kandi -- Saxophones, Mason Hargrove -- guitar, Osama Afifi -- Bass, Jacques Willis -- drums
Influences: Many musicians. On saxophone: Sonny Stitt, Sonny Rollins, Dexter Gordon, Johnny Griffin, Hank Mobley, John Coltrane, Joe Henderson, Stan Getz, Wayne Shorter, Pete Christlieb, Charlie Parker, Cannonball Adderley, Johnny Hodges, and Joshua Redman.
Sounds Like: Indeed, the original compositions were the touchstones of this performance. Songs such as "Past Time" (a punchy arrangement that worked well to kick off the evening), "Main Inspiration" (a thoughtful tune that was melodic and haunting), "Mad Dog" (a song that worked mostly as a vehicle for musician solos), and the aforementioned "Chiaroscuro" (a tune that started out with an almost avant-garde emphasis of Florybarnes's bass tones, and ended with all musicians nearly crashing together for a nice finish) were well-written and performed with precision and deft. And Kandi's arrangements of standards worked to display some of the young musician's influences and interests: Jimmy Van Heusen's "Polka Dots and Moonbeams" (an arrangement wherein lengthy saxophone noodling kicked things off), Kurt Weill's "What Good Would The Moon Be?" and Dexter Gordon's "The Panther" provided audience members a glimpse at Kandi's musical inspirations.I'm looking forward to following Kandi's jazz career. If his Kerry Hall performance was any indication, this young saxophonist will be having a major impact on the Pacific Northwest jazz scene.-- All About Jazz -- ************************************************** Jazz is the only purely American music and the one genre that has embraced elements of all musical forms. This is why it is always exciting to find young artists who push the boundaries to create their own unique style, and Kareem Kandi is one musician who does just that. -- The Weekly Volcano --
Record Label: unsigned
Type of Label: Indie