EdKo

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Ed Koban is a seasoned guitarist from the Toronto/Buffalo area. EdKo, as he is sometimes known as, is of Native American decent (Mohawk). As road guitarist for National Native American Recording Artist Darryl Tonemah, Ed has played nationwide including such venues as The Kennedy Center & the Smithsonian Institute in Washington DC, The 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City Utah, National Canadian Television (he actually got to play the Canadian National Anthem). Tonemah has served as supporting act for such acts as Foreigner, Three Dog Night, Hootie and the Blowfish, Rusted Root, Johnny Lang and others. Tonemah was awarded the Native American Music Award for Best Folk Recording for the Welcome to Your Rainy Day CD at the 2007 Native American Music Awards Also in 2007 Tonemah was awarded the Silver Arrow Award for contributions to Native American Music.
EdKo has also become A very sought after hired gun in the Buffalo/Niagara/Toronto area, performing regularly with such acts as The Patti Parks Band, Alfonso Marra Bax, Paleface ,High Horse and others.
A self taught musician, EdKos natural sense of feel and phrasing is what distinguishes his playing from other players. Whether he is performing acoustic folk music at one of the many acoustic Tonemah performances, or laying down Big Band R&B with the Patti Parks Band, or strangling his Stratocaster doing gunslinger blues, his own style is always apparent. An engaging performer as well, audience members will continually find themselves getting wrapped up in what he’s doing. “Ed is such a great guitar player, you can tell by watching him that he is lost in what he’s doing. I sometimes wonder if he even realizes that anyone is there, you can tell he is feeling every note.” says WNY Music Critic F. Abramson. “I’ve seen him play in here with a dozen different groups over the years. He has an uncanny ability to blend in with whatever style of music he’s put into but still always sounds like Ed.” says a Buffalo area venue owner. Ed has been Nominated for Best Original Guitarist at the Buffalo Music Awards as well as at the Molson Niagara Music Awards.
Ed’s evocative Native Flute playing is also garnishing him some attention. He has been performing at all kinds events in the Buffalo Area. “It’s a bit crazy really. I’ve played everything from funerals to gigs with punk and metal bands on the bill. People dig it. The flute has a great effect on people.” Ed picked it up when he and Tonemah bassist Adrian Wall were teaching Native Teens in Phoenix AZ as part of Darryl Tonemahs Music as Medicine Program. “Darryl is tireless in his work with native people, especially children. The Music as Medicine Program is geared toward “at risk” Native Teens. It involves teaching them basic guitar, hand drum & flute as well as, recording skills and techniques. We just try to show them that it’s an option for them and gives them some confidence and belief in themselves. It’s been an honor and a Blessing to have Darryl involve me in it. states Koban.
Working with children is nothing new to Koban. He is very involved with Niagara area youth, working with them through his involvement with the Boys & Girls Club of Niagara, United Cerebral Palsy, and his local school system or with the Music School of Niagara, (of which he is a board member). “The Music School is great. It offers free formal musical training to inner city kids. Some of these kids would never get a chance to touch an instrument if it wasn’t for the school. It’s the best when you see a kid who you know is a natural at an instrument really take to it. It changes everything for them”. says EdKo.Ed is currently recording his first solo CD, as well as performing with Tonemah. “Music is what I do. I can’t imagine doing anything else with my life”.