Kai Eckhardt, one of the greats

[Arjank]

Any admirers of Mr Eckhardt here on TB?
The live album with John Mclaughlin from 1989 is still amazing after all these years. Here's some live footage (part 3/6)

 

[tleebassist11]

i love his playin...so tasteful...the video with him and jonathan herrera is great....

 

[bass12]

While I can't say I'm a huge fan (simply because I'm not aware of enough of his work) I definitely like what I've heard!

 

[Johnius]

I find him to be one of the most musically interesting players out there today. So much so that I signed up for his mentorship program. I didn't make the full 108 days with only 12 days off so I had to resign, but he was very helpful and definitely delivered what I paid for. I really dig his work with Garaj Mahal.

 

[rapidfirerob]

I love Kai's playing, a local Berkeley guy. I most enjoyed him when he played with Alex Machecek and Marco Minneman, mind blowing. I've seen him with Garaj Mahal and with his own band as well. Seems like a very nice guy as well.

 

[Passinwind]

Any admirers of Mr Eckhardt here on TB?

I mixed a killer Garaj Mahal show several years ago at a friend of a friend's wedding. Good times, and Kai's a very cool guy.

 

[Arjank]

Yeah Kai is great, back in the 80's he sounded a bit like a Stanley/Jaco hybrid. Combining the slap/pop flurry's of Stan and the melodic lines of Jaco, best of both worlds.
I'm definitely gonna check out some Garaj Mahal stuff!

 

[Bass_Thumper]

I'm a pretty big fan too. I got into Garaj Mahal a few years ago and have been digging everything that I've heard him on. Great player with a lot of cool stuff to say with his bass.

 

[M Sterling]

Love Kai Eckhardt's playing, My band opened for Garaj Mahal a few years ago, they were awesome to hang with and played an amazing show.

 

[Rev J]

I was lucky to take lessons with Kai for a couple of months a few years ago. I'm still working on some of the stuff I learned. I ran into him a couple of months ago and he still remembered my first and last name.

Stay Brown,
Rev J

 

[jerry]

I've been following and digging his playing since Vital Information and he was known as Kai Eckhardt-Karpeh. Always great!

 

[Tampabass]

yes, yes he is awesome. In addition to the great work he's done with Garaj Mahal, he recently did some terrific playing with a trio led by pianist Ken Berman and also featuring drummer Akira Tana. It was nice hearing his electric bass in an otherwise acoustic context - some very nice tonalities -- Invalid Link Removed

 

[randy clere]

A deep SPIRIT for sure.... great player, educator and above all, great human being...

 

[Arjank]

For all us bassists I think one needs to have "John McLaughlin Trio - Live at the Royal festical 1989". Eckhardt's playing is smooth&raw and melodic&rythmic at the same time.
Example of the recording is here

 

[bottomzone]

Oh yeah!!! Kai is very sick and very cool!!!

A Groove is a Terrible Thing to Waste!