Biography
Kurt Ribak founded the Kurt Ribak Trio as a vehicle for playing his original compositions. Kurt Ribak composes the lion's share of the music his group plays. Kurt considers himself a jazz musician first and foremost, but his compositions reflect his eclectic experiences as a working musician. He has played in everything from Latin groups to R&B and reggae bands, with stints in blues groups and circus bands breaking things up. A father with a deep love of tangos and traditional Latin music also left a big imprint on Kurt's musical influences.
Kurt's earliest influence was classical music, performing as a child in the San Francisco Boys' Chorus. Chorus experiences included performing with the San Francisco Symphony and San Francisco Opera. Kurt also spent many years playing cello before he moved to focusing on bass.
Kurt cites Thelonious Monk and Charles Mingus as his original primary influences as a songwriter. Over time Duke Ellington as well as music of the Caribbean and Latin America increasingly influenced Kurt's writing. Other tunes of his reflect a love of the music of New Orleans, both its traditional jazz and its rhythm and blues music.
Kurt's compositions continue to be the bulk of the repertoire of his Trio but featured tunes include select standards by Duke Ellington, Hoagy Carmichael, Harold Arlen, and other contributors to the Great American Songbook.
Kurt Ribak Trio
At a Glance
How do you pronounce Ribak?: REE-bok, like the shoes
Style: Soulful, eclectic, and accessible original jazz.
Instrumentation: Piano/keyboards, upright bass, drums
UPCOMING GIG:
The Kurt Ribak Trio will celebrate the release of their third CD, "gone" at Yoshi's in San Francisco on Tuesday, June 30 2009.
UPCOMING RADIO:
Kurt will be interviewed by Alisa Clancy on KCSM-FM 91.1 at 9 AM on Wednesday, June 24, 2009. This will be Kurt's fifth appearance on KCSM-FM.
Venues Kurt Ribak has played:
Festivals
Fillmore Street Jazz Festival, San Francisco Jazz Festival, North Beach Jazz Festival, Union Street Jazz Festival, Shasta County Blues Festival, American Arts Festival, San Anselmo Art & Design Festival, and Yerba Buena Gardens.
Nightclubs and Restaurants
Yoshi’s, Pearl's, Pres a Vi, Chaya Brasserie, Prima Ristorante, Enrico’s, Hotel De Anza, Bruno’s, Shanghai 1930, Downtown Restaurant, Andrew Jaeger's House of Seafood and Jazz, Jupiter, Paragon, LJ's Martini Club and Grille, The Albatross, Freight & Salvage, Club Deluxe, Café Bastille, Café Claude, Café de la Presse, Hi-Ball Lounge, Maritime Hall, San Francisco Legion of Honor, and many others.
Churches
First United Methodist (Pt. Richmond, CA), Moraga Valley Presbyterian Church (Moraga, CA), Christian Church of Pacific Grove (Pacific Grove, CA), and Lafayette United Methodist Church (Lafayette, CA).
Radio Shows
KCSM-FM (San Mateo, CA) Mid-Day Jazz, West Coast Live (KALW-FM, San Francisco, CA), KCSM Desert Island Jazz, KRKD (Oakland, CA) and others.
Venues Currently Playing
We appear every Thursday at Pres a Vi in Building D of the Letterman Digital Arts Center in the Presidio. Every Friday, 7 to 10 PM we are at Prima Ristorante in Walnut Creek. We are at Chaya Brasserie in San Francisco the first Sunday of every month from 6 PM to 9 PM.
Gig info: http://www.ribak.com/gigs.html
CD info
Our first CD, "Kurt Ribak Trio" is now back in print after selling out its initial run. Our second CD, "more" is also almost sold out of its initial run. Our third CD, "gone" has just been released. You can hear samples of them and purchase it at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/kurtribaktrio.
You can also purchase them at http://www.afm6.org/cdstore.htm and at amazon.com. They are available for download at emusic.com and iTunes. You can also buy the CDs at Groove Yard, 5555 Claremont Avenue Oakland, CA 94618 and at Down Home Music, 10341 San Pablo Avenue, El Cerrito, CA 94530.
Contact: Kurt Ribak
Phone: 510-703-7035
e-mail: kurt@ribak.com
fax: 510-528-4774
postal mail:
P.O. Box 8045,
Berkeley, CA 94707-8045
BIOGRAPHY
Who’s Kurt Ribak?
Kurt Ribak (pronounced REE-bok, like the shoes) grew up in Berkeley, CA. Early musical experiences included singing in the San Francisco Boys Chorus. In grade school Kurt began studying the cello. Kurt later studied with major cellists, including Bonnie Hampton, Susie Napper, and Elisabeth LeGuin.
While a student at UC Berkeley Kurt began playing electric bass, buying his first good bass with money made working as a janitor. At Cal he continued to play classical music and studied jazz under Neal Heidler and Jeremy Cohen while playing in the UC Jazz Ensembles, where he met and first played with pianist Greg Sankovich. Kurt also studied West African drumming with C.K. Ladzekpo and spent summers teaching at Cazadero Music Camp, where he played with trombonist Julian Priester, guitarist / composer Paul Dresher, and steel drummer Andy Narell, as well as working in the local early music scene.
Kurt subsequently earned a scholarship to Berklee College of Music, after a bout with tendinitis. He graduated with top honors, studying bass with Whit Browne, Bruce Gertz, and John Repucci. Kurt spent many hours transcribing and absorbing the styles of bassists Paul Chambers, Ray Brown, and Charles Mingus, but also spent hours dissecting the compositions and arrangements of African bandleader Fela Kuti and R&B giant James Brown.
Kurt first learned of his love of composition while at Berklee College of Music. His early tunes often reflected a strong Thelonious Monk influence, while others reflect his love of the great bassists/composer/bandleader Charles Mingus, whose music he studied intensively at Berklee. Later tunes bring to mind the South African composer Abdullah Ibrahim a.k.a. Dollar Brand, Horace Silver, Lee Morgan, and Cannonball Adderley.
After graduation from Berklee Kurt returned to the San Francisco Bay area. Drummer Bryan Melvin, formerly with the great electric bassist Jaco Pastorius, said Kurt plays bass "the way it should be played." R&B legend Johnny Otis sought him out to say Kurt’s playing reminded Otis of the late bassist Curtis Counce, a favorite sideman of Otis.
Kurt has played with many prominent musicians. Among them are jazz/blues vocalist Faye Carol, new music composer Paul Dresher, Broadway singer Lillias Brooks, JC Hopkins (writer and former bandleader for Norah Jones), guitarist Adam Levy, sideman with Tracy Chapman and Norah Jones, and with Ralph Carney, best known for his work with Tom Waits. Kurt’s also played with prominent non-jazz musicians, including Danny Carnahan of Wake the Dead and Eric and Suzy Thompson, who have received international acclaim for their performances of bluegrass and Cajun music. Kurt also appeared as an actor in commercial videos and films, including Erica Jordan’s "In the Wake" (released in 2001) and Rob Nilsson’s upcoming release "Scheme." He also contributed music to both films.
In 2001 Kurt started his own group, the Kurt Ribak Trio, which has been his primary musical focus. In 2003 he re-connected with UC Jazz Ensembles bandmate Greg Sankovich, the trio’s pianist. The Kurt Ribak Trio features Kurt’s own compositions but includes select jazz standards and under-appreciated tunes from the Great American Songbook.
The Kurt Ribak Trio has two CDs out, "Kurt Ribak Trio," and "more." Both CDs feature Kurt's compositions. The CDs have proven popular in Japan, where Disk Union and GATS Productions Ltd. are distributing the CDs. The track "Pseudoafrocubanismo" from "Kurt Ribak Trio" was licensed for inclusion in the Japanese LP and CD release "Jazz Bar 2007, " and the track "Prima" appeared on "Jazz Bar 2008." The releases enjoy regular airplay on KCSM-FM and steady sales in both the US and in Japan. A third Kurt Ribak Trio CD, "gone," has just been released. The CD release party will be held at Yoshi's in San Francisco Tuesday, June 30.
GREG SANKOVICH, piano, organ and keyboards was born in 1960 and was raised in the East Bay area of San Francisco. After showing attraction to piano as a child, he began his keyboard journey with classical training from age 6. His parents' interest in dance and popular music inspired Greg's feel for music that moves people, so his inclination from an early age was towards rhythmically-oriented music.
He went on to study with the finest jazz and latin pianists and educators in the San Francisco area including Al Zulaica, Mark Levine, and Art Lande. From 13 years old Greg was busy in the SF bay area with local jazz, club and dance bands, and was an active member of the UC Berkeley Jazz Ensembles, highlighted by concert tours in Japan and Europe.
After graduation, Greg moved to Tokyo where he lived for over ten years, performing with a long list of top Japanese artists. Greg has contributed his sound to an eclectic range of musical talent from jazz to R&B, hiphop to pop. He has performed and recorded music on over 25 record labels, and has produced music for TV, radio, and film. Currently, Greg performs regularly in the SF Bay Area with his 6+ year jazz-funk project Times 4 who are working on their third cd release, bassist Kurt Ribak's jazz groups, an R&B buddy band since his teens the Blue Sky Band, and many other musically diverse freelance projects.
Drums
MATT WILLIS, drums was born in Detroit in the late 50's and has made California and Hawaii his home since the late 1970's. Extremely versatile in all
musical styles with a dynamic groove and easygoing nature, he performs throughout northern California with top musicians including world-renowned steel
drum artist Jeff Narell, guitarist Ray Obeido, and jazz composer/ bassist Kurt Ribak among many others. Past credits include Hawaiian artists such as Henry
Kaleialoha Allen, Loyal Garner and Melveen Leed plus American oldies acts the Shirelles, Drifters and Coasters. Matt currently resides with his wife and children in the Bay Area.
Additional performers with the Kurt Ribak Trio, Quartet and Quintet
LINCOLN ADLER, Saxophones. Lincoln started playing various musical instruments at the age of 5, eventually being drawn
to the saxophone in high school. Lincoln became fascinated by the power of music to communicate feelings across the boundaries of
language and culture. He developed his sound playing in Bay Area bands and refined his abilities at the University of California,
Berkeley as a member of the UC Jazz Ensembles. He studied with some great teachers, including legendary saxophonist Joe Henderson and
local hero Hal Stein. In Los Angeles he became an in-demand session player and composer/producer for TV and film. He released four albums
under his own name as well as one with the L.A. based Rain-bo Tribe, and two with Times 4. Lincoln has performed and recorded with many
artists including actor/pianist Jeff Goldblum, The Jets, kd lang, and Olivia Newton John. Lincoln plays regularly with Kurt Ribak and is a member of jazz-funk group Times 4, including multiple appearances at both Yoshi's Nightspots. His musical influences include Sonny Rollins, Johnny Griffin, Grover Washington Jr., Stanley Turrentine, Gustav Mahler and Meshell Ndegeocello.
HAL RICHARDS, Saxophones, clarinets, and flutes. Born in New York City, versatile woodwind specialist Hal Richards has been performing and recording with many of the Bay Areas finest jazz, Latin and African musicians since 1976.
Currently performing with the Mike Vax Big Band, Kurt Ribak Trio, Jeff Sanford's Cartoon Jazz Orchestra, and the Golden Gate Park Band, Hal has appeared with Terry Gibbs, Eric Marienthal, Bill Perkins, Bob Florence, Omar Clay, Lenny Niehaus and at The North Beach Jazz Festival. As a Bay Area freelance musician, Hal also performs with many original Jazz and World music groups. Theater experience includes several musical productions, television soundtracks, the Bay Area Revels, San Francisco Children’s Opera, San Francisco Mime Troupe, Magic Theater, and the Peninsula Civic Light Opera. Classical endeavors have included various chamber groups and a stint with The Guadalajara Symphony Orchestra. In addition to his busy playing schedule, Hal, a member of Musicians Union Local 6, has been teaching music in S.F. Public Schools for the past 19 years.
Drummers Emeriti:
Tim Solook, drums
Tim Solook is a working drummer whose talent to adapt to a variety of musical styles is always in demand. Born and raised in New Jersey, Tim studied music in Philadelphia and New York City, receiving his BM degree from the Manhattan School of Music.
While studying at MSM, Tim took private instruction from jazz drumming great Joe Morello and vibist David Friedman. Upon graduating, Tim studied vibes with Caribbean Jazz Project's Dave Samuels. Collectively these associations have molded a solid musical foundation for Tim's style.
Over the last 25 years, Tim has performed everywhere from the Newport Jazz Festival, Saratoga, NY, Continental Arena, Rutherford, NJ, and the Roxy in Los Angeles to the Jazz Keller in Frankfurt, Germany. He has recorded five nationally distributed CDs with Houston jazz pianist Joe LoCascio.
While living in Houston, Tim performed with celebrated jazz musicians Freddie Hubbard, Kirk Whalum, Herb Ellis, Charlie Byrd, Emily Remler, Dave Leibman, Roseanna Vitro, Monty Alexander, Tim Hagans and Randy Brecker. From 1996 to 2002, Tim held the position of percussion instructor at Houston Community College, working with private drum students and the percussion ensemble for five years.
Tim's first CD as a leader, "ABILITY" is on the Sol Time record label.
Drummer Tim Solook played with the Kurt Ribak Trio from 2003 until December 2006, when he returned to Houston in search of more work and affordable housing. He appeared on the Kurt Ribak Trio's debut recording, "Kurt Ribak Trio."
Kevin Mummey, drums and percussion
Kevin has recorded and performed extensively with Davka, Klez-X, the San Francisco Klezmer Experience, Laurie Lewis, Penelope Houston, Los Pinkies, the Blue Room Boys, Ralph Carney, Jack Gates, Fox and Cats, the Kurt Ribak Trio and Alan Ginsberg among others.
A versatile percussionist, he finds himself in great demand in jazz, rock, flamenco, Klezmer, Brazilian and avant-garde ensembles. Kevin learned drums from his father in Chicago, and studied with Bob Moses, tabla with pandit Swapan Chaudury, dumbeq with Vince Delgado, and guitar with Jack Gates.
Kevin Mummey played with the Kurt Ribak Trio from 2003 until August of 2006, when he moved to pursue a doctoral fellowship in medieval history at the University of Minnesota. Kevin played drums on the second Kurt Ribak Trio CD, "more" and is on the new Kurt Ribak Trio CD, titled "gone."
Instrumentation
Kurt Ribak - upright bass
Greg Sankovich - piano, keyboards
Matt Willis - drums, percussion
Discography
Kurt Ribak Trio - "Kurt Ribak Trio" Rodia Records, 2005
Kurt Ribak Trio - "more" Rodia Records, 2007
Kurt Ribak Trio - "gone" Rodia Records, 2009