Kai Eckhardt (Pt.2) : 'Demons, Angels and Booty shaking in 9/8

German born bassist/composer Kai Eckhardt began playing music in the year 1975. Born in 1961, he spent his
early years in both Germany and Liberia/West-Africa.
Kai eventually moved to the United States to attend Berklee College of music in Boston, the college from which
he graduated with honors in 1987.

During his time in Boston, Kai held the bass chair in the Bob Moses Group as
well as in the ensemble “Tiger’s Baku”, led by trumpeter Tiger Okoshi. In 1987 Kai applied for a teaching position
at Berklee and was accepted into the bass faculty by Rich Appleman. But before receiving his appointment he was
introduced to John McLaughlin by vibraphonist Gary Burton who had been Kai’s improvisation teacher at Berklee.

Kai Eckhardt joined the John McLaughlin trio in the fall of 1988 together with Trilok Gurtu on percussion. For their
artistic excellence, this particular outfit of John’s trio has often been credited with making history in pushing the
envelope of fusing modern jazz with South Indian classical music. During the years 1988-1990 This trio produced
two major albums. "Live at the Royal Festival Hall" went to the top of the billboard jazz charts while the band
toured all over the world until 1990 when Kai took a hiatus from touring to care for his ailing foster parents in
Germany.

Kai began his official US residency in 1995 by receiving the prestigious E1-visa known also as the “Einstein visa”
reserved for individuals at the top of their profession. Kai returned to the stage to join drummer Billy Cobh… Read More