Kevin Karrick: Biography

Briefly..

Kevin Karrick is known as an accomplished guitarist and vocalist, as well as band leader, doing whatever it takes to make the band the best it can be. Most often thought of as a jazz artist, his roots in classic and progressive rock, and knowledge of music of the swing era are tastefully revealed in his performances, which he does equally well as a soloist, with a jazz trio, or with his dance band, Swing Essence.

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Growing up in central Illinois in the 60's and 70's, he played trumpet, cello, piano, and guitar by age twelve. In those early years, he was most often the one in the band counted on to figure out by ear, how to play the cover songs of the time. Some of his favorite guitarists included Jimmy Page, Jimmy Hendrix, Stephen Stills, Eric Clapton, Carlos Santana, and Steve Howe of Yes. He later transcribed and played covers by Rush, Kansas, Supertramp, Styx, and Steely Dan to name a few. The various bands to which he contributed, performed in clubs around central Illinois, Indiana, and along the Mississippi River. At one point, he led an all original rock band called KACY, that opened for a Head East concert.

Kevin studied music and electronics in college, while he worked as a solo guitarist, taught guitar privately, free lanced with several variety bands and in the studio. During this time, his practice schedule took on an hours-per-day rate, while he studied theory, guitar improvisation, jazz standards, and the works of guitarists like Joe Pass, Howard Roberts, Chet Atkins, and Larry Carlton.

Those last few years in Illinois, Kevin recorded with jazz composer Rich Richardson and played in his 10 piece jazz/percussion band, Jahptal. He also held a house gig with veteran showman Dick Benson, and was a member of the Central Illinois Jazz Society house band. The last project Kevin started in Illinois, was a jazz-blues-rock band, for which he hired drummer Mitch Marine, a young drummer who went on to work with Brave Combo, Smash Mouth, and toured with Dwight Yocum.

At 26, after moving to Denver, CO with his family, Kevin continued performing as a free lance guitarist, working with a well establlished private event band for weddings and fund raisers, at times with guests including presidents, well known recording artists and Hollywood figures. On the flip side, he worked a day job as a technician and engineer designing electronic test equipment. Within this career, an opportunity arose to move to Portland, Oregon, where he was a successful engineer, completing several major product designs and a U.S. Patent, working for a high tech firm. After a time in the corporate environment, he left in favor of a more independent life. He worked as an engineering consultant, while performing part time, and eventually re-established his musical relationships returning to a full time musical career. In Portland, he appeared or worked with recording artist Patrick Lamb, Portland favorites Dub and Ann Debrie, drummers Mel Brown and Donny Osborne, and grammy-nominated singer Chrissy Faith.

Kevin moved back to Northern Colorado in 2002, where he teaches guitar, performs locally at church and the local jazz scene, and leads and arranges the music of Swing Essence. He released the CD "Sweeter All The Time" in 2003.