Though the Karriem Riggins Virtuoso Experience was one of the most anticipated bands at the 2009 Detroit International Jazz Festival, it was also one of the most mysterious.
Led by the 34-year-old Detroit-born drummer, the band promised to reflect Riggins’ duel personality — his roots as a brilliant, no-nonsense post-bop drummer and his street cred as a skilled hip hop producer for the late J Dilla and others. Read more
Karriem Riggins may very well be a living, breathing reincarnation of the musical work ethic ancient Detroit was built upon; an ancient Detroit that many of us still dream. But while we dream of the past and applaud the brief glimpses that local musicians still grant us today, Riggins is off living within the dream, expanding and retracting the decibel fantasy as he sees fit.
Born in Detroit in 1975, the Riggins household was one of musical advantage. His father, Emmanuel, performed regularly in the city, most notably with former Blue Note recording artist Grant Green. Riggins was instantly attracted to the drums, often jamming and performing with his father. By the age of 17, Riggins had locked down some experience with Betty Carter’s Jazz Ahead. By 19, New York’s bright light appeal brought Riggins to the Big Apple … but he would never forget his Detroit roots.
Since the beginning of Riggins career, he has embodied the same soulful (and hardworking) spirit that many in Motown filled before him — constantly collaborating with the greats of both jazz and hip-hop genres, bringing his “less is more” drumming philosophy into the studio with him. Sure, Riggins is neither a household name nor the face to a particular movement, but like the Motown studio performers before him, he has made his mark on many. In the jazz world, Herbie Hancock and Hank Jones come to mind. In the hip-hop world, many are familiar with Riggins’ work with socially conscious Common and Talib Kweli, as well as the Detroit-born Slum Village and J Dilla. Read more
A scene out of hip-hop history circa 1996: The venue is the 1,500-capacity House of Blues in Chicago, modeled loosely after a Prague opera house, a joint that’s hosted artists from Aretha to the Who. But tonight it’s a cavalcade of hip-hop stars. Lauryn Hill of the Fugees is there. De La Soul is there with its trippy, P-Funk-sampling take on rap, plus Cee Lo Green and the ever-positive Common.
A scene out of jazz history the same year: The venue is the 200-capacity Blue Note in New York City. On stage they’ve got the top names they’re known for: Oscar Peterson at the piano, the great Detroit vibraphonist Milt Jackson and the redoubtable Ray Brown on bass. None of the legends shout from the stage: “Put your hands up in the air!” or “Make some noise.” The well-received album from that night delivers loving reanimations of the likes of “I Remember Clifford,” “Nature Boy” and the Ellington classic “Caravan.”
These would seem to be snapshots from different worlds. But jazz and hip hop often aren’t as far apart as they may seem. And one of the links is the former Detroiter Karriem Riggins, who played with Common at the aforementioned House of Blues, and, as Ray Brown’s regular drummer, was the sole youngster on that all-star Blue Note gig. Read more
The Detroit Jazz Festival this year will feature a primetime, mainstage performance by Karriem Riggins’ Virtuoso Experience.
For those attending, they are playing on Saturday, Septermber 5th and will be at the Chase Main Stage from 6PM-7:15. Full details can be found by clicking the graphic below, or checking out our events listings.
Read more for the official performance description care of the Detroit Jazz Fest. Read more
Check out this video, care of Mochilla and music.vtechphones.com. It’s from the recent Virtuoso Experience Tour which featured Mulgrew Miller on Keys, Warren Wolf on Vibes, Joe Saunders on Bass, and of course Karriem Riggins on Drums. The band performs Tergiversation (Gene Perla) as described by Joy from VTech Below, followed by the video. Enjoy
“Tergiversation is a song by Gene Perla. Perla was a bass player who performed with legendary drummer Elvin Jones for many years. Tergiversation is a term that describes an evasion of straightforward action of clear-cut statement. Perla dedicated the song to jazz legend Miles Davis, a tergiversationist if there ever was one, who often turned his back towards the audience as he played.”
After seeing his show live @ The Triple Door in Seattle, writer Andrew Matson from the Seattle Times had this to say :
“After my older brother and I conversed about what we’d just seen, we felt DAMN PROUD TO BE AMERICANS.
Karriem Riggins illustrated democracy in action, and exhibited mastery of the last great American musical artforms, jazz and hiphop, with crazy taste and authenticity. Other countries might copy what happened, but it really couldn’t have gone down anywhere else. Add that to the fact the Karriem Riggins Virtuoso Experience happens only a few more times, in Minneapolis and Oakland, and last night just gets rarer.”
Despite unfortunate technical difficulties that prevented the Seattle Times from snapping their own photo and video, we were able to rustle some up (c/o music.vtechphones.com), which you can view below… You can also read the entirety of the Virtuoso Experience write up by clicking to read more.
“Karriem is in a beautiful enviable position: By day, he can cook with the best of those in the jazz and he STILL maintains his respect from the veterans of that world (he is from [Detroit] like Elvin Jones)… Then at night he cooks some treats up on his MPC3000 that I KNOW for a fact has a fellow former resident of the D smiling
down and snapping his neck from the gates of heaven tapping the shoulders of Jimi & Donny & James & Minnie talking about ’see that cat right there? That’s MY cat right there!!!!…..(*yells to gabriel at the speaker controls*)…TURN IT UP!’
I can only DREAM to have this position.”
-Ahmir ?uestlove Thompson
Read More from ?uestlove and The Roots on Hip Hop’s Second Jazz Age…
Karriem will, in one night, show die hard and soon-to-be-acquired fans alike his true talent. He will open the show with an explosive drum showcase along with a special guest DJon the turntables, as they transition between a variety of soul, hip-hop and jazz-fusion. He will close out the night with a variety of newly introduced music; giving fans an exclusive sneak peak into his upcoming album, the Karriem Riggins Quintet featuring Mulgrew Miller on Keys among others! Karriem’s ability to masterfully perform in the gap between genres is sure to catch the attention of music fans worldwide of all demographics, and help them to experience this phenomenal new musical movement.
Jazz and hip hop share the stage if not the song
Taken from www.MetroTimes.com
Karriem Riggins: The Virtuoso Experience
