MKG Band play music directly from the hearts of a group of unique, very accomplished musicians in the unusual position of being able to play how they feel the songs. It’s the spontaneous live interaction and energy of old school recording where you write the song then play it down as a band. It’s the surprises you get when four players with greatly varied backgrounds and styles decide throw it all in a pot and stir the music up. It’s playing with no rules. But mostly it’s a group making music they love with friends they love.
Joining the group are Grant Green, Jr. (son of legendary jazz guitarist Grant Green), Khari Cabral-Simmons and featuring Jhelisa Anderson.
$10 Adv – $15 Door
Doors @ 7 PM
MKG was born out of discussions between Daz IKue & myself about developing a project that merged the 60/70s small instrumental groups like Booker T & the MGs & the Meters with Brokenbeat and Dub Step. Daz was to program a musical foundation and the band would perform over the tracks.
The first step was to put together MKG. Khari Simmons was a definite for the bass spot, we’ve been working together in the studio as players & co-producing since the mid ’90s. I met Rafael Pereira the first week he was in Atlanta on a traditional Brazilian session & it was like finding a long lost brother, he was a must for the drum seat. A few years ago Davis Causey and I ended up in Shawn Mullin’s band together and the musical connection was immediate. These were the guys and to my amazement they all wanted in.
The first session Daz & I had a couple of tracks ready to work around, but to get warmed up we decided to start with a blank slate & write a song from bottom up. Less than 2 hours later we had a finished track. The organic flow between the musicians was unstoppable. We never quite got around to recording over the prepared tracks, maybe next CD.
So what is MKG? It’s music being played directly from the hearts of a group of unique, very accomplished musicians in the unusual position of being able to play how they feel the songs. It’s the spontaneous live interaction and energy of old school recording where you write the song then play it down as a band. It’s the surprises you get when 4 players with greatly varied backgrounds and styles decide throw it all in a pot and stir the music up. It’s playing with no rules. But mostly it’s a group making music they love with friends they love.
Grant Green, Jr. is a jazz guitarist and son of jazz guitar player Grant Green. He is a member of the group Masters of Groove, along with drummer Bernard Purdie and B3 organ player Reuben Wilson.
Born in St Louis, Missouri on August 4, 1955, Grant Green Jr. started playing guitar at the age of fourteen. He moved to New York in 1965. It was there that he met numerous Jazz musicians who stopped by the family home. In 1969, Green Jr. moved to Detroit with his father Grant Green. His next door neighbors were Stevie Wonder's parents. Marvin Gaye lived a few blocks away, so did members of the Four Tops and other Motown artists. At that time the influence of Motown was widely felt.
His father and Stevie were great Influences on him. His first real gig was with Richard Groove Holmes. Grant Green Jr. went on to play with other greats such as Leon Thomas, Reuben Wilson, Jimmy McGriff, Lou Donaldson, and Dr Lonnie Smith among others. He continues to record and perform.
A founder and original member of The Groovement and Earthseed Music Collective, Khari Cabral-Simmons is a pioneer at the intersection of Soul, Jazz, and Bossa Nova. His resume includes world tours with India Arie, Russell Gunn, and Jiva. He has collaborated with Julie Dexter, Incognito, Chnta Cann, and many more. But most importantly, Khari brings a sophisticated and sublime groove to MKG.