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{{Infobox musical artist | {{Infobox musical artist | ||
| name = Skerik | | name = Skerik | ||
| image = Skerik_Headhunters_2005.jpg | | image = Skerik_Headhunters_2005.jpg | ||
| caption = Skerik with | | caption = Skerik with The Headhunters<br>at Schuba's June 21, 2005 | ||
| image_size = | | image_size = | ||
| background = | | background = non_vocal_instrumentalist | ||
| origin = | | origin = Seattle, Washington, US | ||
| instrument = saxophone, electronics, vocals, keyboards | | instrument = saxophone, electronics, vocals, keyboards | ||
| occupation = | | occupation = | ||
| years_active = | | years_active = | ||
| label = Hyena, Ropeadope, Independent | | label = Hyena, Ropeadope, Independent | ||
| associated_acts = | | associated_acts = Skerik's Syncopated Taint Septet, The Dead Kenny G's, Mad Season, Critters Buggin, Les Claypool's Frog Brigade, Garage A Trois, Ponga, Primus | ||
| website = http://www.syncopatedtaint.com/<br>http://www.crittersbuggin.com/ | | website = http://www.syncopatedtaint.com/<br>http://www.crittersbuggin.com/ | ||
| current_members = | | current_members = | ||
| Line 16: | Line 16: | ||
| notable_instruments = | | notable_instruments = | ||
}} | }} | ||
'''Skerik''' (born '''Eric Walton''') is an | '''Skerik''' (born '''Eric Walton''') is an American saxophonist from Seattle, Washington. Performing on the tenor and baritone saxophone, often with electronics and loops, Skerik is a pioneer in a playing style that has been dubbed saxophonics. He is a founding member of Critters Buggin, Garage a Trois, [[Tuatara]], and Skerik's Syncopated Taint Septet. He is also an original member of both Les Claypool's Fancy Band and Frog Brigade and has toured with and played with numerous others in a variety of genres. Skerik also worked with grunge band Mad Season. | ||
==History== | ==History== | ||
Skerik began playing saxophone in the fifth grade in the Mercer Island public school system. His father's love of jazz was an early inspiration. He played saxophone, keyboards and drums in a rock band called Uncle Jam at Mercer Island High School. He has cited The Rolling Stones and Pink Floyd as bands from that time period who brought saxophone into rock music well. In the 1980s he travelled to London, Paris and the South Pacific working day jobs and playing in a variety of bands. His friendship with | Skerik began playing saxophone in the fifth grade in the Mercer Island public school system. His father's love of jazz was an early inspiration. He played saxophone, keyboards and drums in a rock band called Uncle Jam at Mercer Island High School. He has cited The Rolling Stones and Pink Floyd as bands from that time period who brought saxophone into rock music well. In the 1980s he travelled to London, Paris and the South Pacific working day jobs and playing in a variety of bands. His friendship with Leif Totusek introduced him to South African music and Zaire soukous bands in London where he first began playing music full time.<ref name="saxjournal">Andrew Clark, Skerik, ''Saxophone Journal'' Volume 27, Number 1, Sept/Oct 2002</ref> | ||
Skerik returned to Seattle in the late 1980s where he played with Sadhappy. In the early 1990s he joined three ex-members of | Skerik returned to Seattle in the late 1980s where he played with Sadhappy. In the early 1990s he joined three ex-members of New Bohemians to form Critters Buggin<ref name="saxjournal" /> (who have remained active through 2008).<ref>Jonathan Zwickel [http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/entertainment/2008031771_critters04.html Critters Buggin: Keeping it unorthodox with a monster jam session] ''The Seattle Times'', July 3, 2008</ref> Projects since that time have included Ponga (Wayne Horvitz and Bobby Previte), [[Tuatara]] ([[Peter Buck]], [[Scott McCaughey]] and Craig Flory) and solo works of Stanton Moore as well as Garage A Trois (also including Charlie Hunter). Beginning 2000 Skerik was a member of every incarnation of Les Claypool's Frog Brigade and Fancy Band. In 2001 Skerik played the Pacific Northwest portion of Roger Waters' tour, reproducing the sax lead in "Money".<ref name="saxjournal" /> | ||
In 2002 Skerik formed | In 2002 Skerik formed Skerik's Syncopated Taint Septet with fellow Seattle musicians. After touring nationally, their 2006 studio release ''Husky'' received very positive reviews.<ref>Paul Olsen [http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=23225 Skerik: Concept is All Anyone Cares About] ''All About Jazz'', October 2006</ref><ref>Andrew Lindemann Malone [http://jazztimes.com/articles/17237-husky-skerik-s-syncopated-taint-septet Husky] ''Jazz Times'', September 2006</ref><ref name="barros">Paul de Barros [http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=20060818&slug=jazz18 Seattle saxophonist's funky, artful septet] ''The Seattle Times'' August 18, 2006</ref> | ||
Skerik won the award of "Northwest Jazz Instrumentalist of the Year" at the 2003 | Skerik won the award of "Northwest Jazz Instrumentalist of the Year" at the 2003 Earshot Jazz Golden Ear Awards.<ref>Bill White [http://www.seattlepi.com/pop/160841_earshot17.html Sax player Skerik has another reason to toot his own horn] ''seattlepi.com'', February 17, 2004</ref> | ||
Skerik has expressed support of music education for young people <ref name="saxjournal" /> and support for activism such as the voting project | Skerik has expressed support of music education for young people <ref name="saxjournal" /> and support for activism such as the voting project HeadCount.<ref>[http://www.jambase.com/Articles/15215/Rocktober-Get-Out-And-Vote!/3 Rocktober: Get Out And Vote!] HeadCount, ''JamBase'', October 2, 2008, Retrieved December 29, 2008</ref> In interviews he has discussed creative integrity and spontaneity.<ref name="saxjournal" /><ref name="kayceman">The Kayceman [http://www.jambase.com/headsup.asp?storyID=1615 Skerik | Serving the Music] ''JamBase'', October, 2001, Retrieved December 29, 2008</ref> He has also provided music workshops.<ref>[http://www.pyramind.com/community/calendar/view/20/85.html “SKERIK: RECORDING CHAOS AND ACOUTRONICA CONCEPTS”] ''pyramind.com'', September 2009</ref> | ||
==Various projects== | ==Various projects== | ||
Skerik is a founding member of | Skerik is a founding member of Critters Buggin, Garage a Trois (which has included Stanton Moore, Charlie Hunter, Mike Dillon and Marco Benevento), Crack Sabbath and The Dead Kenny G's. Skerik is an original member of Les Claypool's Fancy Band and Frog Brigade, Ponga and Coalition of the Willing and Joe Doria's McTuff. In the 1990s he was also a member of [[Tuatara]] (with [[Peter Buck]]) and Seattle-based Sadhappy. | ||
Skerik has toured with | Skerik has toured with Fred Wesley, Mike Clark and The Headhunters, Wayne Horvitz (Zony Mash), Mad Season and Roger Waters. He has performed with Pearl Jam, Bonnie Raitt,<ref name="moorman" /> The Meters, Galactic, Dumpstaphunk, Johnny Vidacovich, Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey, Ween, and many, many others. | ||
In Seattle Skerik leads Seattle-based "punk-jazz" ensemble | In Seattle Skerik leads Seattle-based "punk-jazz" ensemble Skerik's Syncopated Taint Septet.<ref name="barros" /><ref>[http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/who-when-where/Content?oid=22934 Who, When, Where] ''thestranger.com'', September 2005</ref><ref>Christopher DeLaurenti [http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/classical-jazz--avant/Content?oid=55909 Classical, Jazz & Avant] ''thestranger.com'', August 21, 2006</ref> He is a founding member of Seattle's Crack Sabbath.<ref name="moorman">Trent Moorman [http://lineout.thestranger.com/2008/01/skerik_psychic_rushdie_saxophone Skerik: Psychic Rushdie Saxophone] ''thestranger.com'', January 31, 2008</ref> He is also a member of Seattle-based McTuff.<ref>Court Scott [http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/news_print.php?id=24659 Behind the McTuff Exterior] ''All About Jazz'', October 2008</ref><ref>Christopher DeLaurenti and Jonathan Zwickel [http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/jazznot-jazz/Content?oid=419056 Jazz/not Jazz] ''thestranger.com'', October 17, 2007</ref> | ||
In New Orleans he is a member of Maelstrom Trio (including long-time duomates keyboardist | In New Orleans he is a member of Maelstrom Trio (including long-time duomates keyboardist Brian Coogan and drummer Simon Lott). The Maelstrom Trio combines disparate elements such as free jazz, funk, metal and textural music. Skerik and percussionist Mike Dillon have toured as a trio with New Orleans bassist James Singleton as "Illuminasti".<ref>[http://la.knittingfactory.com/show.php?event_id=113632 The Illuminasti Trio (featuring Skerik, Mike Dillon, & James Singleton of Astral Project)] ''la.knittingfactory.com'' April 2008</ref> | ||
Skerik and Dillon also perform as a trio called "The Dead Kenny G's" with alternate third members. National tours have included keyboardist | Skerik and Dillon also perform as a trio called "The Dead Kenny G's" with alternate third members. National tours have included keyboardist Brian Haas<ref>Sam Prestianni, Mike Rowell [http://www.sfweekly.com/2005-10-05/music/jazz-cats-the-dead-kenny-g-s-stick-it-to-everyone-s-favorite-wuss-dmbq-drops-a-bluster-bomb-on-12-galaxies/ Jazz cats the Dead Kenny G's stick it to everyone's favorite wuss] ''sfweekly.com'' October 5, 2005</ref> and bassist Brad Houser. With Houser they have also toured as "Critters Buggin Trio"<ref>Adam Brown [http://www.whatsup-magazine.com/index.php?navarea=Archives&storyid=400 6th Annual Flowmotion Summer Meltdown] ''whatsup-magazine.com'', September 2006</ref> and in 2009 they released a debut CD entitled ''Bewildered Herd''.<ref>Tom D'Antoni [http://oregonmusicnews.com/blog/2009/10/20/dead-kenny-gs-at-the-goodfoot-with-david-ornette-cherry/ Dead Kenny G’s at the Goodfoot with David Ornette Cherry] ''oregonmusicnews.com'', October 20, 2009</ref> As the band's name implies there is an expressed disdain for smooth jazz<ref name="kayceman"/> and commercialism.<ref>Aaron Lafont [http://72.32.5.27/Articles/11776/The-Dead-Kenny-Gs-10.05-LA The Dead Kenny Gs | 10.05 | LA] ''jambase.com'', 11/28/07</ref> Skerik has described The Dead Kenny G's as a "free-jazz version of The Melvins."<ref name="moorman" /> In 2011 The Dead Kenny G's toured with frequent Skerik and Dillon collaborator Les Claypool's Primus (band)|Primus. | ||
== | ==Involvement with Mark Eitzel== | ||
Skerik, as part of [[Peter Buck]]'s [[Tuatara]], performed vibraphone, organ and baritone saxophone on [[Mark Eitzel]]'s 1997 ''[[West]]'' album, co-writen with Buck. | |||
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==References== | ==References== | ||
{{reflist|2}} | {{reflist|2}} | ||
[[Category:Guest musicians]] | |||
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