Beginning with his first independent recording, The Nightowl, in 1987, keyboardist/composer Gregg Karukas has been one of the few artists whose own creative growth and commercial success perfectly parallels that of the smooth jazz genre as a whole. His string of Top 5 radio hits include Key Witness (1991), Sound of Emotion ('92), Summerhouse (#1 Gavin in '93) and his breakout major label debut Blue Touch, which rose to #4 on the Radio & Records airplay chart.
A talented keyboardist who has mostly worked in the commercial side of jazz, Gregg Karukas has the potential for stardom. Although he noodled on the piano from age six, he did not start studying music seriously until he was a teenager. Karukas often played organ in r&b bands early on and at 17 he began a five year stint with Tim Eyermann's East Coast Offering. After a period working as a studio musician in D.C., he moved to Los Angeles in 1983 where he became a major part of the pop jazz scene, playing with (among others) Richard Elliot, Grant Geissman, Ronnie Laws and David Benoit. Karukas worked for a year-and-a-half with Melissa Manchester, had a band that featured the young saxophonist Dave Koz and in the mid-1980's he became an original member of the Rippingtons. In addition to his crossover work, Karukas has gained extensive experience playing Brazilian music including with Ricardo Silveira, Sergio Mendes and Dori Caymmi, worked as a freelance producer, been a sideman on albums by Boney James, Peter White and Craig Chaquico, worked as a studio musician and written songs for a variety of r&b/pop artists. As a leader, Gregg Karukas has recorded for Nightowl (1987), Positive Music, Fahrenheit, I.E. Music and N-Coded Music (2000). ~ Scott Yanow
Tracklist:01 - Drive Time
02 - Lady In My Heart
03 - Walkin' With You
04 - Alena
05 - The Nightowl
06 - Calypso Dance
07 - Magic Cat
08 - Talbot Street Cafe
09 - C.I. To Eye
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Fileserve @ 320K
