Skerik is an American saxophonist from Seattle, Washington. Performing on the tenor and baritone saxophone, often with electronics and loops, he is a pioneer in a playing style that has been called saxophonics. He is a founding member of

Critters Buggin Critters Buggin is a Seattle, Washington-based instrumental group which performs in a jazz, rock and African-influenced, eclectic style. The band is composed of Matt Chamberlain (drums, percussion, piano, programming, synths, loops, samples an ...

, Garage a Trois, Ponga,

Tuatara Tuatara (''Sphenodon punctatus'') are reptiles endemic to New Zealand. Despite their close resemblance to lizards, they are part of a distinct lineage, the order Rhynchocephalia. The name ''tuatara'' is derived from the Māori language and ...

, and Skerik's Syncopated Taint Septet. He is also an original member of both Les Claypool's Fancy Band and Frog Brigade. Skerik also worked with grunge band Mad Season.

History

Skerik began playing saxophone in the fifth grade. His father's love of jazz was an early inspiration. He played saxophone, keyboards and percussion in a rock band called Uncle Jam. 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 Soukous (from French '' secousse'', "shock, jolt, jerk") is a genre of dance music from Congo-Kinshasa and Congo-Brazzaville. It derived from Congolese rumba in the 1960s, becoming known for its fast dance rhythms and intricate guitar improv ...

bands in London where he first began playing music full time.Andrew Clark, Skerik, ''Saxophone Journal'' Volume 27, Number 1, Sept/Oct 2002 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

(who have remained active through 2008). Projects since that time have included Ponga (

Wayne Horvitz Wayne Horvitz (born 1955) is an American composer, keyboardist and record producer. He came to prominence in the Downtown scene of 1980s and '90s New York City, where he met his future wife, the singer, songwriter and pianist Robin Holcomb. He ...

and Bobby Previte),

(

Peter Buck Peter Lawrence Buck (born December 6, 1956) is an American musician and songwriter. He was a co-founder and the lead guitarist of the alternative rock band R.E.M. He also plays the banjo and mandolin on several R.E.M. songs. Throughout his c ...

, Scott McCaughey and Craig Flory) and solo works of

Stanton Moore Stanton Moore (born July 9, 1972) is an American funk, jazz, and rock drummer from New Orleans. Most widely known as a founding member of Galactic, Moore has also pursued a solo recording career (beginning with his 1998 debut ''All Kooked Out! ...

as well as Garage A Trois (also including Charlie Hunter). Beginning 2000 Skerik was a member of every incarnation of

Les Claypool Leslie Edward Claypool (born September 29, 1963) is an American musician, singer, songwriter, record producer, filmmaker, and author. He is best known as the founder, lead singer, bassist, primary songwriter, and only continuous member of the ro ...

's Frog Brigade and Fancy Band. In 2001 Skerik played the Pacific Northwest portion of

Roger Waters George Roger Waters (born 6 September 1943) is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. In 1965, he co-founded the progressive rock band Pink Floyd. Waters initially served as the bassist, but following the departure of singer-so ...

' tour, reproducing the sax lead in "

Money Money is any item or verifiable record that is generally accepted as payment for goods and services and repayment of debts, such as taxes, in a particular country or socio-economic context. The primary functions which distinguish money ar ...

". In 2002 Skerik formed Syncopated Taint Septet with fellow Seattle musicians. After touring nationally, their 2006 studio release '' Husky'' received very positive reviews. Skerik won the award of "Northwest Jazz Instrumentalist of the Year" at the 2003

Earshot Jazz Earshot Jazz is a regional jazz non-profit organization in Seattle, Washington. It brings jazz musicians and enthusiasts from the greater Seattle area and around the Pacific Northwest to create an energetic and lively jazz community that wants to k ...

Golden Ear Awards. Skerik has expressed support of music education for young people and support for activism such as the voting project HeadCount. In interviews he has discussed creative integrity and spontaneity.The Kaycema
Skerik , Serving the Music
''JamBase'', October, 2001, Retrieved December 29, 2008 He has also provided music workshops.

Various projects

Skerik is a founding member of

, Garage a Trois (which has included

, Charlie Hunter, Mike Dillon, and

Marco Benevento Marco Benevento (born July 22, 1977) is an American pianist, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and record producer, who has been a fixture of the New York experimental music rock and jazz scene since 1999. He is the founder and recording e ...

), Crack Sabbath, and The Dead Kenny G's. Skerik is an original member of Les Claypool's Fancy Band and Frog Brigade, Bobby Previte's Ponga and

Coalition of the Willing The term ''coalition of the willing'' refers to an international alliance focused on achieving a particular objective, usually of military or political nature. Usage *One early use was by President Bill Clinton in June 1994 in relation to possib ...

and Joe Doria's McTuff. In the 1990s he was also a member of

(with

) and Seattle-based Sadhappy. Skerik has toured with

Fred Wesley Fred Wesley (born July 4, 1943) is an American trombonist who worked with James Brown in the 1960s and 1970s and Parliament-Funkadelic in the second half of the 1970s. Biography Wesley was born the son of a high school teacher and big band le ...

, Mike Clark and The Headhunters,

(Zony Mash), Mad Season and

. He has performed with

Pearl Jam Pearl Jam is an American rock band formed in Seattle, Washington, in 1990. The band's lineup consists of founding members Jeff Ament (bass guitar), Stone Gossard (rhythm guitar), Mike McCready (lead guitar), and Eddie Vedder (lead vocals, ...

Bonnie Raitt Bonnie Lynn Raitt (; born November 8, 1949) is an American blues singer and guitarist. In 1971, Raitt released her self-titled debut album. Following this, she released a series of critically acclaimed roots-influenced albums that incorporate ...

, The Meters,

Galactic Galactic is an American jam band from New Orleans, Louisiana. Origins and background Formed in 1994 as an octet (under the name Galactic Prophylactic) and including singer Chris Lane and guitarist Rob Gowen, the group was soon pared down to a ...

Dumpstaphunk Dumpstaphunk is a funk and jam band from New Orleans, Louisiana, United States. Origins and background The quintet's current lineup features Ivan Neville on vocals, B3 and Clav, the double bass attack and soulful voices of Tony Hall and Nick ...

Johnny Vidacovich John Joseph Vidacovich Jr. (born June 27, 1949) is an American jazz drummer and a member of the band Astral Project with James Singleton, Tony Dagradi, and Steve Masakowski. He has also worked with Bobby McFerrin, Stanton Moore, Charlie Hunte ...

, Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey, and

Ween Ween is an American rock band from New Hope, Pennsylvania, formed in 1984 by Aaron Freeman and Mickey Melchiondo, better known by their respective stage names, Gene and Dean Ween. Generally categorized as an alternative rock band, the band a ...

. In Seattle Skerik leads Seattle-based punk-jazz band Skerik's Syncopated Taint Septet. He is a founding member of Seattle's Crack Sabbath.Trent Moorma
Skerik: Psychic Rushdie Saxophone
''thestranger.com'', January 31, 2008 He is also a member of Seattle-based McTuff. In New Orleans he is a member of Maelstrom Trio, including long-time mates 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. 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 and bassist Brad Houser. With Houser they have also toured as "Critters Buggin Trio" and in 2009 they released a debut CD entitled ''Bewildered Herd''.Tom D'Anton
Dead Kenny G's at the Goodfoot with David Ornette Cherry
''oregonmusicnews.com'', October 20, 2009 As the band's name implies there is an expressed disdain for

smooth jazz Smooth jazz is a genre of commercially-oriented crossover jazz and easy listening music that became dominant in the mid 1970s to the early 1990s. History Smooth jazz is a commercially oriented, crossover jazz which came to prominence in the 1 ...

and

commercialism Commercialism is the application of both manufacturing and consumption towards personal usage, or the practices, methods, aims, and distribution of products in a free market geared toward generating a profit. Commercialism can also refer, positive ...

. Skerik has described The Dead Kenny G's as a "free-jazz version of

The Melvins ''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things that are already or about to be mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in ...

Discography

* 2001: ''Psychochromatic'' (Skerik) * 2002: '' Skerik's Syncopated Taint Septet'' (

Ropeadope The rope-a-dope is a boxing fighting technique in which one contender leans against the ropes of the boxing ring and draws non-injuring offensive punches, letting the opponent tire themselves out. This gives the former the opportunity to the ...

) * 2002: Black Frames '' Solarallergy'' (independent) * 2004: Crack Sabbath ''Bar Slut'' (Independent) * 2006: ''Left for Dead in Seattle'' (1995–2003 independent) * 2006: Skerik's Syncopated Taint Septet '' Husky'' (Hyena) * 2009: The Dead Kenny G's ''Bewildered Herd'' (independent) * 2010: Skerik's Syncopated Taint Septet '' Live at The Triple Door'' ( Royal Potato Family) * 2011: The Dead Kenny G's ''Operation: Long Leash'' (independent) * 2012: Skerik's Bandalabra ''Live at the Royal Room'' (Royal Potato Family) * 2012: Skerik's Bandalabra ''Live at the Comet'' (independent) * 2017: Skerik ''live at the Chapel volume 1'' * 2019: Skerik ''live at the Chapel volume 2'' With Critters Buggin * 1994: ''

Guest Guest or The Guest may refer to: * A person who is given hospitality * Guest (surname), people with the surname ''Guest'' * USS ''Guest'' (DD-472), U.S. Navy ''Fletcher''-class destroyer 1942–1946 * Guest appearance, guest actor, guest star, e ...

'' (Loosegroove) * 1997: '' Host'' (Loosegroove) * 1997: ''

Monkeypot Merganzer ''Monkeypot Merganzer'' is the third studio album by Critters Buggin of Seattle, Washington and was released in 1997.liner notes Originally released independently, ''Monkeypot Merganzer'' was reissued by Kufala Recordings in 2004. Track listing # ...

'' (Loosegroove) * 1998: ''Bumpa'' (Loosegroove) * 1998: ''

Amoeba An amoeba (; less commonly spelled ameba or amœba; plural ''am(o)ebas'' or ''am(o)ebae'' ), often called an amoeboid, is a type of cell or unicellular organism with the ability to alter its shape, primarily by extending and retracting pseudo ...

'' (Loosegroove) * 2004: ''

Stampede A stampede () is a situation in which a group of large animals suddenly start running in the same direction, especially because they are excited or frightened. Non-human species associated with stampede behavior include zebras, cattle, elephants ...

'' (Ropeadope) * 2007: ''Get the Clackervalve and the Old Clobberd Biscuits Out and Smack the Grand Ham Clapper's Mother'' (DVD) * 2009: ''Live in 95 at the OK Hotel – Seattle 1995'' (independent) * 2020: ''Count Cancelled'' Live 2001 Disastour (available on Bandcamp) With

* 2001: Les Claypool's Frog Brigade '' Live Frogs Set 1'' (

Prawn Song Prawn Song Records is an independent record label owned by Les Claypool of Primus. The name and logo are a parody of Led Zeppelin's label Swan Song Records. Prawn Song is based in San Francisco, California, and distribution is handled by RED Dis ...

) * 2001: Les Claypool's Frog Brigade ''

Live Frogs Set 2 ''Live Frogs Set 2'' is the second set of live recordings by Les Claypool's Frog Brigade, released on July 24, 2001. The album is a complete performance of the Pink Floyd studio album ''Animals''. It is introduced at the end of '' Live Frogs S ...

'' (Prawn Song) * 2002: Les Claypool's Frog Brigade '' Purple Onion'' (Prawn Song) * 2005: ''

5 Gallons Of Diesel ''5 Gallons of Diesel'' is a retrospective music DVD featuring Les Claypool and his various side projects. Released on November 15, 2005 by Prawn Song Records Prawn Song Records is an independent record label owned by Les Claypool of Primus. Th ...

'' (DVD – Prawn Song) * 2006: ''

Of Whales and Woe ''Of Whales And Woe'' is the first solo album by Les Claypool, the bassist and vocalist of Primus. The album was released on May 30, 2006. The album features Skerik (saxophonist of the Les Claypool's Fearless Flying Frog Brigade), Mike Dillo ...

'' (Prawn Song) * 2007: ''

Fancy Fancy may refer to: Places * Fancy, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, a settlement * Fancy River, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Music Albums * ''Fancy'' (Bobbie Gentry album), 1970 * ''Fancy'' (Idiot Flesh album), 1997 * ''Fancy'' (video ...

'' (DVD – Prawn Song) With

* 1998: ''

All Kooked Out! ''All Kooked Out!'' is the debut studio album by New Orleans-based drummer Stanton Moore. It was recorded entirely live in the studio with no overdubs and no headphones, in a week-long session that also yielded ''Mysteryfunk'', the debut album ...

'' ( Fog City) * 1999: Garage a Trois ''

Mysteryfunk Garage A Trois is an American jazz quartet including drummer Stanton Moore, saxophonist Skerik, vibraphone and percussionist Mike Dillon and keyboardist Marco Benevento. They play a variety of music including rock, funk and jazz. History Gar ...

'' (Fog City) * 2002: ''

Flyin' the Koop ''Flyin' the Koop'' is the second solo album by New Orleans drummer Stanton Moore. The album includes funk, rock and jazz. Moore's line-up for ''Flyin' the Koop'' is in part a combination of musicians with whom he played at a "SuperJam" at Tipit ...

'' ( Verve) * 2003: Garage a Trois '' Emphasizer'' (Tone Cool) * 2005: Garage a Trois '' Outre Mer'' (

Telarc Telarc International Corporation is an American audiophile independent record label founded in 1977 by two classically trained musicians and former teachers, Jack Renner and Robert Woods. Based in Cleveland, Ohio, the label has had a long associ ...

) * 2006: ''

III III or iii may refer to: Companies * Information International, Inc., a computer technology company * Innovative Interfaces, Inc., a library-software company * 3i, formerly Investors in Industry, a British investment company Other uses * Ins ...

'' (Telarc) * 2009: Garage a Trois '' Power Patriot'' ( Royal Potato Family) * 2011: Garage a Trois '' Always Be Happy, But Stay Evil'' (Royal Potato Family) * 2021: Garage a Trois ''

Calm Down Cologne Garage A Trois is an American jazz quartet including drummer Stanton Moore, saxophonist Skerik, vibraphone and percussionist Mike Dillon and keyboardist Marco Benevento. They play a variety of music including rock, funk and jazz. History Gar ...

'' (Royal Potato Family) With Bobby Previte * 1998: Ponga ''Ponga'' (Loosegroove) * 1999: Ponga ''Remix'' (CD and clear vinyl) (Loosegroove) * 2000: Ponga ''Psychological'' (

P-Vine P-Vine Records is an independent record label based in Tokyo, Japan. History It was started in 1976 by Blues Interactions, a firm founded in 1975 by Yasufumi Higurashi and Akira Kochi, as a record label focused on black music. The label name c ...

) * 2006: Bobby Previte – Jamie Saft – Skerik ''Live in Japan 2003'' (Word Public – DVD) * 2006: Beta Popes ''Live Hate'' * 2006: ''

'' (Ropeadope) * 2007: ''April in New York'' – DVD * 2008: Beta Popes ''White Hate'' (Veal) With Sadhappy * 1992: ''Depth Charge'' (Periscope) * 1994: ''Before We Were Dead – Live'' (Periscope) * 1994: ''The Good, Bad and the Skary'' (Periscope) With others * 1992: My Name Megacrush (C/Z Records) * 1995: Mad Season '' Above'' (Columbia) * 1995: Mad Season '' Live at the Moore'' (Columbia - DVD) * 1996:

'' Breaking the Ethers'' (Epic) * 1996: PHO BAC ''PHO BAC presents Afrophobia'' (Headrush) * 1997: Suicide Jack ''In Churches and Saloons'' (Sujack) * 1997: Timothy Young ''with very special people'' (Endless) * 1998: Tuatara '' Trading with the Enemy'' (Epic) * 1998:

Calm Down Juanita Calm Down Juanita is a Seattle, Washington studio band writing partnership between vocalist Tyler Willman and drummer Kevin Guess, catalyzed and engineered by Steve Wilmans, that has featured several other notable players. Their sound is progres ...

''Calm Down Juanita'' (

Echo In audio signal processing and acoustics, an echo is a reflection of sound that arrives at the listener with a delay after the direct sound. The delay is directly proportional to the distance of the reflecting surface from the source and the li ...

) * 1999: Hairy Apes BMX '' Expatriape'' (AW/VR) * 2000: Suicide Jack ''Honky Tonk Suicide'' (Sujack) * 2000:

Four Plus One Ensemble '' From a Window'' ( Avant) * 2002:

''Undertown'' (Independent) * 2002: Tuatara '' Cinemathique'' (Fast Horse) * 2003: Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey ''Symbiosis Osmosis'' (Kufala) * 2003: Jacek Kochan ''New Expensive Head'' (Gowi) * 2003:

The Mackrosoft ''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things that are already or about to be mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in En ...

'' Journey to Vaginus'' (Independent) * 2003:

The Clinton Administration Bill Clinton's tenure as the 42nd president of the United States began with his first inauguration on January 20, 1993, and ended on January 20, 2001. Clinton, a Democrat from Arkansas, took office following a decisive election victory over ...

''One Nation Under a Re-Groove'' (Magnatude) * 2004: Barrett Martin ''The Painted Desert'' (Fast Horse) * 2007: Hella ''There's No 666 in Outer Space'' (Ipecac) * 2008:

Kayo Dot Kayo Dot is an American avant-garde metal group. Formed in 2003 by Toby Driver after the break-up of '' maudlin of the Well'', they released their debut album '' Choirs of the Eye'' on John Zorn's Tzadik Records that same year. Since then, Kayo ...

Blue Lambency Downward ''Blue Lambency Downward'' is the third studio album by Kayo Dot, released on Hydra Head Records in May 2008. After much of the group left to pursue outside projects, the only members who remained were frontman Toby Driver and violinist and long-t ...

'' ( Hydra Head) * 2008: Todd Sickafoose ''Tiny Resistors'' ( Cryptogramophone) * 2008: Good Guys ''The Social Engagement'' (In the Dark) * 2009: McTuff ''Volume 1'' (McTuff/Joe Doria Music) * 2012: Zony Mash + Horns (

) ''Live at the Royal Room'' * 2014:

Eyvind Kang Eyvindur Y. Kang (born 23 June 1971) is an American composer and multi-instrumentalist. His primary instrument is viola, but has also performed on violin, tuba, keyboards and others. In addition to his solo work, Kang has worked extensively with ...

'' Alastor: Book of Angels Volume 21'' (

Tzadik Tzadik ( he, צַדִּיק , "righteous ne, also ''zadik'', ''ṣaddîq'' or ''sadiq''; pl. ''tzadikim'' ''ṣadiqim'') is a title in Judaism given to people considered righteous, such as biblical figures and later spiritual masters. The ...

) * 2014: Dionvox ''Your Name'' (RZY) * 2014: Omaha Diner ''Omaha Diner'' (independent) * 2015: DRKWAV ''The Purge'' with John Medeski-keys, Adam Deitch-drums, Skerik-saxophones and electronics * 2016: Khu eeX ''The Wilderness Within'' with Bernie Worrell, Preston Singletary, Stanton Moore, etc. * 2017: Khu eeX ''They forgot they survived'' with Bernie Worrell, Preston Singletary, etc. * 2020: Khu eeX '' Heen'' with Bernie Worrell, Preston Singletary, etc. * 2020: Nels Cline ''Share the Wealth'' with Cyro Batista, Trevor Dunn, Scott Amendola, Brian Marsella, Skerik

References

External links

Skerik: Concept is All Anyone Cares About
Interview with Paul Olsen at ''

All About Jazz ''All About Jazz'' is a website established by Michael Ricci in 1995. A volunteer staff publishes news, album reviews, articles, videos, and listings of concerts and other events having to do with jazz. Ricci maintains a related site, ''Jazz Near ...

'', October 2006
An Interview with Skerik on TheWaster.com Skerik Talks Emerald Quintet, OG Garage A Trois, Mad Season, & More
Interview with B. Getz at
Live For Live Music
'' November 19, 2019
Skerik: A Hint of Revolution
Interview with Andrew Luthringer at

, November 2015 {{DEFAULTSORT:Skerik American funk saxophonists American male saxophonists American jazz saxophonists Living people Mad Season (band) members The Minus 5 members Musicians from Seattle Colonel Les Claypool's Fearless Flying Frog Brigade members Critters Buggin members Les Claypool's Fancy Band members 21st-century saxophonists American male jazz musicians The Coalition of the Willing (band) members Garage A Trois members Skerik's Syncopated Taint Septet members Ponga (band) members 1964 births