Gregg Karukas
Albums
Sure that Gregg Karukas had reached the point where his lighthearted approach to smooth jazz was instantly recognizable, the keyboardist titled his last Positive Music release, You'll [more]
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Appearances
Under the direction of Russ Freeman (equally skilled as a guitarist and as a keyboardist), the Rippingtons succeeded in combining jazz-influenced solos with light, funky [more]
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Sure that Gregg Karukas had reached the point where his lighthearted approach to smooth jazz was instantly recognizable, the keyboardist titled his last Positive Music release, You'll [more]
- List Price: $14.98
- Member Price: $14.38
- List Price: $19.98
- Member Price: $17.98
- List Price: $16.98
- Member Price: $15.28
- List Price: $18.98
- Member Price: $17.45
![Smooth Jazz Number Ones [Concord]](/cache/JHS/m6/130x130_m65680zb24v.jpg)
This ten-song set features, as its title states, only number one hits -- but not from the Billboard chart. These tracks all placed that spot on the Radio & [more]
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The problem with attacking easy targets in order to make a point is that they're, well, too easy to attack. Take smooth jazz, for example. If one's premise is that smooth jazz in general is [more]
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- Member Price: $17.45
Biography
- Styles
- Holidays
- Instrument(s)
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, All Music Guide
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