The Group
“Kal Bergendahl is the guy with the top notch smooth-jazzy, soulful, R&B funkalicious band.” Paddy Fineran, Kenosha News "This CD is terrific." John Nickelsen, 91.1FM WGTD “Their unique sound, clear and energetic, yet soulful, could be likened to a combination of David Sanborn and Norah Jones…” Patte Geary, The Sun, Suburban Chicago News “Bergendahl leads a septet that eschews the typical flash and sheen of funky fusion for a subtler, almost more traditionally jazzy approach.” Jamie Lee Rake, Shepherd Express "Great sound, I like the compositions." Ernie Adams-drummer (Ramsey Lewis, Dizzy Gillespie & Joe Zawinul) The Kal Bergendahl Project (KBP) is a six-piece instrumental jazz-funk band. The vibrant unit features some of SE Wisconsin’s most familiar jazz faces displaying extraordinary musicianship and technical precision. Blending free-flowing funk and memorable melodies; the ensemble is driven by a stellar horn section. Groove and melodic hooks are constantly weaved in their deeply focused musical landscape of Jazz-Funk, R&B and Soul. By exercising the vocabulary of popular music in the environment of jazz, KBP has a youthful, pop edge permeating their sound. “Melody, melody, melody.” says composer and bandleader Bergendahl. “For me in my writing and in the music I enjoy, I’m always focusing on the melody. Ultimately that’s what sticks in the listeners ear and what makes a tune memorable. Being a bass player, I love the groove but I try to always make it serve the melody.” The group has performed throughout the local region since 2005 being showcased at many outdoor festivals, concert halls, and benefits. Some notable performances include: Music on the Esplanade-CHI, Jazz at Five-Madison, Jazz in the Park-Madison, Summer Soulstice-MKE, Bastille Days-MKE, Bayview Jazz Fest-MKE, Lakefront Fest of Art-MKE, Chill on the Hill-MKE, Music Under Glass-MKE, Square Tunes-Glendale, Jeans Jazz Series-Racine, Party on the Pavement-Racine, Craft Beer Fest-Sheboygan, Jazz Crawl for the Arts-Plymouth, Fondue Fest-Fond Du Lac, Celebrate Jazz-Kenosha, UW Parkside-Kenosha, Carthage College-Kenosha, Twilight Jazz-Kenosha, Gibson Music Hall-Appleton, Concerts in the Park-Lake Geneva. |
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