 One of my college professors, Hal Miller, once said “If you hang with eagles, you’re bound to soar.” He was saying this in regards to performing with musicians that are better than you and how it will push you to play up to their level and push the boundaries of your own potential. That formative season is long past but I have continued to apply this principle to many areas of my life throughout the years.
Today as I write, I am filled with immense gratitude for the people that have taken my ability and music to another level - especially as our new album “Parallels Ch. IV” is released. kalbproject.hearnow.com I often marvel at the people I have been blessed to share a stage and a recording space with. Most of the musicians that have performed and recorded with KBP over the years are band leaders themselves. Many of them are national and internationally recognized artists who are world-class musicians and people. My point is-you can have a great recipe but quality ingredients are still essential for an excellent meal. Yeah, I think I just called all these guys ‘ingredients’, but you get what I mean! I have learned to not be afraid to surround myself with people more gifted than myself because I can use their excellence as inspiration to continue to grow. Insecurities and comparison just hinder us from reaching for the fullness of our potential. We are unique in what we bring to this life as well as what we can accomplish in our vocations and communities. We are unique by God’s design. That has freed me from a competition mind-set to striving towards personal excellence. I hope you like the music on this new album! I am stoked to get it out and hope you enjoy listening to it as much as we enjoyed making it. I’m blessed to have such a great supporting cast who worked tirelessly to make this what it is. Thank you always for the love & support! And keep surrounding yourself with people who inspire and provoke you to soar higher. God bless, Kal Currently diggin- -Nate Bargatze-Hello World…. cause now is always a good time for a little humor | https://natebargatze.com -Boom Chicka Pop….. ridiculously good kettle corn | https://youtu.be/-LGLgCplqKk -Madison Ryann Ward…. take a listen, your ears & soul will thank you | https://open.spotify.com/artist/6eAUAR4N9NOpirukqdIzVI
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 Soundscapes | Saturday, March 5th, 2022 | 7pm
Indian Trail High School Auditorium 6800-60th St. | Kenosha, WI. With a reputation for musical variety and excellence, Living Light School of Worship will host its 8th annual benefit concert, Soundscapes, on Saturday, March 5th. The evening will begin at 7pm at Indian Trail Auditorium in Kenosha (6800-60th St.). From the classical music of Windfire, to the jazz-funk from Kal Bergendahl Project, it will be a night of diverse and original instrumental music truly reflecting the event’s name – Soundscapes. Delicious homemade desserts will be served at the intermission as well. ‘WINDFIRE: Flute & Percussion Spectacular’ is comprised of John and Paula Kasica. The classical duo from St. Louis, Missouri has performed around the country as well as overseas for the past 25 years. John has a Diploma of Music from the Juilliard School in New York. Since 1971 he has been a member of the percussion section of the Grammy award-winning St. Louis Symphony, featuring on over 110 albums, winning five Grammy Awards and performing 80 times at Carnegie Hall. He has served on the faculty of UMSL, Webster University, Mo Baptist University and Maryville University. Flautist Paula Kasica received her Bachelor of Music from the St. Louis Conservatory of Music. She has appeared as soloist with several symphonies including the St. Louis Symphony and was a member of the Equinox Chamber Players. She has performed at the Aspen Music Festival, the Grand Teton Music Festival, the Fox Theatre Orchestra and the International Chinese Music Festival Changsha and Zhengzhou, China. 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. Joining Kal for the evening will be: Russ Johnson-trumpet, Ben Olson-alto saxophone, Tony Barba-tenor saxophone, Theo Merriweather-keyboards, Glenn Williams-drums as well as Chris Marvin-guitar and John Pendray-piano. Blending free-flowing funk and memorable melodies; the ensemble is driven by a stellar horn section. Groove and melodic hooks are weaved in their musical landscape of Jazz-Funk, R&B and Soul. The group has performed throughout the local region since 2005 being showcased at many outdoor festivals, concert halls, and benefits. Some notable performances include: Gallagher Way @ Wrigley Field-Chicago, Jazz at Five-Madison, Milwaukee’s Bastille Days, Lakefront Fest of Art and Chill on the Hill, Jeans Jazz Series-Racine, Fondue Fest-Fond Du Lac, Gibson Music Hall-Appleton and Concerts in the Park-Lake Geneva. They have released three recordings in their “Parallels” series titled Chapters 1, 2 and 3. Word+Design artist Brianna Johnson will be featured with the group. She will be doing a live painting of the song titled “The Clearing”. The painting will be available for auction during the evening as well. Founded in 2001, Living Light School of Worship is a nine-month music and discipleship program in Kenosha, attracting students from all over the country and world with alumni representing eleven different countries. All concert proceeds go to benefit the Living Light School of Worship. Contact 2626525212 or [email protected] for more information or to purchase tickets, which are available in advance or at the door for $15 each.
 GROOVIN’ UP SLOWLY | Vocalist Donna Woodall joins us for COME TOGETHER
“The Beatles will exist without us.” George Harrison Recently, I got a call to play bass with vocalist Donna Woodall. During the show we did a couple of Beatles songs and it got my wheels turning. I talked to Donna after the show about possibility joining our group for some shows doing Beatles covers. She was all about it! So the idea was born-“Come Together” The Beatles Soulfully Reimagined. Spanning the Beatles catalog using versions from artists such as: Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, Marcus Miller & Herbie Hancock, the 6-piece group funkifies the Fab Four. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2GMGaeWOEg I’ve always loved the Beatles music. Their musical evolution within such a short period of time showcases their remarkable creativity. Once Ringo joined the band, the Fab Four were only together for eight years. Eight years! Within that span they composed some of the most diverse melodies, harmonies and rhythms within popular music. Although they broke up in 1970, the music of the Beatles continues going strong. I guess George was right; the Beatles will exist without them. We hope to see you this year as we inject a little KBP into these fascinating and timeless songs. Peace, Kal Currently diggin on: -Shepherd’s Pie @ Ashling on the Lough: Will make you feel a little Blighty! ashlingonthelough.com -Lynne Arriale Trio: One of my favorite versions of Blackbird. www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKuMTfzyyT4 -Sirius XM-“The Beatles Channel” Songs, history, stories, interviews…..Beatlemania. www.siriusxm.com/thebeatles -A Hard Days Write: Steve Turners book on the stories behind the songs. www.harpercollins.com/9780060844097/a-hard-days-write-3e/ -We will also be performing as our six-piece instrumental group in support of our new album “Parallels Ch. II” coming out in May. Come Together shows will be specified on our Dates page.  THE VIRTUE OF VALUE | Thoughts on the value of live music & the arts
“Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life” Picasso I remember performing at an art gallery located in a beautiful lakefront property in Milwaukee a number of years ago. I was playing with a pianist in a dining room surrounded by a diverse collection of art. Paintings, sculptures, ceramics filled the historic house. During one of our breaks we walked around to get a closer look at some of them. As I read one of the plates mounted on a wall I noticed the name “Picasso”. “Surely this couldn’t be the Picasso” I thought! The first name was Pablo, and the piano player - who was much more enlightened than me in the ways of art culture - told me Yes, it is the Picasso! Now, we had been in that room for a couple of hours surrounded by these wonderful works of art, and I really had no idea the value and magnitude of them. For the rest of the evening all I could think was ‘try not to knock over one of the sculptures’ which was dangerous close to where I sat! I was in awe by the value that was in the room - I had a new level of interest and appreciation for the artistic works which surrounded me. I think many of us can be like this - oblivious at times to the value of things around us. As a matter of fact, we often take for granted the things of most value. Value has various shades of meaning. It can simply refer to the monetary worth of object. On a deeper level, it’s a word we assign to something important and beneficial. Be it a vehicle, a house, or a musical instrument, most of us have something that has value to us because of the price we paid for it. However, some of the things we value most don’t come with a price tag. Things such as quality time with people we love, or a family heirloom with sentimental value. The value they hold goes beyond money, to something altogether deeper. Music and the arts are this way. They have value that cannot always be quantified. Of course the price of a CD or streaming service is exact. A concert ticket, or admission price to an art gallery or the price to purchase a piece of art is exact, but the value of these things is intangible in many ways. What is the value of experiencing gifted people perform? Or the therapeutic nature of the arts? It is impossible to put a price tag on a moment when we are inspired, provoked and moved emotionally. But the benefit and importance of it are clear. The impact of music and the arts is mysterious. In many ways, it feels like 1+1=3. It’s a phenomenon that cannot be explained fully, but we know the beauty of this expression impacts us in ways that mere spoken or written words don’t. We can show that we value an artist who spent time crafting their skill when we give them our attention and financial support. Since the only way we can express our value of something is through actions, the natural question is - What can I do?
Ralph Waldo Emerson said “Every artist was first an amateur” and Henri Matisse, “Creativity takes courage”. There is value in supporting someone who is creating something, helping others heal from wounds, putting themselves out there, maybe overcoming depression, low self-esteem, or stage fright. Music and the arts can heal and inspire like nothing else. There is value in supporting someone who is expressing something unique before our eyes - unique because they are a one-of-a-kind. God made that person unique, and when they have a platform to express themselves it will have a flavor like no other. So, let’s express how much we value live music and the arts- After all, don’t we all need a little washing of our souls from the dust of everyday life? God bless, Kal Currently digging on: - Kenosha Creative Space: K-Town’s connecting and creative hub for the arts. kenoshacreativespace.com -Willburger @ Stack’d: Dang good-gourmet burgers in Milwaukee’s 5th ward! www.stackdburgerbar.com -Kiefer: A little electronic funkiness. www.stonesthrow.com/kiefer -The Needle Drop: “You decide the value of music” youtu.be/_uySf429Z7E  TIM BELL | LESSONS & LAUGHTER
“Hey Baby!” came a familiar voice from behind me in the hallway of my music classes. Who was it...a student? No, believe it or not that voice was coming from a professor! It was the coolest cat on campus, Tim Bell. I can’t tell you how many times he greeted me that way, accompanied by his mischievous smile. To me and countless others, Professor Bell was an incredibly approachable and consistently encouraging soul. Tim, who passed away October 18th, 2017, richly blessed my time at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside. Throughout my years at Parkside and after graduation, Tim became so much more than just a teacher; he truly was a friend. Laughing with him in between classes, picking his brain on jazz and seeing him in the community for many years after was an absolute joy. Tim taught me how to balance intensity and humor while in the classroom. The main way in which I saw this outworked was in our Big Band Jazz rehearsals. If we were butchering a tune-which happened more often than I would like to admit (partially because we played his difficult charts from the University of North Texas)-he would begin waving his hands and yell “You suck, you suck!” and stop the band. Now you might think that this is an awful thing for a professor to do, but he always had this cheeky grin on his face and would begin his signature chuckle. After he would have a good laugh at our expense, we would begin to loosen up and he would work sections in the group- teaching each person to understand their role and part better. Sometimes he would even start the band back up again by counting: “1-2-Don’t Suck!”. :) He was a virtuoso on the Alto saxophone. Every musician there knew it and that’s part of what made us respect him so much. It made us want to do better. He was intense at the right time and in the right way. He wanted the musicians to rise to the challenge of the music. He wanted the group to be cohesive and he held us to a high standard. But he also knew how to loosen us up with timely humor. He loved what he did and that is what made me want to come to class and to study under him. He knew how to have a connection with the students and let them get to know him on a personal level. Tim made me want to work hard, study hard and play better for him every week because of his powerful motivation and belief in my abilities. His belief in me was inspiring especially because he could see potential in me that I couldn’t. For nearly 20 years, I have been a music teacher and so much of my approach to teaching has come directly from what I saw modeled by Tim. But even beyond that there is so much more I have learned from him. I have learned that whatever setting we find ourselves in we can remember to fuse lessons with laughter and that we are all surrounded with people we can help in some way. I think one of the greatest ways we can impact people is by leaving a legacy of being joyful throughout life’s lessons, which Tim definitely demonstrated. In life, the means are just as important as the end. Maybe sometimes, the means are the end. Thanks for the memories filled with laughter and a myriad of lessons Tim. God bless, Kal Currently diggin’ on:
 Fusion will play host to “Celebrate Jazz” with a month long focus of jazz featuring performances, talks and an interaction class for kids. The series will show how jazz crosses borders of culture, musical genre, technology, gender and race. The series has partnered with downtown restaurants to feature “Dinner & Jazz”. Mangia, Villa D’ Carlo and The Boathouse are offering 15% off your meal for the performances on April 1st, 8th and 27th. Patrons must present concert ticket for that evening.
Celebrate Jazz kicks off April 1st with Milwaukee vocalist Donna Woodall. Donna presents lush, intimate vocals with every performance. She is a staple in Milwaukee's summer festival circuit, having played at every imaginable outdoor music series in the city. Citing Billy Holliday and Norah Jones as influence to her vocal approach, Donna Woodall leads her group of seasoned musicians, delivering jazz classics. https://www.facebook.com/donnawoodallgroup/ Tickets $8. Show time is 8pm. KBP will be at the series on April 8th. Tickets $8. Show time is 8pm. On Wednesday, April 12th at 7pm the room will fill with the classic sounds of Ellington, Goodman and Sinatra as The Southport Sound Big Band takes the stage. The eleven-member group features and swings with some of the American Songbooks greatest treasures. www.facebook.com/southportsound1 This evening’s performance is free to the public. Thursday, April 27th will bring “Dreamland: The music of Thelonious Monk”. Trumpet player Jamie Breiwick leads the group as they showcase one of the most notable and unique figures in jazz. A life-long native of S.E. Wisconsin, Jamie is an active trumpet player, composer, and educator. https://jamiebreiwick.net Tickets $8. Show time is 8pm. The series will conclude on Saturday, April 29th with “The ABC’s of Jazz: Jazz for Kids and their Grownups”. The time will feature a brief lesson on fun facts of jazz and feature performances of jazz songs created just for kids! The songs are written from a child’s perspective and covering such important topics as bellybuttons, juice, and sharing. The interactive class will include some of the areas finest jazz instructors. The class begins at 1pm and is free. The sponsors for Celebrate Jazz are WGTD, Villa D’ Carlo, ULINE, Rizzo & Diersen and Armstrong Dentistry. *Saturday, April 1st 8pm Donna Woodall Group ($8.00) *Saturday, April 8th 8pm KBP ($8.00) Wednesday, April 12th 7pm Southport Sound Big Band (Free) *Thursday, April 27th 8pm Dreamland ($8) Saturday, April 29th 1pm ABC’s of Jazz (Free) Fusion 5014 – 7th Ave. Kenosha, WI. 53140 Tickets are $8.00 and can be purchased online @www.kenoshafusion.com *Dinner and Jazz Night. 15% off meal at Mangia, Villa D’ Carlo and The Boathouse. Must present concert ticket for that evening.  Albert Einstein once said, “Look at the universe. Could so great a symphony have no conductor?” I find my greatest inspiration for writing instrumental music comes from taking in the symphony of nature; the wonderful sights we are surrounded with everyday. Whether it’s on vacation in some exotic location (which doesn’t happen as often as I would like), the penetrating beauty of a sunrise over the Lake Michigan horizon or a simple walk in the woods, I always find nature at the heart of my inspiration when composing instrumental music.
When listening to instrumental music, I always try to imagine why the composer chose the name they did. I like to think of the music painting a picture of a scene. I’ll never forget the first time I heard Debussy’s “Nuages” (Clouds). I felt like he musically captured the exact essence of what clouds would sound like if they indeed had a sound! I love instrumental music because it allows the listener to imagine scenes and scenery in their own unique way while taking in the piece of music. In my songwriting approach, there are times when I am in nature and a melody comes to me. I then name the song after that experience. Other times, I write the melody with no specific form of nature in mind and while completing the song and listening back to it, I try to picture what aspect of nature it might best represent. Either way, my purpose is to give an interpretation to the wonder of God’s creation. I titled our latest EP ‘Parallels Ch. 1’ because I wanted to have my music parallel the artistry of nature. All of our songs are titled after something pertaining to the wonderful world around us. So as you listen, let your imagination wander to horizons, ravines, ridges, clearings, dawns and coasts! God bless, Kal Currently Diggin’ on:
The band-Glenn, Theo, Eric, Jeremy, Benny, thank you for making my tunes come alive!
Benny Olson-for going above & way beyond the call of duty for this record! Jeremy Scott-your encouragement & consistent musical companionship has done more than you could ever know. Benny Ramos III Benny Ramos IV Jamie Breiwick Brianna Johnson Kurt, Diane, Kyle & Nicole Bergendahl Alice & Russ Menden Chris & Lori George ‘The Coast-Party People’-Jackie Jordan, Tahmi Prado, Benita Thorat, Alyssa Davilla, Jalon Richard Paddy Fineran, Liz Snyder & Sean Krajacic at the Kenosha News Jason Gibert Hal Miller Tom McGirr James Crowley Gloria Cairo Kim & John Pendray Naomi Marie Chris & Ro Marvin Teresa Reynolds Dan Lakin (Lakland Basses) Joe Mooney Living Light School of Worship-alumni & current students Friends, Family & Church Family who support me even though they probably don’t really dig this kind of music. :) Judah, Arden, Avery & Adelynn, my four blessings in life. Thank you for always humming my tunes around the house! I love being your dad. Shanon Marie my best friend, incredible wife & non-musician who lets me have this creative outlet while not understanding why I am so driven in it. :) I am so grateful for you and cherish everyday we have together! Jesus Christ for inspiring me everyday through creation and for giving me the ability to express my gratitude through the avenue of music. It’s for You I play. For all of you, who have come to our shows, buy our music and help support live music-Thank you! God bless, Kal
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Hi and welcome to our new web site! We are excited for the New Year and wanted to give you a heads up on what to look out for with KBP in 2016.
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