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 Kyles
experience as a pro musician is wide and varied. It includes 2
summers as principle keyboardist and synthesis programmer with
Utah Musical Theatre (each summer we did 2-week runs of
4 different musicals in a 9 week period), keyboardist/second guitar
for the recent Denver preview and world-premier of the Broadway
musical Brooklyn, a Musical, and Tech
Director/Assistant Music Director/Principal Keyboardist for a recent
community theatre production of The Wizard of Oz.
Outside of the theatre, Kyle has been a founding member and musical
director for local bands Base10 and Chase N the
Dream, and has worked extensively as a member and side-man
with MANY local bands including Soul School, The
Anthony J. Baker Band, Matter of Fact, Heads
Up, The Frank Selman Blues Band, MIchael C.'s
Xtended Version, Mystic Blue, Juarez
60, Network, Linda Lee & Cool Companee,
and The Shades and others.
Currently, in addition to his involvement with Buckner Funken Jazz,
Kyle is also an active member of the talent pool and a band leader for Jerry
Barnett Entertainment/Moments Notice, and does occasional freelance
work with numerous Denver musicians.
Born and
raised in the small farming community of Morgan Utah, Kyle started classical
piano lessons shortly before his 5th birthday, and continued his classical
training for the next 15 years. At age 9, Kyle was introduced to the organ in
the small stone chapel where he attended church. By age 12, he was playing in
services as church organist, something that he still enjoys doing 30 years
later.
In high
school, Kyle was exposed to the music of Tower of Power, Earth Wind & Fire,
Maynard Ferguson Big Band, etc. by his jazz band teacher, and his love affair
with jazz and funk began. During this time, Kyle did numerous performances (and
won numerous awards) at competitions throughout Utah, in Hawaii, and most
notably in the Reno International Jazz Festival, where Morgans jazz band took
first place, and Kyle (at age 14) received recognition as outstanding jazz
soloist.
In the
early 80s, Kyle attended college at Weber State College and University of
Northern Colorado. He performed across the United States, including several
performances at the Knoxville Worlds Fair, and was privileged to be a member of
the rhythm section in guest artist concerts featuring sensational New Orleans
trumpeter Al Hirt and Bruce Springsteen/E-Street drummer Max
Weinberg
Kyles
musical influences are diverse, including Earth Wind & Fire, Tower of Power,
Chicago, Jack Mack, Little Feat, Maze, Al Jarreau, Steeley Dan, Chick Corea,
Jeff Lorber, Rick Wakeman, Marcus Miller, Abe Laboriel, and Victor Wooten.
On
these influences
the first organ I ever played was the Hammond B3 in the
little old stone chapel where I attended church as a kid. As a student of
classical organ, it intrigued me that the same instrument that I played Bach
fugues and church hymns on could sound so different in the hands of a Rick
Wakeman (of the rock band YES) or Chester Thompson (long-time Tower of Power
organist). Because of this, I spent YEARS trying to emulate their sound (much to
the dismay of my bishop, who didn't care much for the sounds of rock and funk
coming from the sanctuary). In fact, the first keyboard I personally purchased
for myself was NOT a piano or synth, but an old Krummar drawbar organ.
"I
listen a LOT to bass players, partially because I fancy myself to be one
(although not a very good one, I fear). Aside from my sheer amazement at their
techniques, my interest in the masters of funk bass is that I can listen and
learn how the rest of the ensemble meshes with the bass and drums, especially in
high-energy funk music. Besides, this music is just plain fun to listen to!
Thanks to God for giving me the necessary tools, to Mom & Dad for helping
me develop my skills, and especially to my wife Julie and my kids (Tiffany,
Brooke, Kaity, Maddie, and Dustin) for their loving support and patience with my
musical career!
Thank You For Visiting My Page
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