The Jazz Organ Scene

USA

Gregg Karukas Gregg (* 1956 in Baltimore, MD) is a smooth jazz keyboarder who first gained notice in Washington, D.C., then moved to Los Angeles in 1983. He backed Melissa Manchester before he co-founded the Rippingtons in 1985.   He experimented with drums, guitar, trumpet, and keyboards as a child, but it was not until his teens that he pursued music professionally as a pianist, having played with the Bowie High School Starliners big band. When he was sixteen, he owned one of the first Minimoog synthesizers.   Gregg spent five years with Tim Eyermann in the band East Coast Offering. After moving to Los Angeles, he worked with Shelby Flint, David Benoit, Richard Elliot, Grant Geissman, Dave Koz, Ronnie Laws, and Melissa Manchester. He was a member of the Rippingtons when they recorded their first album, Moonlighting, in November 1985. He has worked as a sideman with Larry Carlton, Jeffrey Osborne, George Duke, Rick Braun, Brenda Russell, Craig Chaquico, Boney James, and Peter White.   Gregg has received multiple Best Keyboardist nominations at the Oasis and National Smooth Jazz Awards. He has collaborated with Brazilian composer Dori Caymmi and Ricardo Silveira. He produced, arranged, engineered, and co-wrote two albums with Omar Akram, whose Echoes of Love won the Grammy Award for Best New Age Album in 2013. He owns and distributes most of his music on his label, Nightowl Records.   from Wikipedia

contact:	alevers@a-train.com
homepage:	www.karukas.com
	Click on the logo to see Gregg's tour dates.

I'll Stand Up Nova Records NOVA 8915-2 released 1989 recorded in Glendale, CA and Hollywood, CA/USA	Pat Kelley, percussion, guitar, synthesizer Steve Tavaglione, alto sax Brandon Fields, alto sax, tenor sax Barnaby Finch, piano, keyboards David Benoit, piano Gregg Karukas, organ, keyboards Dave Edelstein, bass Mark Hunter, bass Tim Landers, bass Bob Wilson, drums Jeff Boydstun, percussion Michael Fisher, percussion Andrea Robinson, vocals Debra Davis, vocals Gary Stockdale, vocals
You'll Know It's Me Fahrenheit Records FR9510-2 released 1995 recorded March through June 1995 in Dripping Springs, TX/USA	Gregg Karukas, piano, organ, synthesizer, bass, drums, percussion Boney James, soprano sax Eric Marienthal, soprano sax Dino Soldo, sax, harmonica Lee Thornberg, trombone, trumpet Ray Fuller, guitar Mike O'Neill, guitar Doc Powell, guitar Ricardo Silveira, guitar Keith Jones, bass Dwayne "Smitty" Smith, bass John Lewis, drums Luis Conte, percussion Ron Boustead, vocals Shelby Flint, vocals
Blue Touch i.e. Music 314 539 887-2 recorded spring/fall 1997 in Los Angeles, CA/USA	Gregg Karukas, organ, piano, bass, synthesizer, bass, vocals Brandon Fields, sax Boney James, sax Eric Marienthal, sax Nick Lane, trombone Walt Fowler, trumpet, flugelhorn James Harrah, guitar Allen Hinds, guitar Michael O'Neill, guitar Ricardo Silveira, guitar Peter White, guitar Keith Jones, bass Dennis Chambers, drums Will Kennedy, drums John Lewis, drums Luis Conte, percussion Ron Boustead, vocals
Heatwave N-Coded Music NC-4237-2 recorded spring/summer 2002 in Los Angeles, CA/USA	Gregg Karukas, piano, keyboards, synthesizer Dave Koz, sax Kirk Whalum, sax Andy Suzuki, sax, flute, alto flute Dino Soldo, trombone Nick Lane, trombone Rick Braun, trumpet Michael O' Neil, guitar Paul Jackson jr., guitar Mel Brown, bass Jervonny Collier, bass William Kennedy, drums John Lewis, drums Luis Conte, congas, tambourine, percussion
Looking Up Trippin 'N' Rhythm Records 64494-90518-2 recorded fall 2004 to spring 2005 in Los Angeles, CA/USA	Gregg Karukas, piano, keyboards, synthesizer Andy Suzuki, sax, flute Rick Braun, trumpet Peter White, guitar Ricardo Silveira, guitar Michael O'Neill, guitar Thom Rotella, guitar
GK Trippin 'N' Rhythm Records TNR33 recorded spring/summer 2009 in Thousand Oaks, CA/USA	Gregg Karukas, organ, synthesizer, piano, bass, drums Rick Rossi, tenor sax, flute Jessy J, sax Michael Paulo, sax, flute Rick Braun, trumpet, flugelhorn Lee Thornberg, trumpet Michael O'Neill, guitar Paul Rayner Brown, guitar Russ Freeman, guitar Ricardo Silveira, guitar Eric Baines, bass Melvin Davis, bass Oscar Seaton, drums Luis Conte, percussion
Outside In Innervision Records & Entertainment INN901	Craig Sharmat, guitar, keyboards, vocals Mark Hollingsworth, sax, flute Rick Braun, trumpet John Findlay, keyboards Gregg Karukas, organ Greg Mathieson, organ, piano Nate Najar, piano Philippe Saisse, piano Beneditk Fischer, violin Dan Lutz, bass Rayford Griffin, drums Luis Conte, percussion Denarris, vocals John Mahon, vocals
Soul Secrets Nightowl Records NRD 4448-2	Gregg Karukas, piano, keyboards Euge Groove, sax Vincent Ingala, sax Rick Braun, trombone, trumpet, flugelhorn Adam Hawley, guitar James Harrah, guitar Michael O'Neill, guitar Ricardo Silveira, guitar Charlie Bisharat, violin Nate Phillips, bass Eric Valentine, drums Ron Boustead, vocals Shelby Flint, vocals
Say Hey! Street Talk Music	Thom Rotella, guitar Chris Standring, guitar Gregg Karukas, organ no further details known
Side Hustle High Note HCD7355 recorded February 2024 in Los Angeles, CA/USA	Thom Rotella, guitar Eric Alexander, tenor sax Jeremy Pelt, trumpet Bobby Floyd, organ Gregg Karukas, organ Kendall Kaye, drums Roy McCurdy, drums Lenny Castro, percussion

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