New Album: June 5th, 2020 Kari van der Kloot: The Architects (Next Level)
“...the music glides seamlessly between intricately arranged ensemble playing and lush layers of vocals and violins...”
Kari van der Kloot’s album The Architects lives somewhere in the space between jazz and folk. Composed by Kari van der Kloot (including a setting of an e.e. cummings poem), the music glides seamlessly between intricately arranged ensemble playing and lush layers of vocals and violins, to moments of improvised abandon. Kari has an innate skill for crafting approachable melodies that belie the depth and complexities of her compositions.
This album features a stellar cast of New York based musicians: violinist Lisanne Tremblay, pianist/synth player Jamie Reynolds, bassist Gary Wang and drummer Nathan Ellman-Bell. A working band since early 2018, the five musicians of The Architects establish an atmosphere of trust throughout the album—each musician’s individual voice shines through clearly in each song while weaving a multi-layered collage together.
With a clear, confident and mature tone, Kari vulnerably lays it all on the line. Many of the songs on The Architects are about searching and growing. With deeply personal lyrics, Kari eloquently details the struggle and frustration of trying to break free of our self-constructed boxes. The first single from the album, “Same Song” is written in the form of a palindrome and details the feeling of being trapped in a cycle. The album’s title track deals with the aftermath, when all of our constructs and artifices have crumbled. The second single and video, “Holding Pattern” reveals a more hopeful slant, depicting the beginning of a long distance relationship.
The Architects will be released on Friday, June 5th 2020 on Next Level Records.
About Kari van der Kloot:
Described by Roseanna Vitro as “ethereal”, Canadian vocalist Kari van der Kloot presents an exciting new voice on the horizon. Living somewhere in the space between jazz and folk, Kari’s compositions fit seamlessly into a tradition of great Canadian singer-songwriters, such as Joni Mitchell, while still honoring her roots in jazz music.
The current iteration of the Kari van der Kloot Quintet features a stellar cast of New York based musicians, including Canadian violinist Lisanne Tremblay, Canadian pianist Jamie Reynolds, bassist Gary Wang and drummer Nathan Ellman-Bell. The live show keeps the listeners on their toes, from full-on intricately arranged ensemble playing, to four-part vocal harmonies and intimate dialogues between the voice and violin. Currently based in New York and playing at venues such as Rockwood and Cornelia Street Cafe, Kari’s project is exciting new fans with her highly original music.
Throughout her career, Kari has given many acclaimed performances as a vocalist and pianist in a wide variety of ensembles across Canada, the US and South Korea. She has appeared at many well-loved venues such as Cornelia St Cafe, Rockwood and Williamsburg Music Centre in New York. In Seoul, South Korea, Kari frequently performed at Baekam Concert Hall, Palm and Chicago, and was also a featured performer at the Gangjin International Festival. In addition, Kari has appeared at the Banff Rocky Mountain Festival and has performed at the Rex Jazz and Blues Bar in Toronto. She has shared the stage with musicians such as Seamus Blake, Kenji Omae, Michael Attias, Lauren Falls, Jamie Reynolds, Melissa Stylianou, May Cheung, Ernesto Cervini, Ted Quinlan, Mike Downes, Lisanne Tremblay and many more. Kari graduated with her masters in jazz voice performance from Queens College in New York City, as well as her bachelor in jazz voice performance from University of Toronto. She has studied with Grammy nominees Kate McGarry, Roseanna Vitro and Mike Mossman, as well as JD Walter, Charenee Wade and Heather Bambrick. Before moving to New York, Kari was an acclaimed professor of vocal jazz at PaekChe Institute of the Arts in Seoul, South Korea.
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