KD met Bryan in 1976 after KD's successful college group MYTHRIL recorded at CRITERIA STUDIOS MIAMI and studied with CHICK COREAand RETURN TO FOREVER. During those early years KD also studied the recording and producing end of music. Bryan, KD and MYTHRIL bassist STEVE JAY formed a ragtime jazz group. Alan and Bryan first played together in the late 70's doing college shows, among them backing up ANDY KAUFMAN. While Bryan continued the quest for his doctorate, KD toured with the band ZAZU in the late 70's. ZAZU members STEVE JAYand JIM WESTare now well known as long-time members of the WEIRD AL YANCOVIC group. Alan toured with a funk group and broadway musicals during this period and into the 80's...This brings us to 1987.
Bryan had begun writing and performing solo piano at 5-star hotels, and one evening, while playing an arrangement of "Lucky Man", was approached by an English gentleman who said "I wrote that song and your arrangement is gorgeous". This man of course was GREG LAKE with ELP who happened to be touring and staying in the hotel. Greg asked Bryan to submit songs for the publishing company he was forming and that was when he contacted KD to join forces with him to help create material. The seed was planted for what has now become DAGARI.
The first bassist for the group was picked up by MAYNARD FERGUSON after a couple of years performing with the trio. In 1991 Alan joined forces with Bryan and KD, and together the 3 pursued the search for an original sound. Of course during this early period each of them also experimented individually and did their own side projects...Bryan won a Fullbright Scholarship and spent a year in Ghana with the NATIONAL ENSEMBLE of GHANA (hence the name Dagari, named for a group of people in northern Ghana). He also performed with such notables as ANN REINKING, KARL HAAS and TOMMY TUNE. KD performed with RAY CHARLES, LITTLE ANTHONY and THE IMPERIALS and pursued studio producing. Alan's musical acheivements include a far east tour with "THE SOUND OF MUSIC", PETER PAN in New York, and numerous broadway shows at Tampa's performing arts center. Alan has served as musician contractor for THE SPANISH LYRIC THEATER and supplied full symphony orchestras for RAY CHARLES.
Since 1997 DAGARI has performed full-time and has become one of the most sought after groups in Tampa and Atlanta. Appearing at Atlanta's HIGH MUSEUM JAZZ SERIES and featured on WCLK ATLANTA for the release party in 2004, Dagari's first CD "Crossing The Sahels" sold over a thousand copies in just a few months from live appearances alone. As a result of their soaring climb in popularity, they were asked to open with a pre-concert show for YANNI in Spring of 2005. This performance, part of which can be viewed on streaming video on their website www.dagarijazztrio.com , was where the phrase "Yanni on Steroids" was coined as Bryan plays with such power and speed. Live shows are truly entertaining watching Bryan and KD read each other's minds at times with uncanny precision together! Bryan has even been known to "break the ivory" on his keys he plays with such energy...WOW!
Don't miss the first release "Crossing The Sahels" and now the second CD "Train To Kumasi" has just been released at a major concert sponsored by WSJT Smooth Jazz Radio and an Easter Seals fundraiser event that was a huge success! This newest CD is all original and sure to please anyone searching for something truly unique. Don't let the long piano intros fool you into thinking these guys are just another ambient elevator group, the songs develop and will knock your socks off! New-age...yet far from wimpy, DAGARI is a powerhouse trio that sounds like a much larger group and will leave you breathless!
Check out the artist's website:
http://www.dagarijazztrio.com
Track List:
1. Train to Kumasi
2. Ring of Kerry
3. Angel Tears (for The Great)
4. Heart in the Balance
5. White Linen Over Ice
6. Smarty Jones (I'll Fly Away)
7. A Thousand Eyes
8. Trilogy Suite
Other Genres:
Bryan had begun writing and performing solo piano at 5-star hotels, and one evening, while playing an arrangement of "Lucky Man", was approached by an English gentleman who said "I wrote that song and your arrangement is gorgeous". This man of course was GREG LAKE with ELP who happened to be touring and staying in the hotel. Greg asked Bryan to submit songs for the publishing company he was forming and that was when he contacted KD to join forces with him to help create material. The seed was planted for what has now become DAGARI.
The first bassist for the group was picked up by MAYNARD FERGUSON after a couple of years performing with the trio. In 1991 Alan joined forces with Bryan and KD, and together the 3 pursued the search for an original sound. Of course during this early period each of them also experimented individually and did their own side projects...Bryan won a Fullbright Scholarship and spent a year in Ghana with the NATIONAL ENSEMBLE of GHANA (hence the name Dagari, named for a group of people in northern Ghana). He also performed with such notables as ANN REINKING, KARL HAAS and TOMMY TUNE. KD performed with RAY CHARLES, LITTLE ANTHONY and THE IMPERIALS and pursued studio producing. Alan's musical acheivements include a far east tour with "THE SOUND OF MUSIC", PETER PAN in New York, and numerous broadway shows at Tampa's performing arts center. Alan has served as musician contractor for THE SPANISH LYRIC THEATER and supplied full symphony orchestras for RAY CHARLES.
Since 1997 DAGARI has performed full-time and has become one of the most sought after groups in Tampa and Atlanta. Appearing at Atlanta's HIGH MUSEUM JAZZ SERIES and featured on WCLK ATLANTA for the release party in 2004, Dagari's first CD "Crossing The Sahels" sold over a thousand copies in just a few months from live appearances alone. As a result of their soaring climb in popularity, they were asked to open with a pre-concert show for YANNI in Spring of 2005. This performance, part of which can be viewed on streaming video on their website www.dagarijazztrio.com , was where the phrase "Yanni on Steroids" was coined as Bryan plays with such power and speed. Live shows are truly entertaining watching Bryan and KD read each other's minds at times with uncanny precision together! Bryan has even been known to "break the ivory" on his keys he plays with such energy...WOW!
Don't miss the first release "Crossing The Sahels" and now the second CD "Train To Kumasi" has just been released at a major concert sponsored by WSJT Smooth Jazz Radio and an Easter Seals fundraiser event that was a huge success! This newest CD is all original and sure to please anyone searching for something truly unique. Don't let the long piano intros fool you into thinking these guys are just another ambient elevator group, the songs develop and will knock your socks off! New-age...yet far from wimpy, DAGARI is a powerhouse trio that sounds like a much larger group and will leave you breathless!
Check out the artist's website:
http://www.dagarijazztrio.com
Track List:
1. Train to Kumasi
2. Ring of Kerry
3. Angel Tears (for The Great)
4. Heart in the Balance
5. White Linen Over Ice
6. Smarty Jones (I'll Fly Away)
7. A Thousand Eyes
8. Trilogy Suite
Other Genres:
- NEW AGE: New Age
- WORLD: World Fusion
- TYPE: SOUNDTRACK