Kareem KANDI - rESUME
Current Positions:
The Kareem Kandi Band - leader, arranger, composer, manager ( 1996 to present )
Ted Brown Music – saxophone, clarinet, flute, piano, and jazz improvisation instructor ( 1996 to present )
Tacoma School of The Arts – Artist in residence, jazz improvisation instructor ( 2002 to present )
The Paperboys – saxophonist ( 2002 to present )
The Tacoma Jazz Association – Director ( 2015 to present )
D’addario Woodwinds - Performing Artist / Clinician ( 2016 to present )
The Kareem Kandi World Orchestra - Executive Director ( 2017 to present )
Conn-Selmer - Performing Artist / Clinician ( 2019 to present )
Past Positions:
Pierce College – Conductor of the Pierce College Jazz Ensemble ( 2003 to 2014 )
Pierce College – private instructor – saxophone, piano, jazz improvisation ( 2003 to 2014 )
The Tacoma Arts Commission – Commissioner ( 2015 to 2018 )
Education:
OLYMPIC COLLEGE – Associates Degree 1999
( Music studies with Kent Kurrus and Tracy Knoop )
CORNISH COLLEGE OF THE ARTS – Bachelors Degree in jazz performance and composition. 2002
( Music studies with Dave Peck, Hadley Caliman, Julian Priester, Randy Halberstadt, Jovino Santos Neto, Chuck Deardorf, and Jim Knapp )
PRIVATE MUSIC STUDIES: Jay Thomas, Don Lanphere, Ali Jackson, and Tracy Knoop.
Performance Experience:
Has performed with:
The Seattle Symphony, Bill Ramsay, The Tacoma Symphony, The Temptaions, Frazey Ford, Mark Elf, Hadley Caliman, Julian Priester, Mordy Ferber, Jay Thomas, Greta Matassa, Jon Fedchock, Andy Martin, Ali Jackson, Jon Gordon, Bob Mcchesny, Wayne Bergeron, Woody Woodhouse, Donne Roberts, John Pizzarelli, The Red Hot Blues Sisters, The Four Tops, The Timebenders, The Sabella Consort, The Northwest Repertory Singers, Patti Labelle, Thomas Marriot, Loose Gravel and the Quarry, Entremundos Quarteto, Steve Stefanowicz, The Polyrhythmics, Alex Duncan, Jumbalassy, DJ Hapa, The Paperboys.
Has shared the stage with:
Mavis Staples, The Proclaimers, Bellowhead, Iron & Wine, Pearl Django, Miguelito Valdes (Afro-Cuban All Stars), Arrested Development, The Duhks, L’Angélus, Madison Violet, Los de Abajo, Red Hot Chilli Pipers, Umalali, Tony McManus, Luke Doucet, Puro Son, and many more.
Big band work:
The Harry James Orchestra, Tuxedo Junction, The Pierce College Jazz Ensemble, Emerald City Jazz Orchestra, Jim Knapp Orchestra,
Symphony work:
The Seattle Symphony ( 2010 - Live and Let Die – The Music of Paul McCartney )
The Tacoma Symphony ( 2015 – with Patti Labelle at the Washington State Fair )
Music Festival Appearances: Earshot Jazz Festival, Ellensburg Jazz Festival ( Jazz in The Valley ), Taichung Jazz Festival, Victoria Jazz Festival, Vancouver Folk Fest, Canmore Folk Music Festival, Wintergrass, International Association of Jazz Educators conference, Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival, International Blues Challenge, Reno Jazz Festival, Folk im Schlosshof, Olalla Bluegrass Festival, Cold Snap festival, Tacoma Jazz Festival, Showcase Tacoma, 2010 West Vancouver Olympics Celebration, Anacortes Arts Festival, Harmony Arts Festival, The Sunshine Music Festival, Juan De Fuca Festival of the Arts, The Ballard Jazz Festival.
Club experience:
Countless performances as a leader and as a sideman at venues both in the US and abroad.
Tacoma:
Red Kelly’s, Hotel Murano, The Habana, Jazzbones, The Pantages, The Rialto, The B Sharp Coffee House, Maxwell’s, Doyle’s, The Mandolin Café, Shakabrah Java, Grounds For Coffee, Theater on The Square, Pour At Four, G. Donnalson’s, The Spar, Doyles, Alma Mater, The Swiss.
Seattle:
Tulas, The Triple Door, The Tractor Tavern, The Showbox, The Seamonster Lounge, Vito’s, The Hopvine, Egan’s Ballard Jam House, The Crocodile, The Neptune, Capitol Cider, North City Bistro, 13 Coins.
Olympia:
The Spar, Rhythm And Rye, Oly Taproom, The Royal Lounge, The Oyster Bar
Portland:
Crystal Ballroom, Jimmy Mak’s, Alberta Rose Theater, Hawthorne Theater, Berbatis Pan, Aladdin Theater, The 1905.
Vancouver BC:
Rogue Theater, The Commodore, St. James Hall, BBC, The Fanclub, The Cellar, The Imperial
Masterclasses / Workshops:
Kareem has conducted master classes and JEN workshops on jazz and improvisation at the several schools:
Middle schools: Mason, Truman, Meeker, Life Christian, Jason Lee, Charles Wright, Mcllvaigh, Curtis, Keithley
High Schools: Stadium, Wilson, Foss, Bellarmine, Curtis, Lincoln, Franklin Pierce, Fife High School, Mt. Tahoma
Colleges: Pacific Lutheran University, University of Washington, The University Of Puget Sound, Pierce College, Central Washington University, University of Northern Colorado.
Composition / Arrangement Commissions and Grants:
2010 - Tacoma Arts Commission / Robin Jaecklein
“ The Furniture Series “
2010 - Tacoma Public Library / Tacoma Reads
“ The music of Film Noir “
2011 - The Tacoma Art Commission / Community and Economic Development Department
“ Tacoma Artists Initiative Program Grant “
2012 - MLK Ballet / Ten Tiny Dances / Robin Jaecklein
2013 - Titus Will Ford Dealerships
“ Music use rights purchased for phone systems “
2013 - The Flying Chef / Mark Bly
“ music use rights purchased for cooking show/videos “
2013 - Tacoma Arts Commission / SOTA Dance Company / Puffin Foundation
“ What The Frack – 4 movements “
2014 - Podcast - Federal Way To Do List
2015 - Netflix series - Forever - ( episodes 4X6008, 4X6015 )
2015 - Second City Chamber Series – arrangements of classical music for jazz quartet
Recordings:
Soundtracks:
2001 Cornish College of the Arts film score
2010 film “ Quiet Shoes” by Isaac Olsen
Albums:
The Groovin Higher Jazz Ensemble with Wayne Bergeron LIVE - 2002
The Kareem Kandi Band – Guess Again – 2007
The Paperboys - Callithump – 2008
The Best Of The Northwest Repertory Singers and all That Jazz – 2009
The Paperboys - “ Live “ Across The Water, Across The Land - 2012
The Kareem Kandi Band – See What I’m Saying – 2012
The Paperboys – At Peace With One’s Ghosts – 2014
The Staxx Brothers - 2014
Honors and Awards:
Full Scholarship – Olympic College ( 1997 – 1999 )
Full Scholarship - The Bud Shank Jazz Workshop – 1998
Outstanding College Combo – 1st place at The Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival – 1999
Outstanding College Combo – 1st place at The Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival – 1998
Full Scholarship – Cornish College Of The Arts ( 1999 – 2002 )
Voted “ Best Jazz Group “ – Weekly Volcano’s “Best of Tacoma” readers poll ( 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015 )