Skerik Band

SKERIK BAND features 30 years of Skerik compositions written for Critters Buggin, Dead Kenny G’s, Garage a Trois, etc, etc

Skerik – Sax, Vocals

SKERIK has toured with the following:

Sadhappy, Critters Buggin, Ponga, Wayne Horvitz, Roger Waters, Les Claypool, Tuatara, Garage a Trois, The Dead Kenny Gs, Black Frames, Crack Sabbath, Maelstrom Trio, Bandalabra, Mad Season, Beta Popes, Omaha Diner, Syncopated Taint Septet, LORBO, Khu-eeX, Sound Cipher, DRKWAV, Skerik Band, OG GAT (original Garage a Trois) Stanton and Skerik’s Emerald Quintet, Robert Walter, Bobby Previte, Jamie Saft, MMOB, New York Composers Orchestra, Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey, Headhunters, True Loves, Mctuff, Master Musicians of Jajouka, etc.

SKERIK has performed with/and or recorded with:

Fred Wesley, Mike Clark, Charlie Hunter, Russell Batiste, Bernard Purdie, Zigaboo Modeliste, Clyde Stubblefield, Stewart Copeland, George Porter Jr, The Meters, The Funky Meters, Dumpstaphunk, James Singleton, Johnny Vidacovich, Big Sam, Maurice Brown, Trombone Shorty, Midnight Disturbers Brass Band, SUNN, Nels Cline, Peter Apfelbaum, Medeski Martin and Wood, REM, Wil Blades, Scott Amendola, Jeff Parker, NORDRA, Monika Khot, Zen Mother, Zach Hill, Keefus Ciancia, Jon Brion, Galactic, Lettuce, John Scofield, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Om Johari, Stone Gossard, Pearl Jam, Eyvind Kang, Randall Dunn, Bernie Worrell, Sean Lennon, Ozomatli, Brownout, Primus, Chris Cornell, Wolves in the Throne Room, Cyril Neville, Ivan Neville, Ian Neville, Warren Haynes, Kidd Jordan, Jonathan Freilich, Helen Gillet, Eric Harland, Reggie Watts, Karl Berger, Steven Bernstein, Maceo Parker, Donald Harrison, Leo Nocentelli, Pee Wee Ellis, Adrian Belew, Calvin Weston, Jamaaladeen Tacuma, MonoNeon, Marco Benevento, David Torkanowsky, Andrew Bird, Ani Difranco, John Medeski, Green Sky Bluegrass, Leftover Salmon, Nth Power, Jennifer Hartswick, Nikki Glaspie, Industrial Revelation, Radioactive, Antibalas, Cory Henry, Scott Metzger, Joe Russo, Simon Lott, Ween, Tim Young, Hella, Barrett Martin, Kayo Dot, Todd Sickafoose, Bheki Mseleku, Aubrey Oaki, Mose Fan Fan, Somo Somo, Remy Ongala and Orchestre Matimila, The Coup, Shock G, Josh Roseman, Shazhad Ismaily, Marc Ribot, Larry Coryell, Screaming Trees, Squirell Nut Zippers, Sex Mob, Robert Randolph and the Family Band, The Word, North Mississippi Allstars, Mino Cinelu, Bob Stewart, Bill Ware, Buckethead, Ralph Carney, DJ Logic, Get It Gurl, Bonnie Raitt, Ruth Brown, Howard Tate, Maxi Priest, Steve Berlin, David Hidalgo, Steve Kimock, Corrosion of Conformity, DJ Olive, Elemental, DJ Riz, Doze Green, Ernest Ranglin, Yoshida Brothers, Dave Ellis, Gene Ween, Soulive, Allen Stone, M.I.R.V. My Name, Melvin Gibbs, and many more…

SKERIK has also recorded on over 200 records as a saxophonist, horn section, keyboardist, etc

SKERIK and his bands have been placed in feature films, independent films, TV, theatre, dance, etc

SKERIK has performed in major festivals all over the world mostly as a band member.

SKERIK owns a studio in Seattle and records regularly as a session musician, horn arranger and soloist. He also continues to tour all over the world.

Andy Coe – Guitar, Vocals

With a rich background in jazz and a joyful enthusiasm for blues and psychedelic rock, Andy Coe is recognized as a deeply intuitive, emotive guitarist. As an architect of sound and style, Coe draws in listeners, making collective exploration and resolution accessible across genres. Born and raised in Seattle, Andy played in the critically acclaimed Roosevelt Highschool Jazz band before going on to graduate from the music department of the University of North Texas. He has played venues and festivals around the country and world ever since.

Andy has performed with many great musicians including Jimmy Page, Duff McKagen, Jerry Cantrell, Kim Thayil, Paul Rogers, Rich Robinson, Reggie Workman, Rashied Ali, Ravi Coltrane, Norah Jones, Stanton Moore, Mike Clark, Bobby Previtte, Skerik, Mike Dillon, Karl Denson, Wil Blades and many others. Currently, Andy resides in Seattle and plays in Skerik’s Bandalabra, Tuatara, McTuff and the Andy Coe Band among others.

Damian Erskine – Bass

Damian Erskine is known for his ability to fit into most any musical situation, extraordinary reading and improvising skills as well, as being an educator and columnist. He has played in the studio or on the stage with • Peter Erskine • Gino Vannelli • Vince Mendoza and the WDR Big Band • The Jaco Pastorius Big Band • Les McCann • Skerik Band • Jeff Lorber • The Buddy Rich Alumni All-Star Band • Bob Sheppard • John Beasley • George Colligan • Vardan Ovsepian • Antonio Hart • Charmaine Neville • and many others as well as being featured on the GospelChops.com “Shed Sessionz Vol. 1” DVD.

Damian is an adjunct professor at Portland State University in Portland, Oregon. In addition, he regularly teaches abroad with JEA (Jazz Education Abroad) in Shanghai, Bangkok, Cyprus and Beirut. Additionally, he has taught in the US at Gerald Veasley’s Bass Bootcamp, the National Guitar Workshop and Berklee College of Music’s Guitar Week. Damian is also a regular contributor to the popular bass education site, scottsbasslessons.com.

Damian has written for Bass Player Magazine, Bass Musician Magazine, as well as continuing to maintain a popular weekly column at NoTreble.com.
Damian has also authored two books, “Right Hand Drive” and “The Improvisor’s Path”.

Tarik Abouzied – Drums

“A phenomenally funky drummer, with taste, feel, and chops to spare, Abouzied elevates every band he’s a part of. With humor and humility, he achieves a deft balance, exploring the technical and intellectual challenges in music while still forging a deep emotional connection with the audience.” – Earshot Jazz

As a performer, Tarik Abouzied has played and traveled with a vast array of incredible musicians. His groups have collectively produced seven original albums: two from Pocket Change, an instrumental funk septet in the vein of Tower of Power, three from Hardcoretet, a modern instrumental jazz quartet, one from McTuff, an incredible funk/jazz Hammond organ trio, and one from his current project, Happy Orchestra. Happy was awarded 4Culture’s Arts Project Grant and its debut album, Baba, reached #5 on the KEXP NW Music Chart and was nominated NW Recording of the Year by readers of Earshot Jazz. Aside from these groups Tarik has performed with Victor Wooten, George Porter Jr., John Medeski, Chris Wood, Jeff Coffin, Skerik, Natalie Cressman, Brian Haas, Will Bernard, Jessica Lurie, Nigel Hall, Mike Stern, Bob Franceschini, Damian Erskine, and many more.

“Forty-five years ago, Seattle trio McTuff would’ve been stars on Blue Note Records: guitarist Andy Coe, organist Joe Doria, and drummer Tarik Abouzied possess Olympian skills on their instruments…” – Dave Segal, The Stranger

As a multi-instrumental educator, Abouzied has led clinics and classrooms at universities and schools internationally. He was a coordinator and teacher for the Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra’s Jazz Scholars Program, which provides free music instruction for low-income students, and was the Musical Director for Kentridge High School’s drama program, where he led a pit orchestra comprised of student musicians and professional section leaders. He maintains a private studio of drum set, guitar, bass, piano, and music theory students.

“Playing the most minimalist kit possible, he’s one of those jazz savants who is incapable of a dull moment. Thinly disguising ferocity behind understated, Zen power, he glowed with a satisfied grin while continuously lighting a fire beneath each of his bandmates. Given ample opportunity in the spotlight, there was one solo which definitely transcended what any drummer has ever achieved on the Crazy Horse stage.” – Show Review

Abouzied has also earned $8 from jokes posted on Facebook.