Skerik is an American saxophonist from Seattle, Washington. Performing on the tenor and baritone saxophone, often with electronics and loops, he is a pioneer in a playing style that has been called saxophonics. He is a founding member of Critters Buggin,

Garage a Trois Garage A Trois is an American jazz quartet including drummer Stanton Moore, saxophonist Skerik, vibraphone and percussionist Mike Dillon and keyboardist Marco Benevento. They play a variety of music including rock, funk and jazz. History G ...

, Ponga, Tuatara, and

Skerik's Syncopated Taint Septet Skerik's Syncopated Taint Septet (also known as SST7) is a jazz ensemble formed in Seattle, Washington, in 2002 and led by saxophonist Eric "Skerik" Walton.

. He is also an original member of both Les Claypool's Fancy Band and Frog Brigade. Skerik also worked with grunge band Mad Season.

History

Skerik began playing saxophone in the fifth grade. His father's love of jazz was an early inspiration. He played saxophone, keyboards and percussion in a rock band called Uncle Jam. He has cited The Rolling Stones and Pink Floyd as bands from that time period who brought saxophone into rock music well. In the 1980s he travelled to London, Paris and the South Pacific working day jobs and playing in a variety of bands. His friendship with Leif Totusek introduced him to South African music and Zaire soukous bands in London where he first began playing music full time.Andrew Clark, Skerik, ''Saxophone Journal'' Volume 27, Number 1, Sept/Oct 2002 Skerik returned to Seattle in the late 1980s where he played with Sadhappy. In the early 1990s he joined three ex-members of

New Bohemians Edie Brickell & New Bohemians is an alternative rock jam band that originated in Dallas, Texas, in the mid-1980s. The band is widely known for their 1988 hit "What I Am" from the album ''Shooting Rubberbands at the Stars''. Their music contains ...

to form Critters Buggin (who have remained active through 2008). Projects since that time have included Ponga ( Wayne Horvitz and

Bobby Previte Bobby Previte (born July 16, 1951 in Niagara Falls, New York) is a drummer, composer, and bandleader. He earned a degree in economics from the University at Buffalo, where he also studied percussion. He moved to New York City in 1979 and began ...

), Tuatara (

Peter Buck Peter Lawrence Buck (born December 6, 1956) is an American musician and songwriter. He was a co-founder and the lead guitarist of the alternative rock band R.E.M. He also plays the banjo and mandolin on several R.E.M. songs. Throughout his ca ...

Scott McCaughey Scott Lewis McCaughey is an American singer, guitarist and songwriter and the leader of the Seattle and Portland-based bands The Young Fresh Fellows and The Minus 5. He was also an auxiliary member of the American rock band R.E.M. from 199 ...

and Craig Flory) and solo works of Stanton Moore as well as

Garage A Trois Garage A Trois is an American jazz quartet including drummer Stanton Moore, saxophonist Skerik, vibraphone and percussionist Mike Dillon and keyboardist Marco Benevento. They play a variety of music including rock, funk and jazz. History G ...

(also including

Charlie Hunter Charlie Hunter (born May 23, 1967) is an American guitarist, composer, and bandleader. First coming to prominence in the early 1990s, Hunter plays custom-made seven- and eight-string guitars on which he simultaneously plays bass lines, chords, a ...

). Beginning 2000 Skerik was a member of every incarnation of

Les Claypool Leslie Edward Claypool (born September 29, 1963) is an American musician, singer, songwriter, record producer, filmmaker, and author. He is best known as the founder, lead singer, bassist, primary songwriter, and only continuous member of the ro ...

's Frog Brigade and Fancy Band. In 2001 Skerik played the Pacific Northwest portion of Roger Waters' tour, reproducing the sax lead in "

Money Money is any item or verifiable record that is generally accepted as payment for goods and services and repayment of debts, such as taxes, in a particular country or socio-economic context. The primary functions which distinguish money are as ...

". In 2002 Skerik formed Syncopated Taint Septet with fellow Seattle musicians. After touring nationally, their 2006 studio release '' Husky'' received very positive reviews. Skerik won the award of "Northwest Jazz Instrumentalist of the Year" at the 2003 Earshot Jazz Golden Ear Awards. Skerik has expressed support of music education for young people and support for activism such as the voting project HeadCount. In interviews he has discussed creative integrity and spontaneity.The Kaycema
Skerik , Serving the Music
''JamBase'', October, 2001, Retrieved December 29, 2008 He has also provided music workshops.

Various projects

Skerik is a founding member of Critters Buggin,

(which has included Stanton Moore,

, Mike Dillon, and Marco Benevento), Crack Sabbath, and The Dead Kenny G's. Skerik is an original member of Les Claypool's Fancy Band and Frog Brigade,

's Ponga and

Coalition of the Willing The term ''coalition of the willing'' refers to an international alliance focused on achieving a particular objective, usually of military or political nature. Usage *One early use was by President Bill Clinton in June 1994 in relation to possib ...

and

Joe Doria Joe Doria is an American Hammond Organ keyboardist from Seattle, Washington. Playing many styles, Doria has backed solo artists from the Seattle area and is a member of several Seattle based groups, some of which have toured nationally. These inc ...

's McTuff. In the 1990s he was also a member of Tuatara (with

) and Seattle-based Sadhappy. Skerik has toured with Fred Wesley, Mike Clark and The Headhunters, Wayne Horvitz (Zony Mash), Mad Season and Roger Waters. He has performed with Pearl Jam, Bonnie Raitt, The Meters,

Galactic Galactic is an American jam band from New Orleans, Louisiana. Origins and background Formed in 1994 as an octet (under the name Galactic Prophylactic) and including singer Chris Lane and guitarist Rob Gowen, the group was soon pared down to a ...

, Dumpstaphunk, Johnny Vidacovich, Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey, and Ween. In Seattle Skerik leads Seattle-based punk-jazz band

Skerik's Syncopated Taint Septet Skerik's Syncopated Taint Septet (also known as SST7) is a jazz ensemble formed in Seattle, Washington, in 2002 and led by saxophonist Eric "Skerik" Walton.

. He is a founding member of Seattle's Crack Sabbath.Trent Moorma
Skerik: Psychic Rushdie Saxophone
''thestranger.com'', January 31, 2008 He is also a member of Seattle-based McTuff. In New Orleans he is a member of Maelstrom Trio, including long-time mates keyboardist Brian Coogan and drummer Simon Lott. The Maelstrom Trio combines disparate elements such as free jazz, funk, metal and textural music. Skerik and percussionist Mike Dillon have toured as a trio with New Orleans bassist James Singleton as Illuminasti. Skerik and Dillon also perform as a trio called The Dead Kenny G's with alternate third members. National tours have included keyboardist Brian Haas and bassist

Brad Houser John Bradley Houser (born September 7, 1960) is an American bass guitar, baritone saxophone and bass clarinet player, originally from Dallas, Texas. He was a co-founding member of the New Bohemians, later to become known as Edie Brickell & New Bo ...

. With Houser they have also toured as "Critters Buggin Trio" and in 2009 they released a debut CD entitled ''Bewildered Herd''.Tom D'Anton
Dead Kenny G's at the Goodfoot with David Ornette Cherry
''oregonmusicnews.com'', October 20, 2009 As the band's name implies there is an expressed disdain for smooth jazz and commercialism. Skerik has described The Dead Kenny G's as a "free-jazz version of

The Melvins ''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the m ...

Discography

* 2001: ''Psychochromatic'' (Skerik) * 2002: ''

Skerik's Syncopated Taint Septet Skerik's Syncopated Taint Septet (also known as SST7) is a jazz ensemble formed in Seattle, Washington, in 2002 and led by saxophonist Eric "Skerik" Walton.

'' ( Ropeadope) * 2002: Black Frames '' Solarallergy'' (independent) * 2004: Crack Sabbath ''Bar Slut'' (Independent) * 2006: ''Left for Dead in Seattle'' (1995–2003 independent) * 2006: Skerik's Syncopated Taint Septet '' Husky'' (Hyena) * 2009: The Dead Kenny G's ''Bewildered Herd'' (independent) * 2010: Skerik's Syncopated Taint Septet '' Live at The Triple Door'' ( Royal Potato Family) * 2011: The Dead Kenny G's ''Operation: Long Leash'' (independent) * 2012: Skerik's Bandalabra ''Live at the Royal Room'' (Royal Potato Family) * 2012: Skerik's Bandalabra ''Live at the Comet'' (independent) * 2017: Skerik ''live at the Chapel volume 1'' * 2019: Skerik ''live at the Chapel volume 2'' With Critters Buggin * 1994: '' Guest'' (Loosegroove) * 1997: '' Host'' (Loosegroove) * 1997: '' Monkeypot Merganzer'' (Loosegroove) * 1998: ''Bumpa'' (Loosegroove) * 1998: ''

Amoeba An amoeba (; less commonly spelled ameba or amœba; plural ''am(o)ebas'' or ''am(o)ebae'' ), often called an amoeboid, is a type of cell or unicellular organism with the ability to alter its shape, primarily by extending and retracting pseudop ...

'' (Loosegroove) * 2004: ''

Stampede A stampede () is a situation in which a group of large animals suddenly start running in the same direction, especially because they are excited or frightened. Non-human species associated with stampede behavior include zebras, cattle, elephants ...

'' (Ropeadope) * 2007: ''Get the Clackervalve and the Old Clobberd Biscuits Out and Smack the Grand Ham Clapper's Mother'' (DVD) * 2009: ''Live in 95 at the OK Hotel – Seattle 1995'' (independent) * 2020: ''Count Cancelled'' Live 2001 Disastour (available on Bandcamp) With

* 2001: Les Claypool's Frog Brigade '' Live Frogs Set 1'' ( Prawn Song) * 2001: Les Claypool's Frog Brigade '' Live Frogs Set 2'' (Prawn Song) * 2002: Les Claypool's Frog Brigade '' Purple Onion'' (Prawn Song) * 2005: ''

5 Gallons Of Diesel ''5 Gallons of Diesel'' is a retrospective music DVD featuring Les Claypool and his various side projects. Released on November 15, 2005 by Prawn Song Records Prawn Song Records is an independent record label owned by Les Claypool of Primus. Th ...

'' (DVD – Prawn Song) * 2006: '' Of Whales and Woe'' (Prawn Song) * 2007: '' Fancy'' (DVD – Prawn Song) With Stanton Moore * 1998: ''

All Kooked Out! ''All Kooked Out!'' is the debut studio album by New Orleans-based drummer Stanton Moore. It was recorded entirely live in the studio with no overdubs and no headphones, in a week-long session that also yielded ''Mysteryfunk'', the debut album ...

'' ( Fog City) * 1999: Garage a Trois '' Mysteryfunk'' (Fog City) * 2002: '' Flyin' the Koop'' ( Verve) * 2003: Garage a Trois '' Emphasizer'' (Tone Cool) * 2005: Garage a Trois '' Outre Mer'' (

Telarc Telarc International Corporation is an American audiophile independent record label founded in 1977 by two classically trained musicians and former teachers, Jack Renner (recording engineer), Jack Renner and Robert Woods (producer), Robert Woods. ...

) * 2006: '' III'' (Telarc) * 2009: Garage a Trois '' Power Patriot'' ( Royal Potato Family) * 2011: Garage a Trois '' Always Be Happy, But Stay Evil'' (Royal Potato Family) * 2021: Garage a Trois '' Calm Down Cologne'' (Royal Potato Family) With

* 1998: Ponga ''Ponga'' (Loosegroove) * 1999: Ponga ''Remix'' (CD and clear vinyl) (Loosegroove) * 2000: Ponga ''Psychological'' (

P-Vine P-Vine Records is an independent record label based in Tokyo, Japan. History It was started in 1976 by Blues Interactions, a firm founded in 1975 by Yasufumi Higurashi and Akira Kochi, as a record label focused on black music. The label name c ...

) * 2006: Bobby Previte – Jamie Saft – Skerik ''Live in Japan 2003'' (Word Public – DVD) * 2006: Beta Popes ''Live Hate'' * 2006: ''

'' (Ropeadope) * 2007: ''April in New York'' – DVD * 2008: Beta Popes ''White Hate'' (Veal) With Sadhappy * 1992: ''Depth Charge'' (Periscope) * 1994: ''Before We Were Dead – Live'' (Periscope) * 1994: ''The Good, Bad and the Skary'' (Periscope) With others * 1992: My Name Megacrush (C/Z Records) * 1995: Mad Season '' Above'' (Columbia) * 1995: Mad Season '' Live at the Moore'' (Columbia - DVD) * 1996: Tuatara '' Breaking the Ethers'' (Epic) * 1996: PHO BAC ''PHO BAC presents Afrophobia'' (Headrush) * 1997: Suicide Jack ''In Churches and Saloons'' (Sujack) * 1997: Timothy Young ''with very special people'' (Endless) * 1998: Tuatara '' Trading with the Enemy'' (Epic) * 1998: Calm Down Juanita ''Calm Down Juanita'' (

Echo In audio signal processing and acoustics, an echo is a reflection of sound that arrives at the listener with a delay after the direct sound. The delay is directly proportional to the distance of the reflecting surface from the source and the lis ...

) * 1999: Hairy Apes BMX '' Expatriape'' (AW/VR) * 2000: Suicide Jack ''Honky Tonk Suicide'' (Sujack) * 2000: Wayne Horvitz Four Plus One Ensemble ''

From a Window "From a Window" is a song written by Paul McCartney, attributed to John Lennon and Paul McCartney, which was recorded by Billy J. Kramer with The Dakotas (band), The Dakotas. It was the last of six Lennon–McCartney compositions recorded by Kram ...

'' (

Avant AVANT, also known as AVANT street art guerrilla collective, was the artist group active in New York City from 1980 to 1984. By 1984 AVANT had produced thousands of acrylic on paper paintings and plastered them on walls, doors, bus-stops and gallerie ...

) * 2002: Calm Down Juanita ''Undertown'' (Independent) * 2002: Tuatara '' Cinemathique'' (Fast Horse) * 2003: Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey ''Symbiosis Osmosis'' (Kufala) * 2003: Jacek Kochan ''New Expensive Head'' (Gowi) * 2003: The Mackrosoft '' Journey to Vaginus'' (Independent) * 2003: The Clinton Administration ''One Nation Under a Re-Groove'' (Magnatude) * 2004: Barrett Martin ''The Painted Desert'' (Fast Horse) * 2007:

Hella ''Hella'' is an American slang term that originated in the San Francisco Bay Area. It is used as an intensifying adverb such as in "hella bad" or "hella good" and was eventually added to the ''Oxford English Dictionary'' in 2002. It is possibl ...

''There's No 666 in Outer Space'' (Ipecac) * 2008: Kayo Dot '' Blue Lambency Downward'' (

Hydra Head Hydra Head Records was an independent record label that specializes in extreme metal music, founded in New Mexico by Aaron Turner (the frontman of Isis) in 1993. It had another imprint, Hydra Head Noise Industries, which specialized in experiment ...

) * 2008: Todd Sickafoose ''Tiny Resistors'' (Cryptogramophone Records, Cryptogramophone) * 2008: Good Guys ''The Social Engagement'' (In the Dark) * 2009: McTuff ''Volume 1'' (McTuff/Joe Doria Music) * 2012: Zony Mash + Horns ( Wayne Horvitz) ''Live at the Royal Room'' * 2014: Eyvind Kang ''Alastor: Book of Angels Volume 21'' (Tzadik Records, Tzadik) * 2014: Dionvox ''Your Name'' (RZY) * 2014: Omaha Diner ''Omaha Diner'' (independent) * 2015: DRKWAV ''The Purge'' with John Medeski-keys, Adam Deitch-drums, Skerik-saxophones and electronics * 2016: Khu eeX ''The Wilderness Within'' with Bernie Worrell, Preston Singletary, Stanton Moore, etc. * 2017: Khu eeX ''They forgot they survived'' with Bernie Worrell, Preston Singletary, etc. * 2020: Khu eeX '' Heen'' with Bernie Worrell, Preston Singletary, etc. * 2020: Nels Cline ''Share the Wealth'' with Cyro Batista, Trevor Dunn, Scott Amendola, Brian Marsella, Skerik

References

External links

Skerik: Concept is All Anyone Cares About
Interview with Paul Olsen at ''All About Jazz'', October 2006
An Interview with Skerik on TheWaster.com Skerik Talks Emerald Quintet, OG Garage A Trois, Mad Season, & More
Interview with B. Getz at
Live For Live Music
'' November 19, 2019
Skerik: A Hint of Revolution
Interview with Andrew Luthringer at Earshot Jazz, November 2015 {{DEFAULTSORT:Skerik American funk saxophonists American male saxophonists American jazz saxophonists Living people Mad Season (band) members The Minus 5 members Musicians from Seattle Colonel Les Claypool's Fearless Flying Frog Brigade members Critters Buggin members Les Claypool's Fancy Band members 21st-century saxophonists American male jazz musicians The Coalition of the Willing (band) members Garage A Trois members Skerik's Syncopated Taint Septet members Ponga (band) members 1964 births