6PM DOORS — FULL FOOD & BEVERAGE MENU AVAILABLE AT YOUR TABLE
8PM SHOWTIME
$12 ADVANCE // $15 DAY OF SHOW
1st Set:
MOVEABLE FEAST
2nd Set:
KEVIN WASHINGTON & RA SPIRIT
MOVEABLE FEAST: Sax: Peter Vircks // Piano: Tommy Barbarella // Bass: Jeff Bailey // Drums: Kevin Washington
Detroit’s own, Kevin Washington was born in 1975 to musicians and music educators, Donald and Faye Washington. It is safe to say he was born to do this! He began his musical career at the age of five performing with his father’s youth ensemble: Bird Train Sco Now, alongside Roscoe Mitchell. Bird Train Sco Now featured at Detroit Festivals from 1980 to 1986, and Kevin Washington was front and center.
He began traveling as a musician, when Jackie Mcclean brought the ensemble to his school in Hartford, Connecticut to perform with his students. During this time Kevin learned from legendary drummers such as Tani Tabal, Roy Brooks and Max Roach; at times directly under the wings of Roy Brooks. Before his family moved to Minneapolis, MN., Washignton performed in Jazz festivals in Chicago and Alabama with Alan Dawson, performing with various bands from Jazz, Latin, Funk and Reggae idioms.
In 1996 Kevin moved to New York to study Jazz at The New School for Social Research. Getting his feet wet as a young adult, he performed all over New York with different musical groups such as Chico Freeman Quartet, Arnie Lawrence and David Murray Big Band to name a few. During his stay in the big city, Washington was an Ensemble and Rhythm instructor at Harlem School of arts.
Since leaving New York, Washington has traversed the Twin Cities area with his highly sought after drum performance. He has performed with, however not limited to, various visiting musicians such as Steve Sleagle and Dave Stryker, David FatHead Newman, Tim Ries from The Rolling Stones and Bruce Henry to name a few. Washington’s talents are skilled in Drums, Guitar and vocals and showcased in his band; Ra Spirit, his newly released first single on October 21st, 2022, performing with the band Mississippi for the past 20 years, a standing drummer for Nachito Herrera for 11 years and many more.
While music has taken Kevin Washington all over the world, he has added to the Minneapolis arts scene where he hosted a weekly open mic for 14 years; formerly known as the Poets’ Groove. Many musicians, poets and rappers have gone on to do great things in the art scene around the world, under his guidance. Washington takes honor in composing songs for his band Ra Spirit, Mississippi and a punk rock/hip hop band called Black Madonna. When he isn’t gigging, Washington spends his time teaching youth ensembles, private drum lessons and digital music at Walker Academy Music Academy, an organization he has called his home for 17 years.
“Best Electro/Jazz/Funk/ Hip-Hop Hybrid...The smartest elements of 70's jazz funk with contemporary dancefloor acumen.” — Best Of The Twin Cities, City Pages
“An all-star line up of groovers... these seasoned kids will move you” — Groove Garden, KFAI FM
“‘Directions’ displays Kevin Washington's considerable talents. He's been described as 'a hybrid of Elvin, Brian Blade, Jeff Tain Watts, and Harvey Mason.'' — Modern Drummer
''‘Directions' ...bounces from Medeski Martin & Wood grinding to spacey Weather Report sounds to classic John Coltrane.' — Minneapolis Star Tribune
Moveable Feast was formed in January of 1999 as a vehicle to explore a more modern approach to jazz music and improvisation. Moveable Feast's origin was firmly rooted in the belief that the strength of music's history is only fortified by challenging its boundaries, parameters, and traditions. The natural developmental apprenticeship, common in jazz music, found Moveable Feast's members creatively dialoguing with some of the world's most prominent gospel, jazz, and avant-garde musicians. Early experiences with The Steeles, Eddie Berger, Anthony Cox, Roscoe Mitchell, Nat Reeves, Fred Hopkins, and Reggie Workman encouraged Moveable's young musicians to explore the possibilities with confidence. This process also helped define the professional careers of the individual members, leading to performances and tenures with Prince and The New Power Generation, James Carter, Malachi Favors, Fred Wesley, Chico Freeman, The David Murray Big Band, Nachito Herrera, and Fred Ho, to name a few. As a group, Moveable Feast has modeled itself after those bands who chose to build a concept and sound together as a unit; much in the spirit of Miles Davis' groups of the '60s: Weather Report, The Headhunters, and The Art Ensemble of Chicago. Moveable Feast has released two self-produced recordings. The first self-titled CD was released in 2000, with the second recording entitled 'Directions' released in 2002. Both projects were well received by music fans and critics alike and led to a 2002 'Best of the Twin Cities' music award as well as a 2002 invitation to the North by Northeast Festival in Toronto, Canada. Moveable Feast continues to incorporate the musical territories of jazz, funk, drum-n-bass, avant-garde, swing, Latin, and African - acknowledging the traditions of the past while embracing those elements which are helping to shape the sounds of today.
KAVYESH KAVIRAJ is our Monday Night Jazz Resident and Guest Curator for the month of February!
Kavyesh Kaviraj is a Minneapolis- based pianist, composer and arranger from India. His versatility and experience working in various styles and genres of music makes him a valuable addition to any band. Kavyesh is a skilled and sought-after composer who brings every musical influence in his life to his original music; rooted in jazz, yet encompassing not-so closely related worlds in a unique, and boundary-breaking, magnetic persona.
