Kodo Drummers

The first drum beat each of us experience is our mother’s heartbeat. This drumming continues as our own heartbeat propels us through each day of our existence. On Sado Island near Japan, the group known as KODO express their own heartbeats through drums. Taiko drums to be exact.“

Historically, every culture has had their own kind of drum. It can be considered as “a tool shared by all mankind,” explained Jun Akimoto, KODO’s tour manager. “It definitely has the “power” and “possibility” to appeal to and connect the people all over the world.”

During their performances, the KODO performers are clad in sweatbands and loincloths and meticulously beat their drums to create rhythms and patterns as old as our collective human heartbeat, yet as new as the ears that hear them. Drums with names like “Hirado-daiko” (flat-barrel drum), “Chu-daiko” (middle-sized drum) and the giant 800 pound “O-daiko,” (a double headed drum made from the trunk of an African Bubinga tree and the hide of a large cow) all have been chosen and woven into tightly composed and choreographed rhythmic and musical tapestries. KODO have given over 2600 performances in 42 countries on all five continents since their debut at the Berlin Festival in 1981. When asked about a favorite among their live performances, Akimoto replied, “All the performances we’ve done are memorable in their own way but to name one, the outdoor concert that we did at Red Rocks, Colorado in 2002 as part of a music festival made a lasting impression as the venue was unique. Also our concert at The Acropolis (in Greece) was amazing.”

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Kottak

Rocker James Kottak is best known as the drummer for Scorpions, which he joined in 1996. Hailing from Louisville, Kentucky, he has certainly come a long way since his days in the land of baseball and whiskey.

Beside performing on over 130 albums and dvd’s, and numerous tours with the Scorps, he has his own band Kottak. The latest Kottak CD titled Rock & Roll Forever is out now.

Maximum Ink: When did you first know you had to become a musician?
James Kottak: I saw a cover band at my sister’s school when I was in 5th grade and they played Stairway To Heaven. I immediately wanted a drum set, got one, and was obsessed. I also played trumpet from 4th grade on thru college.

MI: Who were some of your earliest influences?
JK: Led Zeppelin of course, Grand Funk Railroad (Live album), The Beatles (Sgt. Pepper).  By the way I just saw the Beatles, Love show in Vegas, Amazing!

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Wayne Krantz

Guitarist Wayne Krantz is best known for his work as a solo artist. He has also graced the stage with such artists as Steely Dan,  Billy Cobham, and Michael Brecker. His tenth album Howie 61 offers up
blues inspired rock riffs that appeal to fans of both genres. Joining him on the album are such iconic artists as Vinnie Colaiuta (Jeff Beck, Frank Zappa, Sting), Tal Wilkenfeld (Jeff Beck, Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock), Pino Palladino (Jeff Beck, The Who, Eric Clapton), and Anton Fig of The Letterman Show’s “World’s Most Dangerous Band”, and many others (Keith Carlock, James Genus, Nate Wood, Henry Hey, Owen Biddle, Charley Drayton, John Patitucci, John Beasley, Jeremy Stacey, Paul Stacey, Yasushi Miura, David Binney, Kenny Wollesen and Gabriela Anders.

Maximum Ink: Can you tell us a little about your background? What were you like as child?
Wayne Krantz: Young, mostly. I hear when I was brought home from the hospital my dad cranked Beethoven on the stereo all day long. That basically never stopped.

MI: Who were some of your earliest influences?
WK: Early on it was Beatles, Monkeese, Debussy, Herb Alpert, Dionne Warwick, James Bond themes. Then came Led Zeppelin, Jethro Tull, Santana, Sons of Champlin. Then Miles Davis, John Mclaughlin, George Benson, Joe Pass, Herbie Hancock, Jim Hall. Then Pat Metheny, Mike Stern, Prince. Finally, Hendrix. Then nobody. Well, this guy Yasushi Miura has been knocking me out lately. Not really an influence, but someone who confirms what I’m doing in some way.

MI: When did you first know that you wanted to be a musician?
WK: When I was 16. I was listening to a Sons record called “Follow Your Heart” and decided to take their advice.

MI: What was your very first guitar? Do you remember what was running through your head when you got it?
WK: I started on a Framus acoustic my Dad had in the attic. I was really intrigued by it for some reason, even though it only had two strings on it at the time.

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Jeanne Kuhns

From Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, Jeanne Kuhns offers up soulful folk music that you have to hear to believe. She is also the mother of some very talented children. You might remember Eli Mattson from his run as runner up on America’s Got Talent some time back, but Jacob and Mary Beth Mattson are musicians as well. Her current band, Lost Mothra!, features the stylings of Patrick Palmer on bass, Lynn Gudmundsen on fiddle, and George Sawyn on lead guitar.

Kuhns is an Indie Singer/songwriter with her albums produced by herself and Hans Christian of Studio 330 in Sturgeon Bay. Jeanne has three solo albums and her style is reminiscent of female songwriters and singer of the 1960’s. Her newest work is titled Ghost Ranch and is available at CDBABY.com.

Other accolades include being named Door County Wisconsin’s Female Musician of the Year in 2008, and by Door County Magazine in July of 2010, and was number 6 on the Indie Songwriters Chart for WOS online radio Live365.com.

Maximum Ink:Can you tell us a little about your background? Where are you from?
How did it influence your musical style? What first led you to the music?
Jeanne Kuhns: I grew up in the Chicago suburbs listening to the folk artists of the time, Peter Paul and Mary, Joan Baez, Buffy Saint Marie then later Carol King, Joni Mitchell, James Taylor, Bob Dylan and Carley Simon. I loved Aretha Franklin and Tina Turner and the Motown sound.  Later Bonnie Raitt, Etta James and Peter Gabriel and my favorite new female singer is Brandi Carlile. My parents were also listening to public radio, the Midnight Special and taking me to the Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago, and we just loved all this music that changed the world with the messages it carried. As far as Indie singer songwriters The Sons of the Never Wrong, Krista Detor, Laura Veirs, Harry Manx and Jack Johnson.  Also I love the music my kids write, I’ve learned a lot from them.

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Bruce Kulick

Bruce Kulick needs no introduction. From his years with KISS, to working in Grand Funk Railroad and his well established solo career, he has proven he is legendary guitarist time and time again. His latest solo album, BK3 was released on Twenty 4 Records earlier this year. The album features an impressive line up of guest artists with Gene and Nick Simmons (KISS), Eric Singer (KISS), John Corabi (Motley Crue), and Doug Fieger (The Knack).

Maximum Ink: What lead you to release BK3?
Bruce Kulick: I was pleased with my first two solo discs, Audiodog from 2001 and Transformer from 2003. But I did have the desire to do the ultimate solo CD. When approached by my producer friend Jeremy Rubolino he was adamant that we do it with very high standards, as close to lets say Revenge as possible,  (Revenge being my fave KISS album). So that made the new CD very important and very complicated to finish. And the result is something I am very pleased with.

MI: The album showcases the singing debut of Nick Simmons. Was it very hard to convince him to try his hand at vocals?
BK: He was always into singing, and Gene offered him to me. I think we really accomplished something very special with his huge bluesy voice. Nick chose that track to sing on, and Hand Of The King turned into a very strong track for BK3. He was of course a bit “green” in the studio but he is super smart and a good learner. He really nailed it.

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