AKPL- Aby Wolf /Kavyesh Kaviraj /Pete James Johnson /Laurels String Quartet
Jazz and Classical chops cozy under a wide Pop umbrella, splashing in the puddles of a summer rain.
Inimitable vocalist Aby Wolf, virtuosic pianist Kavyesh Kaviraj, and first-call drummer Pete James Johnson anchor a collaborative set of original compositions and favorite covers arranged for Twin Cities aces Laurels String Quartet. A crew crystallized by a classic Minnesota winter residency hit, AKPL is a Minneapolis-based supergroup that delights in finding both the high bar and the low-hanging juicy fruit of a good vibe. Joined tonight by the incredibly agile Trevor Peterson on electric bass.
Aby Wolf: Vocals
Kavyesh Kaviraj: Piano, Vocals
Pete James Johnson: Drums, Vocals
Josh Misner: Violin
Laura Harada: Violin
Erica Burton: Viola
Jacqueline Ultan: Cello
Trevor Peterson: Bass
Aby Wolf is a Twin Cities-based vocalist, music maker, and passionate collaborator with an elastic skillset. Whether writing vocal arrangements, fulfilling commissions, or performing in clubs, theaters, and schools from Brainerd to Bratislava to Beijing, Aby brings a palpable element of joy to whatever endeavor she pursues. A lifelong learner with an ever-expanding curiosity, Wolf’s sound is distinguished not by typical markers of genre or instrumentation, but by her impressive range of versatility and expression.
Having collaborated with some of Minnesota’s most esteemed musicians, Kavyesh Kaviraj has solidified himself as one of the most sought-after composers, arrangers and pianists in the Twin Cities. Taking influences from his birthplace of Oman, his rich Indian heritage, and the place he now calls home, the St. Paul virtuoso utilizes his astounding ability to craft compelling musical narrative, imbuing his life’s essence into each of his acclaimed compositions. For the past seven years, Kavyesh has channelled his most transformative experiences and lessons from his heart to the piano, through the language of Jazz.
Pete James Johnson is a drummer, composer and educator in the Twin Cities – most often seen playing jazz and improvised music but is at home in a variety of musical worlds. He has performed with local artists such as the Zacc Harris Group, Bryan Nichols, Javier Santiago, Omar Abdulkarim, Dosh, Michael Cain, Chris Bates’ Red 5, Will Kjeer, Andrew Walesch, Adam Meckler, Aaron Hedenstrom, JazzMN Orchestra, Twin Cities Latin Jazz Orchestra, and Adam Bohanan, as well as international artists such as the Bob Mintzer Big Band, Alan Broadbent, Russ Ferrante, Alan Pasqua, Ambrose Akinmusire, and Bob Sheppard.
Laurels String Quartet‘s collective instinct for tuning into the emotional frequency of a song has amassed the group collaborators near and far, making them an integral staple of the Minneapolis music scene. Artists like Belle & Sebastian, Father John Misty, Lucius, Jeremy Messersmith, Macklemore, Dan Wilson, Jason Mraz, Rogue Valley, Motion City Soundtrack, The New Standards, Ondara, and Semisonic have sought their company on stage and in the studio. The quartet has appeared on “Late Night with David Letterman”, PBS, The Current, NPR and has performed on stages across the country from the celebrated outdoor festival “Rock The Garden” at The Walker Art Center, to the Barclays Center arena in Brooklyn NY, to the legendary First Avenue in Minneapolis and everything in between.