Karizma
Karizma - a group with a special touch...
Back in 1975 the composer and keyboardplayer David Garfield founded the band Karizma. Karizma was a group where the musicians could blend all their favorite musicstyles, so latin, jazz, fusion, west coast became some of the roots in the "Karizma style". The first Karizma setup was David Garfield (keyboards), Dominic Genovi (bass), Richard Tokatz (percussion), Carlos Vega (drums) and Ralph Rickert (trumpet). With this setup Karizma is playinŽ in and around the Los Angeles area.
With Karizma David Garfield is having a perfect musical playground, where a lot of things can happent, be added etc. In 1978 Michael Landau (guitar) is joining the group, to give Karizma some guitarstuff on the songs. At the same time Carlos Vega is on a European Tour with Randy Newman, so Vinnie Colaiuta (drums) takes over, and a "new" Karizma lineup is ready to hit the stages. With this lineup Karizma performes a lot of gigs with guest musicians over the next couple of years.
and Steve Tavaglione (sax). The album "Dream Come True" is a really dream come true for David Garfield, he ha made an album together will all his musical friends, a project has become a band, and the album us being made with help from: Steve Lukather, Tim Pierce, Ernie Watts, Neil Larsen, David Paich, Jeff Porcaro, James Felix, Paulette Browne, Rosemary Butler and Tom Scott. After the release of "Dream Come True" Karizma continue to do local gigs after the release of the album, and in 1984, Michael Landau is joined on guitar again.
After a tour with George Benson in 1982 David Garfield decides to make an Karizma album instead of a projected solo-cd. The Karizma 1983 lineup is: David Garfield (keys), Carlos Vega (drums), Lenny Castro (percussion), Dean Cortez, Dean Parks (guitar)
In 1986 David Garfield is having another Karizma lineup. The new cast is Nathan East (bas), Mike Miller (guitar), Lenny Castro (percussion), Larry Klimas (sax), Carlos Vega (drums). Together with this "crew" David Garfield records the second Karizma album "Cuba". In the studio Michael Landau (guitar) is still "karizma active" and all the friends are here again, this time represented by. Steve Lukather, Michael OŽNeil, Jimmy Johnson, Brandon Fields, Albert Wing & Walt Fowler. As a promotion of the album Karizma goes on their first Japan Tour. They record all the gigs "live", and the best material is released in 1987 an their first live album "All The Way Live", so the 3rd Karizma album is now a reality. Karizma has formed a lot of their material live, so the energy on this album is very high, and it becomes a great success for Karizma, especially in Japan and also Europe that also has open itŽs eyes for this group.
With their 3rd album David Garfield can see that Karizma is getting a lot of attention everywhere, so he forms his own label Creatchy and this means that the Karizma albums "Cuba" and "All The Way Live" is released on CD at the SOHBI label in 1989. In 1989 David Garfield is now ready again with a new "Karizma project", this time a studioalbum with vocals.
The Karizma lineup is now: David Garfield (keys), Carlos Vega (drums), Michael Landau (guitars), Lenny Castro (percussion), Jimmy Johnson (bas). In the studio Karizma gets help from Phil Perry, Michael Brecker, Brandon Fields, Larry Klimas, Steve Tavaglione, Vinnie Colaiuta, John Pena, Lil Perry & Paulette Brown, The results is the album "(Forever In The) Arms Of Love" and is released at the SOHBI label in 1989. This is the first Karizma album with vocals and it reminds of the David Garfield "Riding Bean" project, that is released the year before, also with Phil Perry on the vocals.
After the release of this album Karizma continues to do gigs, but David Garfield is having a lot to do with composing, touring with other artists and the Los Lobotomys project with Steve Lukather is also beginning to grow. So David Garfield puts Karizma in a standby mode.
One of the keystones in Karizma has always been the drummer Carlos Vega. He dies in 1998, and this touches David Garfield, Carlos has been a very personal friend. As a tribute to his friend, David Garfield re-release the "All The Way Live" album with some special linernotes for Carlos Vega and more. Also this year it is possible to re-release the first Karizma album on cd, so many fans a very happy the day the "Dream Come True" album is released.
In 1999 David Garfield is teaming up with Vinnie Colaiuta and Michael Landau about doing some Karizma stuff again. They get together with well-knowned bassist Neil Stubenhaus and a new Karizma is formed. They called it Rizma 2000 and they are doing some gigs, and also some stuff with Vinnie at a drumshow fdor the magazine "Modern Drummer". After some contacts Rizma 2000 manage to get an European tour. The Rizma 2000 is a big success, they play at sold-out venues in Europe and after the first tour, the promotionlabel in Germany UlfTone is releasing the "Document" album. So Karizma is back on CD again. Because of the big success Karizma goes back to Europe to play at a new tour and also doing some promotion stuff for the "Document" album.
Currently David Garfield is in the studio to prepare the mastering for the upcoming release "Lost And Found" that is scheduled to be released late 2001 or in the beginning 2002. This release will have special live- and studioversions of songs that didnŽt make it on the albums, or special versions of songs that has been released earlier.
Incarnation Year Members First Incarnation 1975 David Garfield, Carlos Vega, Ralf Rickert, Domenic Genova & Richard Tokatz Second Incarnation 1978 David Garfield, Carlos Vega, Larry Klimas, Jim Henken, Domenic Genova & Pat Murphy Third Incarnation 1978 David Garfield, Carlos Vega, Larry Klimas, Michael Landau, Dean Cortez & Lenny Castro Fourth Incarnation 1979 David Garfield, Vinnie Colaiuta, Larry Klimas, Michael Landau,Dean Cortez & Lenny Castro Fifth Incarnation 1980 David Garfield, Vinnie Colaiuta, Larry Klimas, Michael Landau & John Pierce Sixth Incarnation 1981 David Garfield, Vinnie Colaiuta, Steve Tavaglione, Michael Landau & Eric Wallengren Seventh Incarnation 1982 David Garfield, Carlos Vega, Steve Tavaglione, James Felix, Kevin Dukes, Dean Cortez & Lenny Castro Eight Incarnation 1983 David Garfield, Carlos Vega, Steve Tavaglione, James Felix, Dean Parks, Dean Cortez & Lenny Castro Ninth Incarnation 1983 David Garfield, Carlos Vega, Larry Klimas, Dean Parks, Dean Cortez & Lenny Castro Tenth Incarnation 1986 David Garfield, Carlos Vega, Larry Klimas, Michael Landau, Jimmy Johnson & Lenny Castro Eleventh Incarnation 1987 David Garfield, Carlos Vega, Larry Klimas, Mike Miller, Nathan East & Lenny Castro Tweltfh Incarnation 1988 David Garfield, Carlos Vega, Larry Klimas, Steve Tavaglione, Michael Landau, Jimmy Johnson & Lenny Castro Thirteenth Incarnation 1999 David Garfield, Toss Panos, Larry Klimas, Michael Landau, Jimmy Johnson & Lenny Castro Fourteenth Incarnation 2000 David Garfield, Vinnie Colaiuta, Michael Landau & Neil Stubenhaus Liner notes from the "Lost And Found" Karizma release:
Read more about David GarfieldŽs work at davidgarfield.com
Dream Come True
"The first Karizma album"
The Tracks are: Ire, I Want You So, Heavy Resin, Dream Come True, IŽve Been Played The Fool Again, Blues For Ronnie, Say You Will, Lonely Nights & Corbitt Van Brauer.
Musicians on the Dream Come True album: David Garfield, Tom Scott, Ernie Watts, Neil Larsen, David Paich, Jeff Porcaro, Steve Lukather, Steve Tavaglione, Tim Pierce, Carlos Vega, Dean Parks & Lenny Castro.
Available from VAP Records/Original release year: 1983
Karizma -
Cuba
"Japanese CD release of the 2nd album from Karizma"
The Tracks are: Prophecy, Sting, Toltec Dance, T.J., Kimbisa/Cuba, Jive, Donna, Hungry Dogs, Creatchy Stomp & All Blues.
Musicians on the Cuba album: David Garfield, Michael Landau, Lenny Castro, Carlos Vega, Larry Klimas, Steve Lukather, Mike OŽNeil, Nathan East, Jimmy Johnson, Luis Conte, Brandon Fields, Steve Tavaglione, Albert Wing & Walt Fowler.
Available from Alfa Moon Records/Original release year: 1986
Karizma -
All The Way Live
"CD release of Karizma live in Japan"
The Tracks are: Tink, Jive, Dream Come True, Kimbasa/Cuba, Sting, Corbitt Van Brauer, Prelude For Dad, Juliamy & T.J.
Musicians on the All The Way Live album: David Garfield, Carlos Vega, Nathan East, Lenny Castro, Larry Klimas & Mike Miller.
Available from Alfa Moon Records/Original release year: 1987
Karizma -
(Forever In The) Arms Of Love
"4th album from Karizma"
The Tracks are: Change, Rizmatic Juices, Me, Five Storks, (Forever In The) Arm Of Love, Good-Bye, Pindango, Toast For Eli, Aliens, Chimo, Daijobo Baby & Forest For The Trees.
Musicians on the (Forever In The) Arms Of Love album: David Garfield, Carlos Vega, Brandon Fields, Jimmy Johnson, John Pena, Larry Klimas, Lenny Castro, Lil Perry, Michael Brecker, Michael Landau, Paulette Brown, Phil Perry, Steve Tavaglione & Vinnie Colaiuta.
Available from SOHBI/Original release year: 1989
Karizma -
Cuba
"Rerelease of the 2nd album from Karizma"
The Tracks are: Prophecy, Sting, Toltec Dance, T.J., Kimbisa/Cuba, Jive, Donna, Hungry Dogs, Creatchy Stomp & All Blues.
Musicians on the Cuba album: David Garfield, Michael Landau, Lenny Castro, Carlos Vega, Larry Klimas, Steve Lukather, Mike OŽNeil, Nathan East, Jimmy Johnson, Luis Conte, Brandon Fields, Steve Tavaglione, Albert Wing & Walt Fowler.
Available from Creatchy Records/Original release year: 1995
Karizma -
(Forever In The) Arms Of Love
"Rerelease of the Arms Of Love album"
The Tracks are: Change, Rizmatic Juices, Me, Five Storks, (Forever In The) Arm Of Love, Good-Bye, Pindango, Toast For Eli, Aliens, Chimo, Daijobo Baby & Forest For The Trees.
Musicians on the (Forever In The) Arms Of Love album: David Garfield, Carlos Vega, Brandon Fields, Jimmy Johnson, John Pena, Larry Klimas, Lenny Castro, Lil Perry, Michael Brecker, Michael Landau, Paulette Brown, Phil Perry, Steve Tavaglione & Vinnie Colaiuta.
Available from Creatchy Records/Original release year: 1997
Karizma -
Dream Come True
"Reissue of the first Karizma album"
The Tracks are: Ire, I Want You So, Heavy Resin, Dream Come True, IŽve Been Played The Fool Again, Blues For Ronnie, Say You Will, Lonely Nights & Corbitt Van Brauer.
Musicians on the Dream Come True album: David Garfield, Tom Scott, Ernie Watts, Neil Larsen, David Paich, Jeff Porcaro, Steve Lukather, Steve Tavaglione, Tim Pierce, Carlos Vega, Dean Parks & Lenny Castro.
Available from Creatchy Records/Original release year: 1998
Karizma -
All The Way Live
"Reissue of the Karizma livealbum"
The Tracks are: Tink, Sting, Donna, Kimbasa/Cuba, Juliamy, T.J. (Tyler Jefferson), Dream Come True, Jive, I Told You (comic interlude) & Corbitt Van Brauer.
Musicians on the All The Way Live album: David Garfield, Carlos Vega, Nathan East, Lenny Castro, Larry Klimas & Mike Miller.
Available from Creatchy Records/Original release year: 1998
This live album was recorded during Karizma's first visit to Japan in Tokyo at Sadao Wanatabe's "Bravas Club" on 24 June 1987. It was remastered by David Garfield and re-released in 1998. It's a fascinating blend of fusion and latin played by some of the finest musicians. It's also a great memory of the late Carlos Vega to whom the album is dedicated.
Message from Creatchy (taken from the booklet)
In digging out the tapes and re-mastering this CD, I had the pleasure of getting reacquainted with the events surrounding this project. We were invited to go to Japan and perform at Sadao Watanabe's "Bravas Club" and record our first live CD. It was also our first trip to Japan as a group and we played 4 concerts. The first night was at the "Fish Dance Hall" in Kobe and then the next three were at "The Prime" building in Tokyo. We recorded the last night in its entirety, direct to 2 track and pulled out a CD's worth of material the next day. Not only have I found several out takes and fun bits & pieces, but listening back at this concert has brought back the memory of how great it was to play with Carlos Vega and what a wonderful musician he was! He was a founding member of Karizma and helped to make it what it became. Carlos' performance this night in June of 1987 was amongst his finest and most inspired! He definitely played his ass off! We will all miss him very much. This re-release is dedicated to his memory and he will certainly live on in our hearts and souls.
David Garfield 10-7-98
Karizma -
Document
"Live album from Karizma recorded at the 2000 Rizma Tour"
The Tracks are: Heavy Resin, Aliens (Ripped My Face Off), Palladium, Johnny Swing, Nothing Personal & E Minor Shuffle.
Musicians on the Document album: David Garfield, Neil Stubenhaus, Michael Landau & Vinnie Colaiuta.
Available from Ulftone Music, Germany/Original release year: 2000
Karizma -
Lost And Found
"The secret tracks from Karizma"
The Tracks are: Prophecy, Natural Phenomenon, Deep Inside, Limps, Tell Me, I Want You So, Say You Will, I Guess IŽll Just Move On, Blues For Ronnie, Dream Come True, Sting, Corbitt Van Brauer, Heavy Resin, Fun In Tokyo & Studio Jam.
Musicians on the Lost And Found album: David Garfield, David Paich, Neil Larsen, Dean Cortez, John Pierce, Vinnie Colaiuta, Jeff Porcaro, Ernie Watts, Tom Scott, Steve Tavaglione, Michael Landau, Steve Lukather, Dean Parks, Kevin Dukes, Dennis Herring, Larry Klimas, Lenny Castro, Carlos Vega, James Felix and others.
Available from Creatchy Records/Original release year: 2001
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