John Kessler

After 40+ years as a bassist backing other musicians, John Kessler is stepping out front as composer and bandleader with this new project. Conceived during the pandemic lull, Kessler began playing the bass with 2-hand tapping method, creating hypnotic instrumental rock with jazz overtones. Using this technique, he is able to play both bass and rhythm at the same
time, weaving intricate overlapping patterns that are mesmerizing and also fun to watch andlisten to. Fans of bassist Tony Levin and King Crimson will be delighted by this new group. As Musical Director of NPR’s Mountain Stage radio program Kessler arranged music and performed with some of the biggest names in roots, rock, jazz and blues including Dr. John, Sonny Landreth, Sarah Maclachlan, Shawn Colvin, Gatemouth Brown, Johnny Johnson and
literally 100s of others during his 15 year stint. For the past 26 years Kessler has hosted the All Blues radio show on KNKX/NPR, and has won numerous awards from the Washington Blues Society as well as the award for Keeping The
Blues Alive from the Blues Foundation.
Joined by some of the best players in Seattle, the band includes Darian Asplund on sax, flute
and ewi (Lee Oskar, Tim Kennedy, Farko Dosumov, Macklemore) Park Evans on guitar (Birch Pereira, Corey Palmer, Anthony Cox) and brilliant newcomer to the Seattle music scene Carlos Knox on drums.