Koinonia (band)
| Koinonia | |
|---|---|
| General information | |
| origin | USA, Mexico, Peru, Colombia |
| Genre (s) | Jazz , fusion , Christian pop music |
| founding | 1980 |
| resolution | 1991 |
| former members | |
Percussion |
Alex Acuña |
Electric bass |
Abraham Laboriel |
Saxophone, flute |
Justo Almario |
Woodwind instruments |
John Phillips |
Keyboards, vocals |
Lou Pardini |
guitar |
Hadley Hockensmith |
guitar |
Dean Parks |
piano |
Harlan Rogers |
Drums |
Bill Maxwell |
Koinonia was a fusion jazz band that produced a total of four albums between 1982 and 1990. The name of the band goes back to the Greek word koinonia (κοινωνία), which means community through participation .
Band history
The band was founded in 1980 by Abraham Laboriel , a classically trained guitarist on electric bass, and drummer Bill Maxwell with Dean Parks (guitar), Alex Acuña (percussion and drums), John Phillips (woodwind instruments), Hadley Hockensmith (guitar), and Harlan Rogers (keyboards). The band emerged from the instrumental group Sonlight , which had appeared as a backing band for Andraé Crouch under the name "The Disciples" and had released their own album in 1972.
Koinonia first performed in 1980 at the Baked Potato in Los Angeles . The debut album was released in 1982 under the title More Than a Feelin ' . The band then performed in Scandinavia, where their live album Celebration was recorded.
In 1981 John Phillips left the band and was replaced by the saxophone and flute virtuoso Justo Almario. Dean Parks also left the band because the band played live in different countries and he didn't like to travel. In 1986 the album Frontline was released . Chester Thompson joined Alex Acuña during the European tour in 1987, but did not become an official member of the band. In 1988 Lou Pardini finally joined the band (keyboards and vocals). With him the last self-titled studio album was created. Koinonia disbanded in 1991. After the split, Alex Acuña and Husto Almario founded the Latin group Tulu .
Music genre
The band members were all successful studio musicians who had a very good reputation in the music scene and worked with many well-known artists (e.g. Lionel Richie , Quincy Jones , Chaka Khan etc.).
The first two albums contained almost exclusively instrumental pieces. Singing was also integrated into the later two. Stylistically, Koinonia integrated stylistic devices from jazz funk , a jazz subgenre with powerful back beats, groove and rhythm guitar . Other well-known artists of a similar character at this time were The Crusaders , Weather Report , Herbie Hancock , Alphonse Mouzon , Chick Corea , Lee Ritenour , Azymuth , Eumir Deodato , Jeff Lorber , and Seawind.
Discography
Albums
- 1982: More than a Feelin ' (Breaker Record)
- 1984: Celebration (Live album, Breaker Records)
- 1986: Frontline (Sparrow Records)
- 1989: Koinonia (Royal Music)
Compilations
- 1989: Compact Favorites (Sparrow Records)
- 1992: Pilgrim's Progression - Best of Koinonia (Maxus Records)
- 2010: All the Best (compilation of 4 CDs and 2 DVDs, MEP Records)
Videos / DVDs
- 2005: Celebrate in Gothenburg (DVD of a live concert from 1983)
Singles
- 1982: More Than a Feelin ' (Pop Eye)
- 1986: Señor / Greatest Love (Sparrow Records)
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ Cover text from back side of 1984 album Celebration
- ^ Bill Maxwell in the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame in 2008
- ↑ a b c Don Cusic: Encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian Music: Pop, Rock, and Worship: Pop, Rock, and Worship . ABC-CLIO, 2009, ISBN 978-0-313-34426-8 , pp. 259 .
- ↑ Koinonia. oblibs.com, accessed May 2, 2016 .
- ↑ Koinonia . In: A Closer Look . Blue Desert. Retrieved December 7, 2015.
- ^ Bill Maxwell, Facebook, May 2009.
- ^ A b West Coast Music. Westcoast.dk, accessed May 2, 2016 .