Kari Marguerite and The 76
Spokane, Washington, United States | INDIE
Music
Press
"Kari Marguerite kicked off her musical career after receiving an anonymous note from a neighbor saying how much they enjoyed hearing her music when it drifted through their walls. She decided to take the plunge and start performing and the rest has been history. Marguerite puts forth 12 well-rounded tracks on this, her first release. She combines classy jazz and American Standard elements with pop vibes to create a sound that demands the attention of her listeners. Her backing band matches her energy with funky bass lines and strong drumbeats but doesn’t overpower her. Instead, they provide a dynamic supplement to Marguerite’s equally dynamic voice. She’s cute without being silly and can still pack a punch when she decides to belt it out at the peak of her songs. It’s not surprising she’s become a fast local favorite. " - The Inlander
Even if you don't live in a town with a jazz lounge... one is never far away if you've got a couple candles, a bottle of red wine, and the debut album from Kari Marguerite & The 76 (In fact... the album sorta makes you thirsty for wine). It has all the staples needed to be a wonderful jazz record... solid instrumentation (especially some of the bass guitar work), soulful lyrics, and the best part... sassy vocals from Kari. Sometimes she is happy, sometimes she is rocking, but always... she is seductive. - Ethan Maffey
If you lean toward singer-songwriters like Fiona Apple and Sarah Bareilles, you'll love this band. Kari is like a lively Amy Winehouse, smooth and cool, and the band, a jazz/soul creation with a great groove that compliments her perfectly.
A solo piano opens "Strange Religion" then drums and bass are added to her sassy vocals. If you aren't bobbing your head and swaying to this one, you're dead. "Crosstown Bus" has a solid piano with bursts of well-played bluesy electric guitar. "Trip to the Moon" has an organ, giving it an old school soul sound. But just to keep us on our toes, they add acoustic guitar. Beautiful. - Jamie Anderson
"Kari Marguerite and the 76 Music Cocktail:
2 Part Soul
1 Part Jazz
1 Part Funk
1 Part Pop
2 Part Sassy
Mix, and get ready to dance." -Checkitoutmusic.com - Checkitoutmusic.com
"Kari Marguerite and the Seventy-Six is a one-of-a-kind band here in Spokane. With old-school soul, jazz, and funk presented in a pop-rock context, they certainly know how to catch you ear and get your body moving." -Matt Loiocano, 103.1 KCDA Local Lounge. - 1031kcda.com
Discography
Kari Marguerite and The 76- Self Titled Debut
Photos
Bio
Raised in a Butte Montana, Kari Marguerite was introduced to Jazz and Swing at an early age, by her father who played trombone in various swing big bands. A desire to learn how to play her own instrument, lead to piano lessons at the age of 8. She later dabbled in cello and sang horrible arrangements of 70’s easy listening hits in high school choir.
A desire to see something a bit more of the world, led to college in Colorado, and then her first professional job in Spokane, Washington. "Basically, I was very young, in a field where I worked independently and interacted with so few young people...I was very lonely," says Kari Marguerite. "I remember, one day, coming home from work, and finding a lovely note from an anonymous neighbor. The note basically said how much he/she enjoyed listening to my music as it filtered through the plaster walls and how I should continue playing, how I should share it. It was just what I needed at that moment, because I was feeling so low. I obviously couldn’t drag my huge antique piano around with me, so I thought I’d take up a more portable instrument. I bought a cheap acoustic guitar and took some lessons. I built up the courage to hit some open mic nights and make some friends."
Don’t worry, it all worked out. She made some friends, she joined some bands. She performed in some pretty crappy bars. She had a great time. In 2009, she was playing keys and songwriting for a
project that imploded. Vowing to do it better, her own way, Kari Marguerite wrote a bunch of angry “my band broke up” songs. Then she stopped, wrote some good songs, and went to the studio.
With producer Eddie Ramirez at the helm, Kari Marguerite began working on her debut album. Taking her first love of Jazz and combining it with the soulful-pop stylings of artists she had come to admire (Jill Scott, Amy Winehouse, Nikka Costa, Fiona Apple, Norah Jones, Lilly Allen and Sara Barielles) Kari Marguerite began forming a style of music that was uniquely her own. The self-titled LP is a 12 song journey through the fantastic and the everyday. "The jubilation of new love, the deep understanding of mature love, cautionary tales, and even my dorky sense of humor," says Kari Marguerite, "I think these songs speak to the heart, and make you bop your head at the same time."
The album was released on Feb 19 2011. It’s been called “Seductive...sassy and soulful, but always
seductive" (83Music.com) and “passionate songwriting and impressive production" (ciom.com). Kari Marguerite and her band, The Seventy-Six can be found performing in and around the local Spokane area and are planning tours around the northwest United States. You can visit her website karimarguerite.com for music samples, live show schedules and to order your copy of the CD.
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