Welcome to the official Khari Cabral Simmons Website!
Khari has just completed the new Jiva album Day Into Night. "I wanted to make a record that production-wise was a departure from the 70's vibe i love so much. I approached the album as a journey from the 80's into the 60's, the break of day into twilight into the midnight hours.....the binding tie is the songwriting, and a bit more of a prominent role for the bass guitar."
Also the success of the Moon Bossa album done with Atlanta friend Julie Dexter continues to gain buzz and fans in Japan, Europe, and in the USA with the help of Brash Music.
It is Khari's extreme pleasure to announce that for part of 2007, he has been invited to be an artist in residence at the Northern Rivers Conservatory of Music and Arts in Lismore , Australia. Khari will be in residence with the talented staff and creative body of students teaching bass, song writing , and soul music classes, along with several workshops. He is also looking forward to being a part of the music communities in Australia.
Khari Cabral Simmons Bio
Khari started playing bass at the age of 12 in Princeton, NJ. His high school days saw him in bands in NJ, New Orleans and Atlanta. At 18 he began studying music at Morehouse College in Atlanta , Ga. There he co-founded the Atlanta soul group Sirius B Project and achieved a Bachelor of Arts in Music Composition & Theory, as well as playing for Sun Ra bandmates Bilal Sunni Ali and Rashah Carter in a sax, bass and drums trio.
After Graduating from Morehouse Khari co-founded the Atlanta - based collective Earthseed, along with friends India Arie, Donnie, Sirius B and Anasa Troutman. They recorded an album and released an ep. Shortly after the disbanding of Earthseed Khari began to play with then Naked Music recording artist Gaelle, and remained an in demand bassist playing alongside the likes of Donnie, India Arie, Roy Ayers and his own band Jiva.
In 2001 Khari joined India on her first tour opening up for Sade during the Lover's Rock Tour and remained playing for India Arie as well as doing US and European tours with trumpet great Russell Gunn.
He was signed to Giant Step Records in 2002 to put out the Jiva Sun & Moon album. Since he has gone on to produce an album with Julie Dexter, another Jiva album, do dance floor samba remixes for various artists, and produce music for India Arie, Takana Miyamoto, Eugene IV, Venus 7, Anton Harris and Heston in addition to co-writing with Anthony David on the Red Clay Chronicles.
Gear
Khari uses: 78' & 83' Fender Jazz Basses, A Suhr standard jazz bass, Aguilar Amplification, NS Design electric upright bass, Moog Voyager, Moogerfooger pedals.
Discography
India Arie Voyage To India
India Arie Little Things - won the first Grammy for Urban Alternative Song of the Year in 2003
Sirius B Project
Eugene IV Starving Artist
Venus 7 Primer
k.d. lang Summer Fling - Ananda Project Remix
Jiva Sun & Moon
Jiva Day Into Night
Donnie Introduction EP
Doria Roberts Restoration
Julie & Khari Moon Bossa
Anthony David Red Clay Chronicles
Julie Dexter Dexterity
Anton Harris Modern Mythology
Booking and Contact: if you would like to book Khari and/or any of the projects he is involved in please Contact Khari.