 Kiku
Collins, classically trained trumpet player at the prestigious
Interlochen Arts Academy and Manhattan School of Music, found her way to a
successful pop/jazz career, sharing the stage with many musicians - most
notably with Beyonce (on trumpet and trombone) and Michael Bolton (trumpet
and vocals). She has also been seen as an actor/musician in off-Broadway
shows in NYC, as an on-camera actress in Television commercials, as well
as heard on countless television and radio commercials and television
shows.
Listen to Kiku on
Reverbnation and
MySpace. Visit her
website.
and Facebook Fans page. Buy her CDs at
CD Baby,
iTunes, and
Amazon.
About Kiku...
"Freelance Trumpet Player Kiku Collins of New York City grew up in New Jersey and began playing the trumpet in the fifth grade in the footsteps of her older brother. "Kiku" means Chrysanthemum in Japanese. Kiku and her brother began taking private trumpet lessons in grade school and Kiku's playing ability quickly developed as did encouragement from her high school music teachers. Kiku attended the Interlochen Arts Academy while in high school and studied trumpet with John Lindenau."
~ Trumpet Player Profiles
"Kiku is not only a featured Getzen trumpet artist, but her debut album has been featured on many radio stations, and has gotten tons of press from publications, including a 7 page feature article in the International Trumpet Guild, the cover article in The Brass Herald, BBC, Black Owl Music, Le Jazz Affair, Radiophone, WEMU 89.1 in Michigan, NPR, a 3 page article in Jazz Colours Magazine in June 2007 (which hails Collins the “Princess of Smooth Jazz”), Vinilemania, The Jazz Suite, Hot House Jazz, Smooth Jazz, CMJ, WMPG, WGBH, Harris Radio, Julian's Flight, Trumpetgig.com, The Fevered Brain of Radio Mike... and her Getzen posters and ads can be seen all over in schools, music shops, and in Jazz Times Magazine, The International Trumpet Guild Magazine, and educational publications"
~ All About Jazz
RED LIGHT:
Kiku Collins
"Red Light" (2011)
According to the Jazz Journal International, Kiku Collins "plays the trumpet like a twenty-first century Miles Davis". Ms. Collins flexes her composer/producer/bandleader muscles with plenty of melody and groove on "Red Light"
| "Red Light Q&A" |
| DCB |
How long was the CD in development?
|
| KC |
2 tunes were composed right after the first album came out, but the
rest from start to finish took under a year.
|
| DCB |
Did you write all the tracks?
|
| KC |
There is one cover, "How Lucky You Are". All others are originals
|
| DCB |
What was the greatest obstacle, if one existed?
|
| KC |
Time and Money! I have a great cast of people from writers to
musicians, studio personnel etc. Thank goodness!
|
| DCB |
Where was it recorded?
|
| KC |
Most was recorded at Hoboken Recorders in NJ by Alan Camlet. The rest
was done at TNT's House of Sound - our recording studio, mostly engineered
by my daughter and myself. :)
|
| DCB |
What track was the most fun to do?
|
| KC |
They were all fun, it's hard to say. Every track has a unique vibe and
groove and mood, and my wonderful band explored every facet of potential in each tune. For me, though, I enjoyed recording
"How Lucky You Are" (a
favorite track of mine is Joni James singing this beautiful tune and I tried to tap into her old school energy on the flugel as well as
background vocals) and "Blue Patrol", layering all of the horns (I love playing valve trombone!!!)- having some spectacular guests join in, and
making up harmonies and underlying lines on the fly for texture!
|
| "Red Light" Musicians |
|
Kiku Collins - Trumpet, Flugelhorn, Valve Trombone, Vocals |
Alex Alexander - Drums, Percussion |
|
Xavier Davis - Piano |
Elizabeth! - Trombone |
| Hendrik Helmer -
Guitar |
TubaJoe Exley - Tuba |
| Layla Angulo - Sax |
Greg Clark - Vocals |
| Malcolm Gold
- Bass |
Tani Trentlyon - Vocals |
| Michael Lington
- Sax |
Francesco Guaiana - Guitar |
| Al Chez -
Trumpet |
Luca Lo Bianco - Bass |
| David Gibson -
Trombone |
Massimo D'aleo - Drums |
|
HERE WITH ME: 
Kiku Collins
"Here With Me" (2007)
When fate came calling a while back, New Yorker Kiku Collins hung up her classical C trumpet in favor of the simple and sultry flugelhorn. It was a good decision: her haunting tone has since been heard on commercials and just behind major pop stars the world over.
Her mentor, Mel Broiles, principal trumpet for the Metropolitan Opera in NYC, always said to her, "Miss Collins, you need to find a way to get on the television with that beautiful sound of yours". Well, she has, and, if you’ve watched Oprah, The Today Show, MTV's TRL or the American Music Awards recently you’ll have seen her in good company. She’s more than just Beyonce’s horn player, though. She’s now stepping into the spotlight all on her own with her debut album “Here With Me” (innova 668).
While Kiku has been seen around town, as well as around the world, with major pop stars including Beyonce, Dave Wakeling, TM Stevens, Carmine Appice, Robert Gordon, Sami Yaffa, Jonathan Richmond, and Pat Travers to drop a few names, she has truly found her voice in "Here With Me". This smoothly satisfying album redefines evocative jazzy compositions and rich orchestration. Her multiple tracking on the flugelhorn, muted trumpet and trombone, showcases a level of musicianship of the highest order and demonstrates what a band of Kikus might sound like.
You can come to your own conclusions about what was going through her head or life while writing and recording this album. It's this kind of thinking that will get you everywhere... You can start with a few facts: Kiku is a Jersey girl who wound up in the City, her name means Chrysanthemum in Japanese (where some of her DNA originates), she plays a brass instrument in a man’s world, and is a personal trainer and mother. Caffeine makes all this possible (though you’d be hard-pressed to hear much of that in this laid-back music).
|
"Here With Me" features fabulous NYC musicians |
| Julian Harris | | Co-Producer, Guitars, Electric Bass |
|
Tony Graci
| |
Drums |
|
Nick Cudahy | |
Acoustic Bass |
|
Jorge Bringas | |
Acoustic-Electric Bass |
|
Steve Shapiro | |
Vibraphone |
|
Alex Alexander | |
Percussion |
|
Manuel Carro | |
Percussion |
|
Andy Ezrin | |
Piano |
|
Trevor Exter | |
Cello |
|
Greg Hirte | |
Violin |
|
Jay Rodriguez | |
Flute |
|
her daughter Tani | |
who makes a very special guest appearance.
|
|
Vocals, Actor, Songwriter
| | Copyright
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