Karl Denson

Karl Denson has proven his skills as a jazz-based saxophone player, on critically acclaimed Hard Bop sessions, as a crucial member of the Greyboy Allstars, and as an in-demand session player (with fantastic guest solos on Lenny Kravitz's first few albums). With his Tiny Universe band, he makes laying into a funky, James Brown-style groove the first order of business, while singing a bit and adding touches of Acid Jazz amidst unconventional guest appearances such as that by turntablist DJ Logic. Though he'll turn up a solo with his Bebop-based lines (he's extremely capable of playing straight-ahead music), Denson usually opts for more atmospheric effects and funky repeated notes in a similar vein to Maceo Parker. His style can get any crowd into the groove, and the crowds are consistently growing for Denson's often sold-out shows.