arkana music: ali berkok-piano/rhodes, mark laver-sax, gord mowat-bass, jake oelrichs-drums, tom richards-trombone
trio: ali berkok-piano, dave macdougall-drums, kurt nielsen-bass
incline: patrice barbanchon-trumpet/fluegel, ali berkok-piano/rhodes, kurt nielsen-bass, dennis song-drums
as a sideman -
the earthtones, muskox
Influences
Monk, Dave Douglas, Vijay Iyer, Django Bates, Wayne Shorter, Harvey Pekar, Joe Sacco, Alan Moore, Louis Armstrong, Keith Jarrett, Herbie Hancock, McCoy Tyner, Stevie Wonder, Bud Powell, Misha Mengelberg, Han Bennink, Schoenberg, Stravinsky, Ravel, Shostakovich, Bartok, Mozart, Nancarrow, Ricky Gervais, Dave Chappelle, Uri Caine, Kenny Kirkland, Miles Davis, Queen, Jason Moran, P.J. Harvey.
Sounds Like
dave douglas, ornette coleman, dave holland quintet, jason moran
i play predominantly modern acoustic jazz in the vein of those guys
A diverse musician, pianist and composer Ali Berkok has appeared in a wide range of venues, from Kingston's Rotunda Theatre to Toronto's Rex Hotel and the Kowloon Shangri-La in Hong Kong. Currently, Ali leads "Arkana:" a new ensemble dedicated to blurring the line between composition and improvisation. Their first album, Hyprovisation, is out now.
Also active as a sideman, Ali is an original member of the band Klezfactor, who have received critical success with their debut album "The Golem of Bathurst Manor." Other successful collaborations include stints with jazz vocalist Karen Manion, and the Toronto Jazz Orchestra with whom he had the privilege of working with such artists as saxophonist Jane Bunnett and vocalist Kurt Elling.
A recipient of the 2005 Ken Page Memorial Trust, Ali was accepted to the Banff Centre for the Arts workshop in Jazz and Creative Music. Here, he had the opportunity to learn from artists such as Don Byron, Vijay Iyer, Greg Osby, Han Bennink and Dave Douglas. Previously under the instruction of Don Thompson, Ali attended Humber College’s Jazz Studies program. Having also received a Bachelor of Music degree at Queen's University, Ali has a wide perspective and is constantly in search of new ideas.
I edited my profile with Thomas' Myspace Editor V4.4
Hi Ali! I'm going to be in Toronto on Aug. 16th for about five days before I head on to China. Do you want to have coffee or something since I missed you last time? It would be nice to finally catch up. Let me know.
Have a look at our top contact / friends list. It is done by Kerby Design (Patrick Kerby), he is currently doing some more work on our .com page as well! Great to hear from you,
Ali!! How have you been man!? This is kind of last minute notice but if you don't have anything I'm playing at Trane Studio tonight with my band for our record launch tour, it would be awesome to see you there!! Peace! -SamB
Hi Sally... thanks for the comment. However, this keyboard player you speak of had a strange look on his face every time the camera took a picture so none of the pictures are really usable.... perhaps a professional photographer will actually be able to get a decent photo out of this band....
Hi Ali! I'm sure Peter told you we'll be in Toronto soon! I hope to have the chance to see you and Angie again and Greg and Karen hopefully! I hope you're doing fine and the cats, too...
Has been a while, so, just wanted to drop in and say Hello. Hoping all is Fantastic in your World right now! :)
By the way, if you or someone you know, are planning a trip or vacation and don't want to travel alone or perhaps may need some assistance traveling, I will be honoured for just the privilege of being considered to be hired as your Professional, Respectable and Trustworthy, TRAVEL COMPANION.
So, please feel free to come and visit my Page anytime to learn more on how I can and will work hard to make a World of Difference to your Travels!!!
Hi Ali. It was great you could make the gig at Concord. You sounded amazing of course and I had alot of fun. Thanks for the CD; its sounds really great. Congratulations! Hope we get to play again soon, David.
I am working very hard but the end is in sight! Can't wait to hear your arrangement...and how was your trip to NYC? You must have heard lots of great music, no doubt. I will be in Toronto sometime this summer, still working out the details.
