View source for Skerik

{{short description|American musician}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name             = Skerik
| image            = Skerik_Headhunters_2005.jpg
| caption          = Skerik with [[The Headhunters]], Schuba's, June 21, 2005
| background       = solo_singer
| birth_name       = 
| alias            = Eric Walton
| birth_date       = {{Birth date and age|1964|11|19}}
| birth_place      = Seattle, Washington, U.S.
| genre            = [[Jazz]]
| occupation       = Musician
| instrument       = Saxophone, vocals, electronics
| years_active     = 
| label            = Hyena, [[Ropeadope Records|Ropeadope]]
| associated_acts  = [[Skerik's Syncopated Taint Septet]], Dead Kenny G's, [[Mad Season (band)|Mad Season]], SadHappy [[Critters Buggin]], [[Colonel Les Claypool's Fearless Flying Frog Brigade|Les Claypool's Frog Brigade]], [[Garage A Trois]], [[Ponga (band)|Ponga]], [[Primus (band)|Primus]]
| website          = {{URL|skerikmusic.com}}
}}

'''Skerik''' (born November 19, 1964) is an American saxophonist from Seattle, Washington. Performing on the tenor and baritone saxophone, often with electronics and loops, he is a pioneer in a playing style that has been called [[saxophonics]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://postgenre.org/conversation-skerik/|title=Creative Necessity: A Conversation with Skerik|date=26 March 2021}}</ref>

He is a founding member of [[Critters Buggin]], [[Garage a Trois]], [[Ponga (band)|Ponga]], [[Tuatara (band)|Tuatara]], and [[Skerik's Syncopated Taint Septet]]. He is also an original member of both [[Les Claypool's Fancy Band]] and [[Les Claypool's Frog Brigade|Frog Brigade]]. Skerik also worked with grunge band [[Mad Season (band)|Mad Season]].

==History==
Skerik, born Eric Walton, began playing saxophone in the fifth grade. His father's love of jazz was an early inspiration. He played saxophone, keyboards and percussion in a rock band called Uncle Jam. He has cited The Rolling Stones and Pink Floyd as bands from that time period who brought saxophone into rock music well. In the 1980s he travelled to London, Paris and the South Pacific working day jobs and playing in a variety of bands. His friendship with Leif Totusek introduced him to [[South African music]] and Zaire [[soukous]] bands in London where he first began playing music full time.<ref name="saxjournal">Andrew Clark, Skerik, ''Saxophone Journal'' Volume 27, Number 1, Sept/Oct 2002</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.allaboutjazz.com/skerik-concept-is-all-anyone-cares-about-skerik-by-paul-olson |website=All About Jazz |access-date=14 March 2025 |title=Skerik: Concept is All Anyone Cares About article @ All About Jazz |date=16 October 2006 }}</ref>

Skerik returned to Seattle in the late 1980s where he played with Sadhappy. In the early 1990s he joined three ex-members of [[Edie Brickell & New Bohemians|New Bohemians]] to form [[Critters Buggin]]<ref name="saxjournal" /> (who have remained active through 2008).<ref>Jonathan Zwickel [http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/entertainment/2008031771_critters04.html Critters Buggin: Keeping it unorthodox with a monster jam session] ''[[The Seattle Times]]'', July 3, 2008</ref> Projects since that time have included [[Ponga (band)|Ponga]] ([[Wayne Horvitz]] and [[Bobby Previte]]), [[Tuatara (band)|Tuatara]] ([[Peter Buck]], [[Scott McCaughey]] and Craig Flory) and solo works of [[Stanton Moore]] as well as [[Garage A Trois]] (also including [[Charlie Hunter]]). Beginning 2000 Skerik was a member of every incarnation of [[Les Claypool]]'s [[Les Claypool's Frog Brigade|Frog Brigade]] and [[Les Claypool's Fancy Band|Fancy Band]]. In 2001 Skerik played the Pacific Northwest portion of [[Roger Waters]]' tour, reproducing the sax lead in "[[Money (Pink Floyd song)|Money]]".<ref name="saxjournal" />

In 2002, Skerik formed [[Skerik's Syncopated Taint Septet|Syncopated Taint Septet]] with fellow Seattle musicians. After touring nationally, their 2006 studio release ''[[Husky (album)|Husky]]'' received very positive reviews.<ref name="AllJazz-2006-10-16">{{cite web
| title=Skerik: Concept Is All Anyone Cares About
| url=https://www.allaboutjazz.com/skerik-concept-is-all-anyone-cares-about-skerik-by-paul-olson.php
| first=Paul | last=Olson | publisher=[[All About Jazz]] | date=October 16, 2006 | access-date=2019-06-24
}}
</ref><ref name="JazzTimes-2006-09-01">{{cite news
| title=Skerik's Syncopated Taint Septet: Husky
| url=https://jazztimes.com/reviews/albums/skeriks-syncopated-taint-septet-husky/
| first=Andrew Lindemann | last=Malone | publisher=[[JazzTimes]] | date=September 1, 2006 | access-date=2019-06-23
}}
</ref><ref name="barros">{{cite news
| title=Seattle saxophonist's funky, artful septet
| url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/20060818/jazz18/seattle-saxophonists-funky-artful-septet
| first=Paul | last=de Barros | publisher=[[The Seattle Times]] | date=August 18, 2006 | access-date=2019-06-22
}}
</ref>

Skerik won the award of "Northwest Jazz Instrumentalist of the Year" at the 2003 [[Earshot Jazz]] Golden Ear Awards.<ref>Bill White [http://www.seattlepi.com/pop/160841_earshot17.html Sax player Skerik has another reason to toot his own horn] ''seattlepi.com'', February 17, 2004</ref>

Skerik has expressed support of music education for young people <ref name="saxjournal" /> and support for activism such as the voting project [[HeadCount]].<ref>[http://www.jambase.com/Articles/15215/Rocktober-Get-Out-And-Vote!/3 Rocktober: Get Out And Vote!] [[HeadCount]], ''JamBase'', October 2, 2008, Retrieved December 29, 2008</ref> In interviews he has discussed creative integrity and spontaneity.<ref name="saxjournal" /><ref name="kayceman">The Kayceman [http://www.jambase.com/headsup.asp?storyID=1615 Skerik | Serving the Music] ''JamBase'', October, 2001, Retrieved December 29, 2008</ref> He has also provided music workshops.<ref>[http://www.pyramind.com/community/calendar/view/20/85.html “SKERIK: RECORDING CHAOS AND ACOUTRONICA CONCEPTS”] ''pyramind.com'', September 2009</ref>

==Various projects==
[[File:SkerikTrey.JPG|thumb|right|298px|Skerik performing with [[Trey Anastasio]] & [[Les Claypool's Fancy Band]] in [[Atlanta, Georgia]]]]
Skerik is a founding member of [[Critters Buggin]], [[Garage a Trois]] (which has included [[Stanton Moore]], [[Charlie Hunter]], [[Mike Dillon (musician)|Mike Dillon]], and [[Marco Benevento]]), Crack Sabbath, and The Dead Kenny G's. Skerik is an original member of [[Les Claypool's Fancy Band]] and [[Les Claypool's Frog Brigade|Frog Brigade]], [[Bobby Previte]]'s [[Ponga (band)|Ponga]] and [[The Coalition of the Willing (band)|Coalition of the Willing]] and [[Joe Doria]]'s McTuff. In the 1990s, he was also a member of [[Tuatara (band)|Tuatara]] (with [[Peter Buck]]) and Seattle-based Sadhappy.

Skerik has toured with [[Fred Wesley]], [[Mike Clark (jazz musician)|Mike Clark]] and [[The Headhunters]], [[Wayne Horvitz]] (Zony Mash), [[Mad Season (band)|Mad Season]] and [[Roger Waters]]. He has performed with [[Pearl Jam]], [[Bonnie Raitt]],<ref name="moorman" /> [[The Meters]], [[Galactic]], [[Dumpstaphunk]], [[Johnny Vidacovich]], [[Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey]], and [[Ween]].

In Seattle, Skerik leads Seattle-based punk-jazz band [[Skerik's Syncopated Taint Septet]].<ref name="barros" /><ref>[http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/who-when-where/Content?oid=22934 Who, When, Where] ''thestranger.com'', September 2005</ref><ref>Christopher DeLaurenti [http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/classical-jazz--avant/Content?oid=55909 Classical, Jazz & Avant] ''thestranger.com'', August 21, 2006</ref> He is a founding member of Seattle's Crack Sabbath.<ref name="moorman">Trent Moorman [http://lineout.thestranger.com/2008/01/skerik_psychic_rushdie_saxophone Skerik: Psychic Rushdie Saxophone] ''thestranger.com'', January 31, 2008</ref> He is also a member of Seattle-based McTuff.<ref>Court Scott [https://archive.today/20120717134527/http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/news_print.php?id=24659 Behind the McTuff Exterior] ''[[All About Jazz]]'', October 2008</ref><ref>Christopher DeLaurenti and Jonathan Zwickel [http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/jazznot-jazz/Content?oid=419056 Jazz/not Jazz] ''thestranger.com'', October 17, 2007</ref>

In New Orleans, he is a member of Maelstrom Trio; the trio includes long-time mates keyboardist [[Brian Coogan]] and drummer Simon Lott. The Maelstrom Trio combines disparate elements such as free jazz, funk, metal and textural music. Skerik and percussionist [[Mike Dillon (musician)|Mike Dillon]] have toured as a trio with New Orleans bassist [[James Singleton (musician)|James Singleton]] as Illuminasti.

Skerik and Dillon also perform as a trio called The Dead Kenny G's with alternate third members. National tours have included keyboardist [[Brian Haas]]<ref>Sam Prestianni, Mike Rowell [http://www.sfweekly.com/2005-10-05/music/jazz-cats-the-dead-kenny-g-s-stick-it-to-everyone-s-favorite-wuss-dmbq-drops-a-bluster-bomb-on-12-galaxies/ Jazz cats the Dead Kenny G's stick it to everyone's favorite wuss] ''sfweekly.com'' October 5, 2005</ref> and bassist [[Brad Houser]]. With Houser they have also toured as "Critters Buggin Trio";<ref>Adam Brown [http://www.whatsup-magazine.com/index.php?navarea=Archives&storyid=400 6th Annual Flowmotion Summer Meltdown] ''whatsup-magazine.com'', September 2006</ref> further, in 2009, they released a debut CD entitled ''Bewildered Herd''.<ref>Tom D'Antoni [http://oregonmusicnews.com/blog/2009/10/20/dead-kenny-gs-at-the-goodfoot-with-david-ornette-cherry/ Dead Kenny G's at the Goodfoot with David Ornette Cherry] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101129030108/http://oregonmusicnews.com/blog/2009/10/20/dead-kenny-gs-at-the-goodfoot-with-david-ornette-cherry/ |date=2010-11-29 }} ''oregonmusicnews.com'', October 20, 2009</ref> As the band's name implies, there is an expressed disdain for [[smooth jazz]]<ref name="kayceman"/> and [[commercialism]]. Skerik has described The Dead Kenny G's as a "free-jazz version of [[The Melvins]]."<ref name="moorman" />

==Discography==
* 2001: ''Psychochromatic'' (Skerik)
* 2002: ''[[Skerik's Syncopated Taint Septet (album)|Skerik's Syncopated Taint Septet]]'' ([[Ropeadope Records|Ropeadope]])
* 2002: Black Frames ''[[Solarallergy]]'' (independent)
* 2004: Crack Sabbath ''Bar Slut'' (Independent)
* 2006: ''Left for Dead in Seattle'' (1995–2003 independent)
* 2006: Skerik's Syncopated Taint Septet ''[[Husky (album)|Husky]]'' (Hyena)
* 2009: The Dead Kenny G's ''Bewildered Herd'' (independent)
* 2010: Skerik's Syncopated Taint Septet ''[[Live at The Triple Door (Skerik's Syncopated Taint Septet)|Live at The Triple Door]]'' ([[Royal Potato Family]])
* 2011: The Dead Kenny G's ''Operation: Long Leash'' (independent)
* 2012: Skerik's Bandalabra ''Live at the Royal Room'' (Royal Potato Family)
* 2012: Skerik's Bandalabra ''Live at the Comet'' (independent)
* 2017: Skerik ''live at the Chapel volume 1''
* 2019: Skerik ''live at the Chapel volume 2''

'''With Critters Buggin'''
* 1994: ''[[Guest (album)|Guest]]'' (Loosegroove)
* 1997: ''[[Host (Critters Buggin album)|Host]]'' (Loosegroove)
* 1997: ''[[Monkeypot Merganzer]]'' (Loosegroove)
* 1998: ''Bumpa'' (Loosegroove)
* 1998: ''[[Amoeba (album)|Amoeba]]'' (Loosegroove)
* 2004: ''[[Stampede (Critters Buggin album)|Stampede]]'' (Ropeadope)
* 2007: ''Get the Clackervalve and the Old Clobberd Biscuits Out and Smack the Grand Ham Clapper's Mother'' (DVD)
* 2009: ''Live in 95 at the OK Hotel – Seattle 1995'' (independent)
* 2020: ''Count Cancelled'' Live 2001 Disastour (available on Bandcamp)

'''With [[Les Claypool]]'''
* 2001: Les Claypool's Frog Brigade ''[[Live Frogs Set 1]]'' ([[Prawn Song Records|Prawn Song]])
* 2001: Les Claypool's Frog Brigade ''[[Live Frogs Set 2]]'' (Prawn Song)
* 2002: Les Claypool's Frog Brigade ''[[Purple Onion (album)|Purple Onion]]'' (Prawn Song)
* 2005: ''[[5 Gallons Of Diesel]]'' (DVD – Prawn Song)
* 2006: ''[[Of Whales and Woe]]'' (Prawn Song)
* 2007: ''[[Fancy (DVD)|Fancy]]'' (DVD – Prawn Song)

'''With [[Stanton Moore]]'''
* 1998: ''[[All Kooked Out! (Stanton Moore album)|All Kooked Out!]]'' ([[Fog City Records|Fog City]])
* 1999: Garage a Trois ''[[Mysteryfunk]]'' (Fog City)
* 2002: ''[[Flyin' the Koop (Stanton Moore album)|Flyin' the Koop]]'' ([[Verve Records|Verve]])
* 2003: Garage a Trois ''[[Emphasizer]]'' (Tone Cool)
* 2005: Garage a Trois ''[[Outre Mer]]'' ([[Telarc International|Telarc]])
* 2006: ''[[III (Stanton Moore album)|III]]'' (Telarc)
* 2009: Garage a Trois ''[[Power Patriot]]'' ([[Royal Potato Family]])
* 2011: Garage a Trois ''[[Always Be Happy, But Stay Evil]]'' (Royal Potato Family)
* 2021: Garage a Trois ''[[Calm Down Cologne]]'' (Royal Potato Family)

'''With [[Bobby Previte]]'''
* 1998: Ponga ''Ponga'' (Loosegroove)
* 1999: Ponga ''Remix'' (CD and clear vinyl) (Loosegroove)
* 2000: Ponga ''Psychological'' ([[P-Vine Records|P-Vine]])
* 2006: Bobby Previte – Jamie Saft – Skerik ''Live in Japan 2003'' (Word Public – DVD)
* 2006: Beta Popes ''Live Hate''
* 2006: ''[[The Coalition of the Willing (album)|Coalition of the Willing]]'' (Ropeadope)
* 2007: ''April in New York'' – DVD
* 2008: Beta Popes ''White Hate'' (Veal)

'''With Sadhappy'''
* 1992: ''Depth Charge'' (Periscope)
* 1994: ''Before We Were Dead – Live'' (Periscope)
* 1994: ''The Good, Bad and the Skary'' (Periscope)

'''With others'''
* 1992: My Name Megacrush (C/Z Records)
* 1995: [[Mad Season (band)|Mad Season]] ''[[Above (Mad Season album)|Above]]'' (Columbia)
* 1995: Mad Season ''[[Live at the Moore]]'' (Columbia - DVD)
* 1996: [[Tuatara (band)|Tuatara]] ''[[Breaking the Ethers]]'' (Epic)
* 1996: PHO BAC ''PHO BAC presents Afrophobia'' (Headrush)
* 1997: Suicide Jack ''In Churches and Saloons'' (Sujack)
* 1997: Timothy Young ''with very special people'' (Endless)
* 1998: Tuatara ''[[Trading with the Enemy]]'' (Epic)
* 1998: [[Calm Down Juanita]] ''Calm Down Juanita'' ([[The Echo Label|Echo]])<ref name=CDJ>{{cite AV media notes|title=Calm Down Juanita|others=Calm Down Juanita|year = 1998 |at =inside front cover | type = CD Liner| publisher = [[The Echo Label|Echo]]|location = Seattle, Washington, US }}</ref>
* 1999: [[Hairy Apes BMX]] ''[[Expatriape]]'' (AW/VR)
* 2000: Suicide Jack ''Honky Tonk Suicide'' (Sujack)
* 2000: [[Wayne Horvitz]] Four Plus One Ensemble ''[[From a Window (album)|From a Window]]'' ([[Avant Records|Avant]])
* 2002: [[Calm Down Juanita]] ''Undertown'' (Independent)<ref name=Undertown>{{cite AV media notes|title=Undertown | others = Calm Down Juanita | year = 2002 |at = inside front booklet | type = CD Booklet | publisher = Gizmo and Toony | location = [[Seattle, Washington]], US }}</ref>
* 2002: Tuatara ''[[Cinemathique]]'' (Fast Horse)
* 2003: [[Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey]] ''Symbiosis Osmosis'' (Kufala)
* 2003: [[Jacek Kochan]] ''New Expensive Head'' (Gowi)
* 2003: [[Aja West|The Mackrosoft]] ''[[Aja West#Journey to Vaginus (2004)|Journey to Vaginus]]'' (Independent)
* 2003: [[Robert Walter (musician)|The Clinton Administration]] ''One Nation Under a Re-Groove'' (Magnatude)
* 2004: [[Barrett Martin]] ''The Painted Desert'' (Fast Horse)
* 2007: [[Hella (band)|Hella]] ''There's No 666 in Outer Space'' (Ipecac)
* 2008: [[Kayo Dot]] ''[[Blue Lambency Downward]]'' ([[Hydra Head Records|Hydra Head]])
* 2008: [[Todd Sickafoose]] ''Tiny Resistors'' ([[Cryptogramophone Records|Cryptogramophone]])
* 2008: Good Guys ''The Social Engagement'' (In the Dark)
* 2009: McTuff ''Volume 1'' (McTuff/Joe Doria Music)
* 2012: Zony Mash + Horns ([[Wayne Horvitz]]) ''Live at the Royal Room''
* 2014: [[Eyvind Kang]] ''[[Alastor: Book of Angels Volume 21]]'' ([[Tzadik Records|Tzadik]])
* 2014: Dionvox ''Your Name'' (RZY)
* 2014: Omaha Diner ''Omaha Diner'' (independent)
* 2015: DRKWAV ''The Purge'' with John Medeski-keys, Adam Deitch-drums, Skerik-saxophones and electronics
* 2016: Khu eeX ''The Wilderness Within'' with Bernie Worrell, Preston Singletary, Stanton Moore, etc.
* 2017: Khu eeX ''They forgot they survived'' with Bernie Worrell, Preston Singletary, etc.
* 2020: Khu eeX '' Heen'' with Bernie Worrell, Preston Singletary, etc.
* 2020: Nels Cline ''Share the Wealth'' with Cyro Batista, Trevor Dunn, Scott Amendola, Brian Marsella, Skerik

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==External links==
* [http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=23225 Skerik: Concept is All Anyone Cares About] Interview with Paul Olsen at ''[[All About Jazz]]'', October 2006
* [http://www.thewaster.com/interview/skeriks-bandalabra-just-try-it/ An Interview with Skerik on TheWaster.com ]
*[https://liveforlivemusic.com/features/skerik-emerald-quintet-interview-2019/ Skerik Talks Emerald Quintet, OG Garage A Trois, Mad Season, & More] Interview with B. Getz at ''[https://liveforlivemusic.com Live For Live Music],'' November 19, 2019
*[https://www.earshot.org/project/nov2015-profile-skerik-a-hint-of-revolution/ Skerik: A Hint of Revolution] Interview with Andrew Luthringer at [[Earshot Jazz]], November 2015

{{Critters Buggin}}
{{Colonel Les Claypool's Fearless Flying Frog Brigade}}
{{Mad Season}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Skerik}}
[[Category:American funk saxophonists]]
[[Category:American male saxophonists]]
[[Category:American jazz saxophonists]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Mad Season (band) members]]
[[Category:The Minus 5 members]]
[[Category:Musicians from Seattle]]
[[Category:Colonel Les Claypool's Fearless Flying Frog Brigade members]]
[[Category:Critters Buggin members]]
[[Category:Les Claypool's Fancy Band members]]
[[Category:21st-century American saxophonists]]
[[Category:American male jazz musicians]]
[[Category:The Coalition of the Willing (band) members]]
[[Category:Garage A Trois members]]
[[Category:Skerik's Syncopated Taint Septet members]]
[[Category:Ponga (band) members]]
[[Category:1964 births]]