Kit Eakle & John R. Burr – Berkeley, CA

“Jazz violinist Kit Eakle delivers …” – Andrew Gilbert

The leader of DjangoSphere, Kit Eakle is known as one of the most original improvising violinists on the West Coast. He grew up in the San Francisco Bay area where he studied violin with Detlev Ohlshausen. He attended the University of California at Davis where he studied art, but also took a course with the great composer, John Cage. After moving to Canada he toured British Columbia with Blackfish Sound and Roadside Attraction – 2 legendary Canadian rock bands.

Kit is equally at home both in Northern California, and Vancouver, British Columbia. In the SF Bay Area he has been a a member of the ‘Hot Club of Marin,’ the rock-a-billy band ‘The Sons of Emperor Norton,’ Jerry Garcia bands’ guitarist Peter Harris’ ‘Obscura,’ his own ‘FiddleJazz,’ which performs “A Brief History of Jazz Violin,” a survey of the role of the violin in jazz from its beginnings to the present, and ‘The Eakle Brothers’ with his flute playing brother, Matt Eakle, a regular member of the David Grisman Quintet. He has also shared a stage with Dan Hicks, Martín Fierro, Joe Craven, Mads Tolling, David LaFlame and Paul Mehling.

John R. Burr is that rare pianist who combines jazz technique with a genuine love for folk music. The Philadelphia Weekly said, “Pianist extraordinaire John R. Burr has the most sparkling style since former Allman Brother-turned-Rolling Stone hired hand Chuck Leavell.” Discology wrote, “John R. Burr ranks with the best of the elegant jazzers.”

John R was first drawn to the piano at the age of 10 when he heard Vince Guaraldi’s playing on the Peanut’s animated TV specials. He started out as a child prodigy drummer; he was the only child out of 5 siblings not forced to study the piano. It wasn’t until he was in high school that his focus changed and the piano became his instrument of choice.

Years of touring and recording sessions with such artists as Maria Muldaur, The Alison Brown Quartet, Paul McCandless, Michael Manring, and Kathy Kallick, and recognition including a feature spot on Windham Hill’s Piano Sampler II are a testament of his talent.

Tickets are $20 general admission. Children under 12 are free. Advance tickets are available here, or if the show is not sold out, you may purchase your tickets at the door before the show.

Doors open one half hour before show time. We accept cash or Venmo only at the door.

The Back Room is an all-ages, BYOB (for those 21+) space, dedicated to (mostly) acoustic music of all kinds. You are welcome to bring your own food and beverages. The venue is ADA accessible. If you need more information or have any questions, please call us: #510-381-1997.

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Please note: Although masks are no longer required, we strongly encourage their use to keep everyone safe in our intimate space.