Chris Minh Doky

CHRIS MINH DOKY

Chris Minh Doky stands out as one of the most talented bass players incontemporary music. The New York-based artist is regarded among themasters of the upright bass widely recognized for his passionate delivery andextraordinary technical gifts. As expressed by Down Beat Magazine: ”...thereis a softness and crisp clarity that is very different from the sound othersderive from the acoustic instrument”, Doky carries on the distinct Danishbass tradition of the acoustic bass being a lead instrument. With musicalroots deriving from his love of American East Coast grooves and the lyrictradition of Scandinavia, Doky has developed a distinctive sound as well ascreated a style that is uniquely his own.

Doky’s rare ability to perform with equal creativity and dynamism as both asolo artist and as a sideman has put him on the list of Top Ten Bassists inReader’s Polls and earned him Artist of the Year awards as well as platinum-awarded sales. Parallel to leading his own band, Doky continues to play withsome of the most significant jazz artists of today. Being an integral part ofthe Michael Brecker Quartet since 2001, he is also currently playing andtouring with the Mike Stern Band.

Over the years, Doky has released seven solo albums, including the highlypraised Cinematique and the most recent electronica-jazz album The NomadDiaries. Besides co-leading two recordings with his brother he is alsoappearing on countless recordings as a sideman. And with his great musicalsense, Doky is increasingly in demand for soundtracks and as a producer forboth jazz and pop artists.

Doky was born into a musical family in Copenhagen, Denmark, in 1969 to aVietnamese father and a Danish mother. Motivated and taught by his father,Doky commenced playing the piano at age six. He won several awardsattending local classical piano competitions. By a twist of faith he picked upthe electric bass while in high school. A passionate fan of groups like Earth,Wind & Fire, the teenager played in different funk bands. But it was the MilesDavis album ”My Funny Valentine” that introduced him to the jazz tradition atage 16. A year later, he switched to his signature instrument, the acousticbass. Before long he became a sought-after bassist at jazz clubs aroundCopenhagen.

After high school, the 18 year old left home for New York City, determined toexplore the jazz tradition first hand. Here, he began working in the studiosand gigging in the clubs of Manhattan with other young, up and comingmusicians such as pianist Joey Calderazzo, whom Doky would later meetagain playing with legendary saxophonist Michael Brecker. Soon proving tobe not only an excellent sideman but also an inventive soloist, Doky got hisfirst big break in 1991 when Mike Stern asked the talented bass player to joinhis band. By 1992, Doky was getting firmly established on the internationaljazz scene and earning a reputation as one of the top bassists in New York.Much in demand, he found himself playing with some of the great musicianshe had been listening to growing up, including David Sanborn, RyuichiSakamoto, Michele Camilo, Trilok Gurtu, and Bireli Lagrene.

In 1994, Doky joined forces with his older brother, pianist, Niels Lan Dokyforming the Doky Brothers. Signed to Blue Note, the group made twosuccessful recordings that brought a larger audience to jazz in their nativeDenmark. Following the second Doky Brothers album, Chris Minh Dokyreleased Minh on Blue Note in 1998, his first solo album in eight years. It metwidespread acclaim from both critics and audiences alike propelling Doky’sinternational solo career to a new level.

Doky’s work on Minh, was brought to the attention of Danish icon, pop- androck singer Sanne Salomonsen who asked him to work with her. In 1999,Doky produced her hit album In a New York Minute that reached doubleplatinum sales and earned a Danish Music Award nomination.

Following extensive world wide touring on the success of the album Minh,Doky took his touring band to the studio to record the acoustic jazz-funkalbum, Listen Up. The album featured special guest appearances by long timecollaborators John Scofield, Kenny Garrett and others.

After years of exploring the funk side of jazz, Doky felt it was time to 'comehome'. On Cinematique, Doky brought together some of the greatestmusicians of his generation in a true jazz trio setting. Doky and his longtimefriends created an intimate and original recording exploring Doky’s favoritemovie and television themes.

On his most recent CD The Nomad Diaries, Doky shows the result of his longtime exploration into Electronica. Inspired by the works of artists like MassiveAttack, Bjork, Nils Petter Molvaer, Talvin Singh and Ryuichi Sakamoto (withwhom Doky has been playing with for years, and who is also featured on thealbum) Doky draws on both his production and bass playing skills. A genuineorganic meeting of worlds that is arguably Doky's most European album todate, drawing heavily on his Scandinavian bass tradition.

Gear

Endorsing Yamaha, DPA mics, T-Rex engineering.