Kal Bergendahl

Kal Jon Bergendahl is an accomplished bassist, composer, arranger and educator based directly between Chicago and Milwaukee in Kenosha, Wisconsin. His soulful and energetic playing has gained him attention as a top-notch bassist. Kal has both an Associate Degree and a Bachelor Degree in Music. While at college in Milwaukee (MATC) and Kenosha (U.W. Parkside), he studied with many well-known Midwest jazz musicians including Jack Grassel, Harold Miller, Tim Bell, Tom McGirr, and Berkeley Fudge. Some of his wide-ranging musical influences include Marcus Miller, Stevie Wonder, Snarky Puppy, Jamie Cullum, Fred Hammond, and Claude Debussy. Kal has been playing electric bass since 1987 and performing in the southeast Wisconsin jazz scene since 1997. Some of his more notable musical achievements include performances at Milwaukee’s SummerFest (acclaimed as the world’s largest music festival), Chicago’s Rogers Park Jazz Series, and Ohio’s Alive Fest (the state’s largest outdoor music festival). Kal has also performed before Milwaukee Bucks games at the Bradley Center and recorded with drummer Ernie Adams (Ramsey Lewis, Al Di Olea). In 2003, He was nominated for the “Best Bassist” W.A.M.I. award (Wisconsin Area Music Industry). In August, 2007 he performed with national recording artist and world-renown Christian songwriter Darrell Evans. He also was featured as a player and arranger on the Pacific Coast Jazz label’s fall 2007 release by Chicago jazz pianist Rob Ryndak ‘A Reason to Smile’. In 2003, Kal formed the smooth jazz group Emerge. While their CD Inspiration received radio airplay, Emerge toured the Midwest, giving Kal the opportunity to hone his skills as a smooth jazz composer and bass soloist. After being together for 2½ years, the group performed its last show in the summer of 2005, opening for jazz legend Ramsey Lewis. Kal began his teaching studio in 1996 and since then has taught hundreds of bass students. In addition, he is a founding co-director of Living Light School of Worship, a church-based music program that began in 2001. There, he teaches song writing, theory/harmony, electric bass, and ensemble classes. In 2004 Bergendahl formed The Kal Bergendahl Project (KBP). The group has recorded four CD’s: “Love Unconditional” in 2006, “Everlasting Life” in 2008, “Life & Soul” in 2013 and "Parallels Ch. 1" in 2016. The group has taken on many different forms over the years, combining smooth, edgy jazz with pop and soul. Over 20 musicians have been featured in the group since 2004. 2015 saw the birth of a new group of musicians and brand new sound with a three-piece horn section at the forefront.

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