Kai Eckhardt

German born bassist/composer Kai Eckhardt began playing music in the year 1975. Born in 1961, he spent his early years in both Germany and Liberia/West-Africa. Kai eventually moved to the United States to attend Berklee College of music in Boston, the college from which he graduated with honors in 1987.

During his time in Boston, Kai held the bass chair in the Bob Moses Group as well as in the ensemble “Tiger’s Baku”, led by trumpeter Tiger Okoshi. In 1987 Kai applied for a teaching position at Berklee and was accepted into the bass faculty by Rich Appleman. But before receiving his appointment he was introduced to John McLaughlin by vibraphonist Gary Burton who had been Kai’s improvisation teacher at Berklee.

Kai Eckhardt joined the John McLaughlin trio in the fall of 1988 together with Trilok Gurtu on percussion. For their artistic excellence, this particular outfit of John’s trio has often been credited with making history in pushing the envelope of fusing modern jazz with South Indian classical music. During the years 1988-1990 This trio produced two major albums. "Live at the Royal Festival Hall" went to the top of the billboard jazz charts while the band toured all over the world until 1990 when Kai took a hiatus from touring to care for his ailing foster parents in Germany.

Kai began his official US residency in 1995 by receiving the prestigious E1-visa known also as the “Einstein visa” reserved for individuals at the top of their profession. Kai returned to the stage to join drummer Billy Cobham’s international quartet with Gary Husband and Peter Woelpl. They recorded an album together and extensively toured the mainland US and Canada. Between 1996 and 1999 Kai Eckhardt began to make a name for himself as one of the most sought after live musicians and recording artists, performing and recording with many acclaimed artists including: the Stanley Clarke band, Wayne Shorter, Patrice Rushen, Dewey Redman, Donald Byrd, Alphonse Mouzon, Larry Coryell, Al Di Meola, Steve Smith, Tom Coster, Dave Weckl and Ronnie Laws.

Beginning in the early 2000’s Kai has been a regular guest in Turkey, performing with the prodigious pianist Adın Esen, Turkish Diva Sertab Erener and fretless guitarist Cenk Erdogan. Also a regular guest in India, Kai received invitations to perform with masters Ustad Zakir Hussain, Hariprasad Chaurasia and Vikku Vinayarkam. In the educational field, Kai teaches clinics and master classes internationally to this day. Engagements include Berklee in Boston, the Musician’s Institute in Hollywood, the Bruckner Conservatory in Austria and Amsterdam Conservatory in the Netherlands.

With over 400 live recordings to date, the most prolific band in Kai's career is the jam-band Garaj Mahal, which he co-leads together with Zawinul alumni Fareed Haque since the year 2000, producing 9 albums and performing roughly 1000 concerts in the U.S and Canada. Besides winning the Independent Music Awards in 2007, Garaj Mahal to this day remains an underground phenomena. In 2018 Kai travelled to Senegal, West-Africa, playing trio concerts with Will Calhoun (drums) and Stanley Jordan on guitar.

Beginning in 2022, Kai began to pursue a bass solo album, featuring a new style of playing. The album will be his third solo album to date in addition to the 200+ recordings of his career. Kai’s bass work can also be heard on the latest album by Ted Moore the director of UC Jazz, together with Phil Markowitz on piano.

Currently in 2023, Kai Eckhardt leads the UC Berkeley World Music Ensemble, works in the recording studio and tours with Garaj Mahal in the United States. Kai Recently guested on the upcoming album of musician/composer Cautious Clay aka Josh Karpeh who is now signed to Blue Note records.

Kai lives with his family in Berkeley, CA.