Jazz Standards, Jazz Blues & Funk Fusion originals and Soulful Ballads characterize the music of CHKYO II.

We want our audiences to FEEL the intensity of our music.

I played with Myron Thompson in the mid 90's when we were both in the Ictus Band with Bill Moss on Trumpet and Devrick Bell on Tenor Sax. Devrick "Sax Dawg" Bell and I have a long and storied history. We met in 1984 in LA at a Buddhist meeting. To this day, we both continue to chant Nam Myoho Renge Kyo and contribute our personal time to the attainment of World Peace through individual happiness. Devrick and I have worked together, played together, and shared much over the years.

Since returning to Orlando after a six year hiatus, I played with The Arzo Tureaud Quartet and did the jam sessions at Natura's while picking up a gig here & there. After connecting again with Myron, we decided to put some serious music together. After a few rehearsals, we started to introduce some originals we had been working on and found that the music came to us quickly. So while we built up our set list of standards, we made sure to continue to write original pieces too.

One of these first original tunes came together from a bass lick I was playing and Myron added some nice twists to the changes. When we wanted to name the tune, Myron suggested "Avalon Park" because that is the area where I lived at the time.

Dora is a tune that I wrote after returning home from Bass Player Live in NYC and a visit with my daughter, Seslee Dora. I was missing her and laid down the bass line while tapping out the melody on top. When I let Myron hear this tune, we decided it was a great change of pace after Avalon Park. Every time we play that tune, I miss my daughter all over again.

Reggae Babe is a tune I wrote a couple of years ago, I think 2005. It was a blues I used to sing at first but one day Myron told me he used to play with a Reggae band so, we changed the tune from Hey Babe to Reggae Babe.

Then, it was Myron's turn to contribute with "South Street Mary". This is a tune Myron wrote about his experience with a roun' da way girl from back in the day. She used to hang out down on South St. and reputedly contributed to the delinquency to many a young man.

These days, putting a band together is really tough to accomplish. Nobody wants to commit to anything. Everyone wants to freelance and as a result, not too many Jazz bands have been sounding tight as they could or should.

A tight sound is key to the success of CHKYO II Jazz & Blues. There is some truth to the adage "the whole is greater than the sum of the parts."

CHKYO II is seeking to put people & players back into the music. Like Monk use to say, "there aren't any wrong notes". Each time we play, we are reaching for another note, another riff, some twist, or another take. So, each time you come out to hear us, there will be a fresh sound being created "right on the spot". That's what Real Jazz is all about.

About KYO
KYO means sound or vibration. KYO also means teaching. KYO is to capture the energy and focus it to a single point or task. KYO means determination and a never give up spirit. KYO means to win in Life. A victorious Life. KYO, as in Nam Myoho Renge Kyo, means devotion to the Mystic Law of the Universe through Cause & Effect and Sound. KYO is the rhythm of life found in the universe. KYO is the sound of my beating heart. KYO is life itself.

Find yourself in our music. We are all connected. The KYO of your applause and joy will reach out to us on the stage and cause us to react and give back more and deeper musical vibrations. A good performance involves both the band, and you, our listeners.

So, come check us out. CHKYO II, it's an experience.