Album Notes

Caravan came together in March of 2006 when multi-instrumentalist Abdul Kabir decided to put together an "eclectic acoustic trio". The trio soon became a quartet when three ideal matches for the project, Will Hughes, Mark Halpert and Kater Murch met with Kabir and solidified the nucleus of the group. It was instant chemistry as each member brought their own unique skills and talents to the table. Will Hughes, singer-songwriter and masterful guitarist hails from New Jersey and Florida and recently came to the Bay Area seeking its renowned and fecund music scene. Will has a wonderful voice and a wealth of music knowledge, which he applies in his professional life as a guitar teacher. Very influenced by Jerry Garcia, folk and bluegrass music, he brings a distinctive country flavor to the folk/blues sound though his talents traverse territories into reggae, jazz, Celtic and other world music. Canadian percussionist Mark Halpert first studied tabla under a music guru in Varanasi, India. Mark has always been an experimenter and aficionado of percussion in general and adds color to the Caravan sound with shakers, djembe, or whatever is called for in the moment. Mark just returned from his latest voyage to Zanzibar in Tanzania where he studied Ngoma drums under an Ngmoma master. Kater Murch, a California native and consummate cellist with a unique improvisatory style played and recorded with the group for two years. Hi splaying is featured on this album. Bassist Elliot Warren joined the group in 2008 adding a tantalizing new element to keep the project moving forward. Elliot has been playing bass for many years producing his own recordings as he doubles up on guitar and voice. His influences range from edgy rock and avant-garde to klezmer and everything in between. Abdul Kabir, free spirit, idealist and troubador has been playing guitar, harmonica, keyboards and percussion in various projects in the Bay Area underground for years, from theatre to solo performance to rock bands. His style is a unique mélange of cultural influences from his bluesy Chicago and New Orleans roots to his travels through Spain, Africa and the Middle East, all of which can be found coalescing in the music. We are thrilled with how far this project has come so quickly and are excited to bring what we feel is a very refreshing, diverse and rootsy sound to the Bay Area music scene. We are all in love with acoustic music and know the healing power of traditional folk forms, which is why you will hear everything from gut-bucket delta blues to a raga-like musical Arabesque to a foot-stomping Celtic shanty in one set. Our only demand of the music is that it be pure and soulful and free. We call ourselves Caravan because we see our sound as a movement through different spaces, times, cultures and like a Caravan we would like to pick up kindred spirits as we go to join us on our musical journey.