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Karen Briggs

Karen's live performances are "electrifying and explosive!" She was born in New York City and raised in Portsmouth, VA where she learned to play violin in a classroom setting at the age of 12. Her playing is strong and indicative of her exposure to Jazz, Gospel, Latin, Classical, African and mid-eastern music styles. All are combined with a unique melismatic, 'vocal-like' soul, thus giving her a rare and distinguishable signature of sound. She has been sought after to record or appear in a wide variety of musical situations ranging from Gospel (Kirk Franklin, Donnie McClurkin & Yolanda Adams) to Symphony (The Virginia Symphony) to jazz ("Vertu" Stanley Clarke & Lenny White, Mike Phillips) to Hip Hop (Wu Tang Clan, Hidden Beach: Unwrapped Volumes I - IV). Another noteworthy fact is that Karen is the first violinist to win Amateur Night at the Apollo Theater! Described as "that lady in red", her fiery performances in the multi-platinum selling, "Yanni: Live at the Acropolis" PBS special has been seen and remembered by literally millions of people around the world. In between touring, sessions and live guest appearances, Karen is has completed a long awaited solo CD release, "Soulchestral Groove" (August 2009) which features her in her own light and is available exclusively at her live performances!

Gear

4 and 5 string Acoustic and Electric Violins ZETA & YAMAHA Brands along with Luthier made acoustic instruments


Tags

75

Performance / Tour

Next to Take the Exodus to Jazz Stage ... Contemporary Jazz Artist Lao Tizer's Tizer with Karen Briggs

Next to Take the Exodus to Jazz Stage ... Contemporary Jazz Artist Lao Tizer's Tizer with Karen Briggs

Source: Jazz@Rochester

Continuing the diverse lineup of Exodus to Jazz, contemporary jazz keyboardist Lao Tizer with his band TIZER, joined by international violin star Karen Briggs, will hit the ETJ stage on October 22nd at 8:00 pm at the Lutheran Church of the Reformation. Lao Tizer is among an group of instrumentalists who are playing for diverse audiences with music tastes not easily categorized into standard jazz genres, bringing in influences from world music and other sources. In addition leading his band, ...

193

Performance / Tour

Lao Tizer to Perform with Chieli Minucci and Karen Briggs in Denver

Lao Tizer to Perform with Chieli Minucci and Karen Briggs in Denver

Source: Brody PR

Denver, CA - TIZER, featuring Boulder native and keyboardist/composer Lao Tizer with special guests guitarist Chieli Minucci and violinist extraordinaire Karen Briggs, brings their high-energy world-fusion sounds to Denver for one performance at The Soiled Dove on Friday, February 5, 2010 at 8 p.m. (doors open at 7 p.m.) Growing up in Colorado, Lao became enchanted by the sounds of a piano and was formally trained by University of Colorado professor Doris Lehnert. Lao began his professional career at age ...

180

Performance / Tour

RJS Presents Karen Briggs

RJS Presents Karen Briggs

Source: RVAjazz

Richmond Jazz Society's Guest Educators Series

Tuesday, December 9, 2008, 7PM

Jazz Violinist

KAREN BRIGGS

IN CONCERT!

The Music Hall @ Capital Ale House

623 East Main Street

Free Deck Parking at 6th & Main

$15 in advance (on-line, only)

www.capitalalehouse.com

$20 at the door with valid RJS ID, Altria Employee ID or student ID Card /

$25 General Public

Doors open at 6PM

For more info contact RJS at (804) 643-1972 ...

A dazzling solo by the great Karen Briggs will floor you!! ~ Paula Edelstein

Primary Instrument

Violin

Willing to teach

Intermediate to advanced

Credentials/Background

Please contact Coordinator: Winston Sanders (702) 242 - 8944 to arrange teaching sessions.

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