Karizma

Karizma – a group with a special touch…

Back in 1975 the composer and keyboardplayer David Garfield founded the band Karizma. Karizma was a group where the musicians could blend all their favorite musicstyles, so latin, jazz, fusion, west coast became some of the roots in the “Karizma style”. The first Karizma setup was David Garfield (keyboards), Dominic Genovi (bass), Richard Tokatz (percussion), Carlos Vega (drums) and Ralph Rickert (trumpet). With this setup Karizma is playin´ in and around the Los Angeles area.

With Karizma David Garfield is having a perfect musical playground, where a lot of things can happent, be added etc. In 1978 Michael Landau (guitar) is joining the group, to give Karizma some guitarstuff on the songs. At the same time Carlos Vega is on a European Tour with Randy Newman, so Vinnie Colaiuta (drums) takes over, and a “new” Karizma lineup is ready to hit the stages. With this lineup Karizma performes a lot of gigs with guest musicians over the next couple of years.

After a tour with George Benson in 1982 David Garfield decides to make an Karizma album instead of a projected solo-cd. The Karizma 1983 lineup is: David Garfield (keys), Carlos Vega (drums), Lenny Castro (percussion), Dean Cortez, Dean Parks (guitar) and Steve Tavaglione (sax). The album “Dream Come True” is a really dream come true for David Garfield, he ha made an album together will all his musical friends, a project has become a band, and the album us being made with help from: Steve Lukather, Tim Pierce, Ernie Watts, Neil Larsen, David Paich, Jeff Porcaro, James Felix, Paulette Browne, Rosemary Butler and Tom Scott. After the release of “Dream Come True” Karizma continue to do local gigs after the release of the album, and in 1984, Michael Landau is joined on guitar again.

In 1986 David Garfield is having another Karizma lineup. The new cast is Nathan East (bas), Mike Miller (guitar), Lenny Castro (percussion), Larry Klimas (sax), Carlos Vega (drums). Together with this “crew” David Garfield records the second Karizma album “Cuba”. In the studio Michael Landau (guitar) is still “karizma active” and all the friends are here again, this time represented by. Steve Lukather, Michael O´Neil, Jimmy Johnson, Brandon Fields, Albert Wing & Walt Fowler. As a promotion of the album Karizma goes on their first Japan Tour. They record all the gigs “live”, and the best material is released in 1987 an their first live album “All The Way Live”, so the 3rd Karizma album is now a reality. Karizma has formed a lot of their material live, so the energy on this album is very high, and it becomes a great success for Karizma, especially in Japan and also Europe that also has open it´s eyes for this group.

With their 3rd album David Garfield can see that Karizma is getting a lot of attention everywhere, so he forms his own label Creatchy and this means that the Karizma albums “Cuba” and “All The Way Live” is released on CD at the SOHBI label in 1989. In 1989 David Garfield is now ready again with a new “Karizma project”, this time a studioalbum with vocals.

The Karizma lineup is now: David Garfield (keys), Carlos Vega (drums), Michael Landau (guitars), Lenny Castro (percussion), Jimmy Johnson (bas). In the studio Karizma gets help from Phil Perry, Michael Brecker, Brandon Fields, Larry Klimas, Steve Tavaglione, Vinnie Colaiuta, John Pena, Lil Perry & Paulette Brown, The results is the album “(Forever In The) Arms Of Love” and is released at the SOHBI label in 1989. This is the first Karizma album with vocals and it reminds of the David Garfield “Riding Bean” project, that is released the year before, also with Phil Perry on the vocals.

After the release of this album Karizma continues to do gigs, but David Garfield is having a lot to do with composing, touring with other artists and the Los Lobotomys project with Steve Lukather is also beginning to grow. So David Garfield puts Karizma in a standby mode.

One of the keystones in Karizma has always been the drummer Carlos Vega. He dies in 1998, and this touches David Garfield, Carlos has been a very personal friend. As a tribute to his friend, David Garfield re-release the “All The Way Live” album with some special linernotes for Carlos Vega and more. Also this year it is possible to re-release the first Karizma album on cd, so many fans a very happy the day the “Dream Come True” album is released.

In 1999 David Garfield is teaming up with Vinnie Colaiuta and Michael Landau about doing some Karizma stuff again. They get together with well-knowned bassist Neil Stubenhaus and a new Karizma is formed. They called it Rizma 2000 and they are doing some gigs, and also some stuff with Vinnie at a drumshow fdor the magazine “Modern Drummer”. After some contacts Rizma 2000 manage to get an European tour. The Rizma 2000 is a big success, they play at sold-out venues in Europe and after the first tour, the promotionlabel in Germany UlfTone is releasing the “Document” album. So Karizma is back on CD again. Because of the big success Karizma goes back to Europe to play at a new tour and also doing some promotion stuff for the “Document” album.

David Garfield then went in the studio to prepare the mastering for the release “Lost And Found” that is scheduled to be released late 2001 or in the beginning 2002. This release will have special live- and studioversions of songs that didn´t make it on the albums, or special versions of songs that has been released earlier.

Karizma constantly play live gigs in different member line up with David Garfield as the music center point around the group. After several years of no album releases finally in 2012 Karizma is back again with a triple album release “Perfect Harmony”.

Karizma member lineup history:

1975 – First Incarnation

Members: David Garfield, Carlos Vega, Ralf Rickert, Domenic Genova & Richard Tokatz

1978 – Second Incarnation

Members: David Garfield, Carlos Vega, Larry Klimas, Jim Henken, Domenic Genova & Pat Murphy

1978 – Third Incarnation

Members: David Garfield, Carlos Vega, Larry Klimas, Michael Landau, Dean Cortez & Lenny Castro

1979 – Fourth Incarnation

Members: David Garfield, Vinnie Colaiuta, Larry Klimas, Michael Landau,Dean Cortez & Lenny Castro

1980 – Fifth Incarnation

Members: David Garfield, Vinnie Colaiuta, Larry Klimas, Michael Landau & John Pierce

1981 – Sixth Incarnation

Members: David Garfield, Vinnie Colaiuta, Steve Tavaglione, Michael Landau & Eric Wallengren

1982 – Seventh Incarnation

David Garfield, Carlos Vega, Steve Tavaglione, James Felix, Kevin Dukes, Dean Cortez & Lenny Castro

1983 – Eight Incarnation

Members: David Garfield, Carlos Vega, Steve Tavaglione, James Felix, Dean Parks, Dean Cortez & Lenny Castro

1983 – Ninth Incarnation

Members: David Garfield, Carlos Vega, Larry Klimas, Dean Parks, Dean Cortez & Lenny Castro

1986 – Tenth Incarnation

Members: David Garfield, Carlos Vega, Larry Klimas, Michael Landau, Jimmy Johnson & Lenny Castro

1987 – Eleventh Incarnation

Members: David Garfield, Carlos Vega, Larry Klimas, Mike Miller, Nathan East & Lenny Castro

1988 – Twelfth Incarnation

Members: David Garfield, Carlos Vega, Larry Klimas, Steve Tavaglione, Michael Landau, Jimmy Johnson & Lenny Castro

1999 – Thirteenth Incarnation

Members: David Garfield, Toss Panos, Larry Klimas, Michael Landau, Jimmy Johnson & Lenny Castro

2000 – Fourteenth Incarnation

Members: David Garfield, Vinnie Colaiuta, Michael Landau & Neil Stubenhaus

Discography