About Us
Born in Montreal on August 12, 1957, he was the oldest of six siblings, and quickly picked up the sounds of music from his father, who plays the accordion.
At 4, little Richard picked up his first accordion which he continues to play since then.
When he was 9 he played the drums, until 1967, when during the Montreal Expo he saw a guy playing this weird instrument.... it was a saxophone. Back at home that day, he was all exited trying to explain to his father about his amazing discovery at the Expo. Having a music shop not far from the house, destiny made it such that there was a Tenor Saxophone on display at the front waiting for him that day. After a few months, his father acquired the precious item, investing 125$, which was a fortune back then.
Though the next two years he gets music instruction and continues investigating the instrument on his own. When he is about 12 he is playing at every possible event (marriages, receptions, etc.) for well deserved 20$/night, which he continues to do for about 10 years.
Since then he never stopped playing, working with different bands and trying different styles. From 1991 to 2004 he plays with a band that brings him to multiple music festivals. He also offered his services as musician at the Theatre for about 4 years Self-thought by nature, he learns to play several instruments such as the guitar, piano, banjo, mandolin, harmonica and clarinet.
In 2009 he meets Gustavo and joins Krakatoa, a new musical experience with a very different style compared to what he had done until then.
Gustavo Zecharies
Was born in Montevideo a rainy afternoon on June 13th, 1969, and as most of the kids of his generation he studied piano between the ages of 6 and 11.
In 1986 he began his incursion into electric guitar studies, which is the instrument that he keeps investigating and researching pretty much since. Two of his main teachers are Carlos Quintana and Luis Firpo
Around 1987 he plays with several groups, specially “Post Coito”, a band that was followed by a lot of people digging Montevideo's underground scene at the time. With this band he went through different musical style phases, from Punk Rock, to Funk and Progressive Rock, until the band's dissolution in 1994.
In 1990 he started with Harmony and Composition studies with Uber-Harmony-Master Esteban Klisich, in conjunction with Classic Guitart studies at the Music University school with Luis Aphoteloz.
In 1991 plays with Master Bassist Popo Romano at “ La Tasca del Búho” where he exposes for the first time his two-hand-tapping technique, shocking some people in the audience.
In 1994, after graduating from Electronics Engineering, he emigrates to Canada, landing in Montreal, Quebec, and goes through a long hiatus without much access to music/composing or live appearances.
In 2005 he acquires his first Chapman Stick, when he gets his hands on a second hand instrument that radically changed his focus about music.
In 2006 he participates on the album “Stickistas” invited by Stick virtuoso Guillermo Cides
In 2008 he gets his first 11 String Artist Warr Guitar, instrument that becomes his main musical expression tool moving forward. Today he plays a 12 String Artist Warr Guitar with Dual MIDI/Piezo capabilities made out of padauk. He is currently working with Mark Warr on the development of a new guitar-concept, which will be revealed the day it gets out of the oven.
In 2006, 2008, 2010 and 2012 he plays with Popo Romano at the Solis Theater, the Sala Zitarroza and Museo del Vino
In 2009 he joins Krakatoa with Richard and Robert Duval, a new Jazz-Fusion trio in Montreal, and has been gigging ever since. Since 2011 he picked up the bass (FBass AC6/BNF6 and Ritter Custom) and is exploring the low end of things, working as a bassist on several new pieces delivered by the band.
Krakatoa (why Krakatoa??)
The island of Krakatoa was a volcanic island between the islands of Java and Sumatra in Indonesia. The volcano (named Krakatoa, located on the Rakata island) exploded in 1883, on what is believed was the loudest sound ever heard in modern history, with reports of it being heard nearly 3,000 miles (4,800 km) from its point of origin. The Tsunami it created turned the world two times, with waves that reached 3 to 7 meter heights when they reached Sout-America (half way around the globe). Because of the majestic, dangerous and massive power of this incredible volcano, we thought appropiate to name our project like this.
The process that brought us to this name started way before we ever met. Back in 2005, Gustavo recorded a very complex tune named "Krakatoa", some sort of progressive and quite percussive piece in 5/4 time signature that had a very powerful and emotional solo and ending. We all liked the tune too, which gave us the idea to just name the band like this. Should you want to check it out, here is the link: http://youtu.be/AEHK4ALSt18
What about the logo?
Beatriz (who along with Erin are our official photographers) was trying her new camera and captured an interesting picture of a plant (Money tree) we had at home. Below the two captures that made the logo happen.
Some see a volcano, some see the "K" from Krakatoa, some see an extinct dinosaur. Whatever you see, it is a nice, organic image that well represents our band.
Management, bookings, production
Krakatoa is self-managed. Please communicate with us through our Facebook Page or to krakatoa@krakatoa-music.com