Chris Alcaraz

At four years old, Chris’ mom brought him in for violin lessons with virtuoso Allen Ames, who stated:
 “I don’t teach four-year-olds.”  (Most four-year-olds don’t have the attention span for a proper lesson).  

Chris’ mom replied: 
“Please, take the money and spend a half hour with him.  If it doesn’t work out, keep the money and we’ll leave you alone.”  

A half hour later, Allen emerged from the studio smiling and said:
“I can teach him.”

Recalling the event, Chris remembered:
“I could just play.  It just made sense.”
                                            
When Chris was seven, his dad brought home a classical/Spanish guitar.  Playing a guitar requires less pinpoint precision than a violin.  Chris took to it  immediately.  Dad showed him the chords to ‘I’ve Just Seen A Face’ and it was on: home from school, have a sandwich, play along with the radio or records until dinner.  About a year later, dad bought a 1964 Fender Jazz bass.  The ‘64 Fender L- series basses had skinny necks - perfect for a kid’s hands and again, it was on.   About a year after that, Chris learned the satisfaction of coaxing notes out of the enormous pieces of wood and metal that form an upright, or double bass.  He recalls:

“Mom would schlep that thing to Symphony rehearsals the only way it would fit in our car - with the neck sticking out the window.  This got us pulled over and let off with a warning to hang it out the driver’s window rather than the passenger’s so as not to potentially take out a pedestrian.  This was the only time mom ever gave me any trace of grief about supporting my music as she turned to me, smiled and said: ‘You couldn’t have stuck with the violin?’ “

By fourteen, Chris was playing professionally.  
   “The rest of the band were in their twenties and the trick to not getting hassled was not to be the first or last one through the door.”

A Jazz scholarship covered most school expenses while attending Arizona State University.   Club gigs covered the rest. Playing double bass in the University Symphony meant performing in the world renowned Frank Lloyd Wright designed Grady Gammage auditorium.  If you’re ever in Tempe, Arizona, may you experience the tremendous sound of Gammage auditorium.

After graduation, Chris checked out the music capitals of the U.S. and chose Austin, Texas for its vibrant yet laid back music scene and to be closer to his Texas relatives.  
Friends are family we choose for ourselves and Chris has formed lifelong connections with some amazing individuals.

“Texas Tornado Ernie Durawa makes musical connections.  I joined Ernie onstage at a show featuring pianist Wiley Cousins.  I gave it everything I had and received the best crowd response of the evening.  While I was out on a Lollapalooza tour, Wiley reached out about forming a band to tour Scandinavia.  After a couple of tours, we relocated.  Finland is  a clean, safe, beautiful country with the world’s highest literacy and lowest infant mortality rate.  And the Finns are among the most sincere people I’ve had the pleasure to know.”

Chris recorded his first solo album in Finland.  He then brought it to London, where the singles "Anne" and "To Your Heart" received national airplay on BBC Radio 2 courtesy of England’s most illustrious  DJ, ‘Whispering’ Bob Harris.  (“Cheers, Bob!”)

Back in the States, Chris formed his own band and was introduced to teaching by his teacher and mentor Bud Dimock, who also taught jazz giants Grant Geissman and Stanley Jordan. 

 “Uncle Bud’s approach to jazz remains one of the pillars of my music education.”

Chris continues to enjoy teaching privately and through Austin New School of Music’s after school program.

“We bring donated instruments to underserved schools that don’t even have a nurse or a library.  I ask each student what instrument they want to play and we form a band.  Our student bands record a new song every month.  It’s amazingly empowering for these young people and what they generate in such a short time is fantastic.”  His middle school students record a new song each month.  This summer, he took his high schoolers into Austin’s renowned Ice Cream Factory studio.  There, award winning Engineer/Producer Matt Parmenter recorded their first single, an original composition entitled “In The Fading Light”.

Chris considers himself fortunate to be in Austin.  For him it has meant experiencing the joy and privilege of playing music with such legendary performers as  Flaco Jimenez, Delbert McClinton, Ian McLagan, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Floyd Domino, Andre Heyward, Joe ‘King’ Carrasco, Red Young, Redd Volkaert, Bill Kirchen and Augie Meyers. 

“This wealth of fine Austin musicians continues to raise my performance level and enhance my capacity to make art.  Groovin’ with drummers like Frosty Smith, Tom Brechtline, Brannen Temple and Ernie Durawa has earned me my Honorary Doctorate in music.”

For thirteen years, Chris proudly served as Bassist, Vocalist and Musical Director for DURAWA.   Featuring two time Grammy winning drummer Ernie Durawa along with renowned and beloved guitar virtuoso Will Owen Gage.  The trio opens their weekly show with an extraordinary musical conversation.  For the second set, they morph into a different band each week to accompany a different celebrity guest artist.  Genres range across the spectrum:  rock, blues, soul, country, jazz.  The quality and variety keeps the shows interesting for everyone involved.  And an engaged audience provides an excellent proving ground for new material.

“I spent about a year of our residency writing and performing a new song every week and the best ones are featured on the new album.”

The album was recorded live in only one or two takes per song.  It features original Durawa guitarist, the astonishingly brilliant Will Knaak (Blue October, Parker McCollum).
Some of their friends who are also some of the finest musicians anywhere have since added their parts.  Their illustrious album guest list includes Brian Mitchell (Levon Helm), Floyd Domino (Merle Haggard, Waylon Jennings, Asleep At The Wheel), Chris Gage (Jerry Jeff Walker) Will Owen Gage,  Dane Farnsworth (Keb Mo) and Alison Wedding (Snarky Puppy).   

“This music represents my finest work.  The songs are about peace, love, unity and improving the human condition.  They’re played beautifully by some of the most delightful people I know who also lay down some of the baddest grooves around.”

Now is the time for the healing vibrations of a righteous rocking Texas soul band with a message to be heard and shared.  

We are all part of 'One Human Race' together.  To survive and thrive, we have to do this together.

Welcome.