Katisse Buckingham performs often at the Baked Potato in North Hollywood, where he adds his personality and musicality to the music of guitarist Sandro Albert.
He is from Los Angeles and is an amazing flute player who also plays sax as well as raps. Yes, he raps on a tune with Sandro Albert, and it actually is a cool thing to hear. He can also be heard playing with his new band ‘Upper Structure.’
Katisse is a graduate of the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts. He went on to graduate from the Grove School of music and was the recipient of a NEA Jazz Fellowship Grant to study with Woodwind Master Bill Green. He also won the Los Angeles Jazz Society New Talent Award.
He has performed and/or recorded with Herbie Hancock, Dr. Dre (including – The Chronic, Vanessa Paradis, Andy Summers, DJ Quik, Brian Auger, John Patitucci, Russ Ferrante, Jimmy Haslip, Terri Lyne Carrington, Bill Summers, Bob Hurst, Tom Brechtline, Gary Novak, Alphonso Johnson, B-Sharp Jazz Quartet, Airto and Flora Purim, Sandro Albert, Luis Conte, Monday Michiru, Jaz Klash, Deepsky, the Angel, Patrice Rushen, Non Amiss, Xzibit, and Kurupt. He has played on numerous films and commercials.
While staying busy as a freelance musician he is also working with his new band, Upper Structure which includes Kate Higgins (lead vocal), Quinn Johnson (keyboards), Derek Frank (bass), and Joel Alpers (drums), all of whom are co-leaders and contributors. Mindy Cabral has been joining them playing trumpet. The group features all original music blending jazz, hip-hip, pop, and funk. The original concept- “A hip-hop Steely Dan”. They are working on a new recording with the help of engineering legend, Tony Sheppard ( Kenny Loggins, Take 6, Whitney Houston).
