Jim Vick
Jim Vick grew up and began his music career in upstate New York, relocating in the early 80’s to Madison, Wisconsin, and then onto Seattle in '92, touring and performing in the Pacific NW for 13 years until his move to Costa Rica in early 2006. In his current home base in Puerto Viejo, Limon, Jim continues a busy recording and performing schedule that includes weekly gigs with his multi-looping duo, jim vick's BIG MIX, as well as frequent collaborations with percussionist Carter Van Hauten, (including their improvisational trio sets with acclaimed Argentinian sitarist/guitarist Santos) and occasional concerts with Bhakti Blue his music and spoken word performance ensemble that features a collection of Jim's songs that are all based on the poetry of Rumi.
One of Jim's newest composing and recording projects, INSIDER'S LIMON (an audio travel guide to the Caribe Sur of Costa Rica that also offers an entertaining people's history of the area,) was released in early 2009, and the music-only version of the score, nearing completion, will be released soon. Jim’s 2004 CD, SURFING THE WEB OF LIFE, enjoyed critical acclaim and surprising downloading interest for a first-time web release. Independent critic Kenny Hart writes in The Singing Songwriter, "Without question, Surfing the Web of Life earns the distinction of ‘Ear Candy’.
Originating his performance career in upstate New York, Jim performed his original material around the country as a solo artist and bandleader, opening concerts for the likes of Joan Armatrading, Booker T and the MGs, and Timbuk 3. Between dates with his own groups, Jim also played lead guitar with funk/R&B artists Virginia Rose and Clyde Stubblefield, African pop group Shekere, Midwest jazz vocalist Lynnette, dance rock group Somomojo, and contemporary folk artists Stuart Stotts and Laurie Ellen Neustadt. During his years in Seattle, he was an original host of the legendary Open Mic Night at Madison's Cafe & Music House, a mid-90's weekly gathering place for both established and aspiring NW singer-songwriters. Jim and his wife Eva later hosted a monthly acoustic music series in the Fremont neighborhood that featured performances by some of the finest folk and jazz artists on both coasts. A longtime peace and justice activist, Jim is known for occasional political commentary in his songwriting, and his music and politics ventures have also included producing and hosting the main stage concerts at the Rolling Thunder Democracy Festival and the Art of Resistance Conference (both in Seattle,) as well as the popular Thunder Music in Fremont concert series. Jim is currently at work on more new recording projects that include a new solo album, as well as the recently unveiled BHAKTI BLUE, a collection of his musical interpretations of the Sufi poet Rumi.