Marius Kahan
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Marius Kahan (born October 25, 1955, London, England) is a crossover jazz/funk/Latin electric violinist and composer.
Classically trained at Trinity College London, he was attracted to jazz at a time when notable figures of the genre were developing new means of expression through the use of electric instruments and alternative rhythms borrowed from rock, funk and Latin styles of music.
Key influences on his direction included acclaimed violin maestro Jean-Luc Ponty, Santana, Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea and Frank Zappa.
In the early eighties he founded the acid jazz group Shinara with guitarist Richard Scarfe and percussionist / vibesman Mike Turtle. The unusual lineup and musically diverse style was well received by audiences, as was their self-released album The View From Here.
Shinara split up in the late eighties, after which Kahan met and signed up with renowned L.A. based producer and impresario Lee Magid, a music business veteran responsible for steering numerous artists to success including Lou Rawls, Della Reese and violinist Papa John Creach, formerly of Jefferson Airplane.
Under Magid’s guidance, Kahan produced his debut, Tomorrow’s Memories, released on independent label DJC Records in 1998. Featuring prominent players from London’s session scene, it attracted critical acclaim and enjoyed extensive airplay on 102.2 Jazz FM and Solar Radio in the UK, as well as being playlisted as far afield as Moscow and Budapest. Subsequently Kahan's reputation continued to spread via jazz podcasts.
Magid's deteriorating health prevented him from effectively promoting the CD in the US and, when he died in 2007, Kahan was left without representation.
