Son of a jazz organist, virtuoso drummer Karriem Riggins
broke with legendary vocalist Betty Carter’s band at age 17. Now the
32-year-old, who has amassed some impressive hiphop production credits,
including finishing up the posthumous J Dilla release, The
Shining, has partnered with prolific producer Madlib for his
rapping debut and a hiphop-informed jazz excursion. The Detroit native,
one-time New Yorker, and current Los Angeleno who long volleyed between
straight-ahead jazz and hiphop, manning the kits for everyone from
Diana Krall to Kanye West and producing for Native Tongues spawn Slum
Village and Common, now finds himself bridging the gap between genres
and generations.
Blame it on his youth. When backing Betty Carter, Riggins learned to
avoid clichés, a feat he’s managing by knowing both musical
landscapes and ledges. Mining those two wells, he’s created what he
believes to be a “colorful” sound.
“I think of it as: There are so many different rhythms that have not
been played and haven’t been presented,” he explains via phone from Los
Angeles. “We need to strive to search and find those new styles ’cause
music evolves. I just want to keep the new fresh sound.”
That vitality served Riggins well during post-production of the 2006
thriller Smokin’ Aces. Called to the studio by friend and film
co-star Common, Riggins, beat machine in tow, he sat down and crafted a
few prospective tracks for the theme whilst the original producer drove
home to retrieve his forgotten files. Riggins’ last impromptu creation,
a grandiose old-world number later titled “Play Your Cards Right,” won
him the job, and he still chuckles in cheerful amazement at the
fortuitousness of it.
The 2K Sports Bounce Tour that brings Riggins and the Stone Throw
crew to Portland marks Riggins’ first time rapping live (excepting some
freestyles kicked at various Madlib DJ sets), and he is eager to
perform their new material. As the Supreme Team, Riggins and Madlib
take “the core rugged hiphop inspiration” and couch it with their
varied influences, and as the Jahari Masamba Unit, the two producers
exercise their jazz chops. What they will be up to this Saturday at
Berbati’s, Riggins can’t call. “Anything is liable to happen. We like
to do whatever we feel.”