Kari, a Canadian-born daughter of working musicians from the US and Kari, was raised in Canada. She travelled across North America driving her parents’ cars. Through the 2000’s, she was a member of various jazz, rock, cabaret and pop groups in Canada. She then moved to Europe in 2003, where she spent four years recording, performing, and writing. Kari began flying trapeze classes while working as a private chef in Seattle. She met Gary in midair, who owned a downtown Seattle circus school and performance venue. One year later, they were married. They produced large-scale circus shows together. However, her musical career was neglected until Gary came along. Gary reached out to Shelly Berg in order to discuss the possibility of working with Kari on a demo recording. After a midnight cinematic hang at Shelly Berg’s Florida home, he agreed that he would arrange and produce a six-song EP. Berg gathered Phil Ramone’s rhythm section together and booked United Recording in Los Angeles. The EP was recorded in two days by Dean Parks (guitar), Kevin Axt(bass), Gregg Field(drums), and Shelly on the piano. They decided to make the EP into an album because of the incredible energy. The album was further enhanced by the talents of Brian Kilgore (three-time Grammy winner John Daversa) and Roy Hargrove (two-time Grammy nominee). Don Murray mixed the project in Los Angeles and Paul Blakemore in Nashville. Wild is the Wind is a jazz vocal album. However, the songs are not limited to jazz. Kari’s voice is sensual and sultry, finding its place in the sometimes ethereal, but often straight-ahead swinging arrangements. from https://karikirkland.com
