Jim Vick
Jim Vick grew up and began his music career in upstate New York, relocating in the early 80’s to Madison, Wisconsin, where he joined the Pacific NW music community for 13 years before his move to Costa Rica in early 2006. 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 currently performs regularly in Costa Rica as a solo artist and in his acoustic duo with percussionist Carter Van Hauken, and improvisational trio shows with Argentinian sitarist/guitarist Santos. Jim is currently at work on 3 new recording projects that include an instrumental soundtrack, a solo acoustic album, and a collection of musical interpretations of the Sufi poet Rumi.